Paul Scholes
Scholes in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com
Place of Birth: Salford, Lancashire, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 16 November, 1974
Ethnicity:
*father – English
*mother – Northern Irish, Irish
Paul Scholes is an English football coach and footballer. He spent his entire career at Manchester United, scoring 155 goals in 718 games.
Paul is the son of Marina “Marie” and Stewart Scholes. He is married to Claire, with whom he has three children.
Paul’s paternal grandfather’s surname was Scholes.
Paul’s paternal grandmother’s surname was Rushton.
Paul’s maternal grandfather’s surname was Mooney.
Paul’s maternal grandmother’s surname was Brennan.
About his background, Paul has stated:
On my mum Marie’s side, my Nana was from the Republic of Ireland and my Granddad was from the north. Lots of families in Manchester have strong Irish connections but it never occurred to me to play for anyone other than England.
*Northern Irish, Irish (mother) —> *Irish (mother)
Being from Northern Ireland is not synonymous with being Northern Irish, which has an ethnic and religious affiliation too. Mooney is an Irish surname, that’s what we have to go on.
The Northern Irish are basically Irish people, unless they’re Scottish Protestant immigrants (Ulster-Scots/Scots-Irish).
He has stated that he could have represented Northern Ireland because of his grandfather’s heritage, so I’d leave the label “Northern Irish” as it is now.
He could have played for Northern Ireland as his grandfather was technically born in the north of Ireland but that does not mean anything in relation to what his grandfather identified as. Then most likely his grandfather would have been born before the state of Northern Ireland ever came into existence also. Then add all that to the Irish Catholic name Mooney and it is far more likely he is Irish and never was “Northern Irish”.