Quoting: ArturSzastak
Really? Hmmm. I always thought the Irish mainly kept to Ireland until the modern era
Check out the British East India company, you will see that it was largely run by Irish civil servants.
The English may have built the empire, but the Irish frequently ran it. (Remember the Act of Union was 1801)
It may be correct that we did not have direct intervention or direct political involvement in matters until recent times, but I would not say we were isolatory.
Remember there are more people in America alone that claim Irish descent, than there are Polish people in Poland. This doesn't take into account the UK, Australia, Canada and other former colonies.