The Irishman who is a Union member? (8)
I believe the answer is:
european
'union member?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'the irishman who is a' is the wordplay.
'the irishman who' becomes 'europe' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'is a' becomes 'an'.
'europe'+'an'='EUROPEAN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for european that I've seen before include "The E of the EU" , "Foreigner" , "'Belgian, Spaniard or Greek, say (8)'" , "Pole, perhaps" , "German, for example" .)