'Up The Long Ladder' Star Trek's Space Irish Episode On The Next Generation

Some Trekkers Feel 'Up The Long Ladder' Broadly Caricaturizes Guest Stars In The Episode Calling Them 'Space Irish' With One Of The Co-Stars, Colm Meaney, Blasting It For Bad Irish Stereotypes

Saint Patrick’s Day brings out the wearing of the green and everyone can become Irish - if only for a day. On Star Trek, visiting planets for a Starship is easy peasy lemon squeezy, and when Captain Picard’s Enterprise 1701-D discovers a colony of backward humans, it’s soon realized their colorful heritage can traced back to Earth’s Ireland.

This Star Trek: The Next Generation episode - 'Up The Long Ladder' - numbers as one of the more memorably divisive episodes. Most Trekkers agree it's definitely funny, even lots of fun, yet the story - along with a comical depiction of the Irish characters aka Space Irish - comes under fire from fans and even one of TNG's co-stars, Colm Meaney who plays Chief Miles O'Brien.

Guest starring respected British actors Rosalyn Landor and Barrie Ingham, this Season 2 Next Generation tale upsets many for the broadly or overly drawn characters. Colm Meaney felt it is beyond agreeably comical, but verges into offensive stereotypes and Irish culture caricatures. Meaney publicly shares his hate for this Star Trek entry. Let's talk Space Irish, drinking replicated booze and merrily sending in the clones with Up The Long Ladder.

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