"The way I see it is that all the ol' guff about being Irish is a kind of nonsense. I mean, I couldn't be anything else no matter what I tried to be. I couldn't be Chinese or Japanese"

John McGahern's quote speaks to the concept that the idea of being Irish is a sort of nonsense. He is recommending that no matter what he attempts to be, he can not change his identity as an Irish person. He is indicating that the idea of being Irish is something that is predetermined and can not be changed. This quote talks to the concept of identity and how it is something that is predetermined and can not be changed. It also speaks to the idea of nationalism and how it is something that is deeply rooted in one's identity. McGahern is suggesting that the idea of being Irish is something that is predetermined and can not be altered, no matter what one attempts to do. This quote talks to the concept of identity and how it is something that is deeply rooted in one's culture and heritage. It likewise speaks to the idea of nationalism and how it is something that is deeply rooted in one's identity.