Mary,
If you mean by "take" that one was a modified version of the other, I don't think so. It is true that Dublin at one time had a mayor who was Jewish, and the Irish are said to be descended from the lost tribe of Israel, but I don't think that the two cultures (especially in the Gaeltech-the Gaelic speaking area) had much contact with each other since the potato was introduce to Europe from South America. However there are only so many ways to make a pancake, so the recipes could be very similar. If anyone wants to check it out, here's the recipe for Boxty.
Christmas Eve was a fast & abstain day, So Mom used to make Boxty (potato pancakes) for dinner.
Here's a poem I found with my recipe.
Boxty on the pan
Boxty on the griddle
If you don't get boxty
You'll never get a man
( I know it doesn't rhyme? Maybe it does in Gaelic.
Boxty
4 med potatoes 1 med onion 1 whole egg 2 tablespoons flour salt and pepper 2 tablespoons oil
- Peel and grate potatoes. In a bowl, mix with onions.
- Whisk the egg. Add to the potatos, along with flour, salt and pepper
- Heat oil in heavy bottom skillet. Over medium heat, drop 2 tablespoons of the mixture onto the oil. Flatten slightly to form a round
- Fry until golden brown, turning once, 3-4 minutes per side.
They used to take a can, flatten it and make holes it it with a big ten penny nail . Then they'd use the rough side as a grater.