Looking at the sheer volume of Irish mammy parodies on the internet and the massive success of shows like Mrs Brown's Boys, it's safe to assume that we have a fixation. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that Irish lads are complete mama's boys. But why so? For the following reasons, mother-lovers:
1) Small Country
Firstly, the geographic state of affairs is a big factor. You look at countries like the States, where students will often have to travel vast distances to go to university or start a job, so in those situations they rarely go home. However, in Ireland's case, the small size of the country makes travel home so much easier that you don't really have a reasonable excuse not to go home every so often.
2) Madonna/Whore Complex
This is another psychological hangover courtesy of Ireland's longterm relationship with the Catholic Church. The complex is exactly like it sounds: it's the subconscious tendency for a male to see a woman in terms of either a Madonna or a whore figure. Not very enlightened, eh? James Joyce had it bad. If the theory behind this is correct, then Irish men tend to see their mothers as the freaking Virgin Mary. How messed up is that?
3) Caretaker
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Going home is a bit like checking into a B&B, only the innkeeper is genuinely happy to see you and it's free. The Irish mammy belongs to the old school of the caretaking woman, as opposed to a modern girl's pesky desire for equal treatment, the kind who will make you precisely zero sandwiches while watching The Late Late Show.
4) Food
They not only give you permission to eat more, but they insist upon it because they know the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach. Who doesn't love a license to just eat whatever they want, whenever they want?
5) The Washing
They will always do it. Night, noon or morning. Give Mama a call and she'll have the washing machine on faster than you can say 'Jesus, Mary and Joesph.'
