Being Irish & not celebrating St Patty's day

I don't spend much time thinking about my roots or my ancestors. Not sure if many people do but I do not feel connected to my heritage so I do not dwell on it (maybe if I did think about it or study it more I would feel connected to it and want to know more about it? - I can play devil's advocate with myself). The other day I was talking with a friend about St Patrick's day and how she is going to the parade down town and wanted to go to a bar for a kegs & eggs event with some of her friends. She even had a shirt in honor of St Patrick's day. I asked her if she was Irish and she said no. She just liked to drink and this day was a reason for her to go party.

I did not say much else. I forget if I told her I am Irish. I know that drinking is a part of the Irish heritage or idea of what Irish heritage is about BUT I know there is A LOT more to being Irish than drinking. I never make jokes or light of other people's heritage or culture and never use it as an excuse to party. I have often wondered what it feels like to be of a certain culture and have someone say or do something that is not disrespectful but very naive maybe even ignorant. I now know what that feels like...

The more I think about it I realize two things, the person I was speaking with is not a bad person and was not trying to be disrespectful, she is very young and immature. The more I realize what she did bothers me the more I must admit I do hold a certain loyalty to my heritage, regardless of whether I learn about it or not.