On last night’s episode of Downton Abbey, we heard the unfamiliar Catholic slur “left-footer.” Series creator Julian Fellowes—himself an occasional target of anti-Catholicism—has really outdone himself this time. Mackerel-snapper, sure. But left-footer? What could that possibly mean?
Hugh Cheape of the National Museums of Scotland offers an answer:
The saying turns on a traditional distinction between left- and right-handed spades in Irish agriculture. It has been used as a figure of speech and often, sadly, as a term of abuse to distinguish Protestants from Catholics: ‘He digs with the wrong foot.’
Most types of digging spade in Britain and Ireland have foot-rests at the top of their blades; two-sided spades have foot-rests on each side of the shaft and socket, while an older style of one-sided spade had only one. Two-sided spades may well have been introduced by the Protestant ‘planters’ in the sixteenth century. By the early nineteenth century specialised spade and shovel mills in the north of Ireland were producing vast numbers of two-sided spades which came to be universally used in Ulster and strongly identified with the province. One-sided spades with narrow blades and a foot-rest cut out of the side of the relatively larger wooden shaft continued in use in the south and west.
The rural population of Gaelic Ireland retained the Catholic faith and tended also to retain the one-sided spade and ‘dig with the wrong foot’. In fact, the two-sided spade of Ulster was generally used with the left foot whereas the one-sided spade tended to be used with the right foot. Instinctively, the ‘wrong foot’ of the Catholics has come to be thought of as the left foot. The figure of speech has now been extended to kicking with the wrong foot.
And so we lay another anti-Catholic charge to rest. Catholics do not worship Mary, do not profess “works-righteousness,” and above all do not dig with the left foot.
Onward ecumenism!
February 4th, 2013 | 4:30 pm
What did you get called if your family was not in farming? Justwonderin’
February 4th, 2013 | 4:38 pm
Ironic that Protestant shovels give you a choice of your own free will as to which foot to use whereas with Catholic shovels it’s predestined.
February 4th, 2013 | 6:04 pm
Less surprising than you might think, Gabriel; the free-will / predestination argument is mostly an on-side argument among Protestants. As I understand the Catholic consensus, it is both to be held that God has always known the exact number of the elect, and that Molina’s view of how He knows that is just fine (if not universally held).
The observation about spades is fascinating. I much enjoyed the linked article, as well; the explicit comparison Fellowes makes to Waugh’s work is going to enhance my enjoyment of the series.
February 4th, 2013 | 6:13 pm
Hi,
This might be just absolutely off, but it could also refer to the fact that Catholics genuflect (right knee on the floor) in front of the Blessed Sacrament (kept in the Tabernacle), which would require putting your left foot in front…
Just an idea!
Wendy
February 5th, 2013 | 10:50 am
supertradmum — everybody had to dig stuff, whether for gardening, or construction, or drainage, or whatever.
February 5th, 2013 | 12:11 pm
When I heard the Earl say that, my first reaction was that my parent’s generation of Irish-American Catholics used the term to refer to Protestants. Perhaps something was twisted around during immigration? I had heard the shovel story, but in precisely the opposite sense.
February 5th, 2013 | 6:10 pm
For those who actually dig dirt (as I did when I worked for the county many summers ago) you learn to push with the left foot if you are right handed. Much less moving of the shovel handle from side to side on each shovelful.
If that’s a nasty remark from the Brits about the Irish, it just shows British stupidity.
Of course, Lord Grantham never used a shovel in his life, so for him it’s second hand information.
February 6th, 2013 | 1:10 am
My reaction to the Earl’s expression was the same as Tom Daly’s, though I would add this. My Dad, who was from Belfast (Falls Road) always used the term to refer to Protestants. A few years ago my wife and I were surprised to hear the father of a friend of ours from Canada (who was Protestant) refer to us as “left footers” upon learning that we were Catholic. And we quickly responded “No, that’s what you are!” Fortunately, this was all said rather jokingly and without malice. The same could not be said of Lord Grantham’s remark.
February 6th, 2013 | 9:39 am
I’ve created a sodality in honor of poor Irish Catholic Tom Branson. Who wants to join? tmblr.co/ZEVqOydVinrp
February 7th, 2013 | 9:08 am
Believe it or not I find this article a bit comforting. I had never heard of this term before in my entire 56 years and what I find comforting is that racial slurs do eventually disappear as society evolves in it’s acceptance of differences. That is why I find this a comfort, lets get to work to remove other racial slurs from our vocab and knowledge!
February 11th, 2013 | 4:36 pm
It is a well-known derogatory term for Roman Catholics. My granduncle, born in Scotland in 1891, had an open disdain for Roman Catholicism. In Scotland the term is “left hander”, not “left footer”. I roared with laughter when I heard it said on Downton Abbey last night.
February 13th, 2013 | 11:08 am
I haven’t heard this term since I was a small child living in my Scottish GM & GGM’s house in the ’60′s. I suppose it’s now been resurrected.
February 14th, 2013 | 7:48 am
My Grandfather was from Co. Mayo and I was raised in the most “Anglican” US community – Charleston, S.C. Lowcountry. I was called ‘Mackerel Snapper’, “Irish Rebel, & ‘Papist’ almost as an introduction!.We smiled and knew that “There are Irish and those that wished they were”. Irish-American confidence is contagious and a “Faith” in itself. My dearest friends are Anglican, Jewish, Baptist and Papist. God bless America for the “Grand Stew” we truly are!
February 14th, 2013 | 2:12 pm
Tom Daly: I am so glad you responded. I come from an extremely Irish Catholic background ( Irish Christian Brothers etc etc).”Left footers ” were Protestants and the expression was a common one.
Thank you
Bill V.
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