I too am Irish and have been told I "glow in the dark" my legs are "blindingly white" there are more, but you get the picture. I have always avoided the sun as much as possible because of the sun-burns and freckles. I've always accepted them in the spirit in which we were given, tongue in cheek. They've never bothered me a bit. Is there something else going on or was it really just the sun comment that made you angry?