"An Irishman can argue either side of a question,…

“An Irishman can argue either side of a question, often at the same time” is a jocular one-line saying that has been credited to Los Angeles (CA) Times sportswriter Jim Murray (1919-1998). Murray wrote in a March 16, 1975 column that the Masquers Club of Hollywood had named him “Irish Man of the Year.” Several paragraphs were given, the most popular being:

“An Irishman is a guy who: (...) Can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.”

Murray’s line has been popular on St. Patrick’s Day.

Wikipedia: Jim Murray (Journalist)
James Patrick Murray (December 29, 1919 in Hartford, Connecticut – August 16, 1998 in Los Angeles, California) was an American sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times from 1961 to 1998.

Many of his achievements include winning the NSSA’s Sportswriter of the Year award an astounding 14 times (12 of those consecutively). In 1990, he won a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his 1989 columns, and the Baseball Hall of Fame awarded him the J. G. Taylor Spink Award in 1987. Cited as an influence by countless sports journalists, Murray was a fixture at the Los Angeles Times for over 30 years. After he won the Pulitzer in 1990, Murray modestly said he thought the prize winner should have had “to bring down a government or expose major graft or give advice to prime ministers. Correctly quoting Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda shouldn’t merit a Pulitzer Prize.” He was offered $1 million to join The National Sports Daily, but declined.

16 March 1975, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “‘Irish Man of the Year’” by Jim Murray, pg. D1, cols. 1-2:
It will come as a great surprise to all of you—to say nothing of St. Patrick, I am sure—but tomorrow night, on the natal day of all Irishmen, I am to be honored by the Masquers Club of Hollywood as the—get this—“Irish Man of the Year.”
(...)
An Irishman is a guy who:

. May not be sure there is a God, but is damn sure of the infallibility of the Pope.
. Won’t eat meat on Friday, but will drink gin for breakfast.
. Believes in everything he can’t see and nothing he can.
. To paraphrase Cleveland Amory, is someone who’s very good at weekends, but not very good in the middle of the week.
. Is against abortion but in favor of hanging (or vice versa).
. Has such respect for the truth he uses it only in emergencies.
. Is irrational in important things but a tower of strength in trivials.
. Gets married for life, but not necessarily for love.
. Can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.

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Speaking of Irish!
Don Finch
1/3/99
AN IRISHMAN IS A GUY WHO:
* Believes in everything he can’t see and nothing he can.

* Has such respect for the truth he uses it only in emergencies.

* Is irrational in important things but a tower of strength in trivials.

* Can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.

* Sees things not as they are but as they will never be.

* Cries at sad movies but cheers in battle.

* Considers funerals a festivity but weddings sad events to be put off as long as possible.

* Gets more Irish the further he gets from Ireland.

* Takes the pledge at age 12 - - - and every four years thereafter.

* Believes that to forgive is divine, therefore doesn’t exercise it himself.

* Considers an Irishman who achieves success to be a traitor.

* Is lovable and charming, and banks heavily that God has a sense of humor.

McCafferty’s Pub
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Raft of Irish Drinking Stories, Blessings and Proverbs
(...)
A true Irishman can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.

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“An Irishman can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.”
(Jim Murray)
More St. Pats Irish jokes:
3:48 PM - 17 Mar 2014

A Jesuit’s Jottings
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
An Irishman is A Guy Who…
May not be sure there is a God, but is damn sure of the infallibility of the Pope.
Won’t eat meat on Friday, but will drink gin for breakfast.
Believes everything he can’t see and nothing he can.
Is very good at weekends, but not so good at the middle of the week.
Is against abortion, but in favor of hanging.
Has such great respect for the truth, he uses it in emergencies.
Is irrational in important things, and a tower of strength in the trivial.
Gets married for life, but not necessarily for love.
Can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.

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Irish Americans
December 31, 2016 ·
An Irishman can argue either side of a question, often at the same time.
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