To point out yet again to the geographically challenged of Britain....

[AnnabelleLee]

THAT northern Ireland is in the UK. Ireland is an entirely separate country. Like,properly different,with its own currency and culture and laws and all that.
FFS.

Yep. Have seen it on here more times than i care to remember. How does anyone not know that northern ireland and ireland are two seperate countries
It always makes me laugh, when i see the regular american bashing threads on here, accusing americans of being geographically challenged(grin]

Eire is Irish for Ireland. I would think its a bit like referring to Germany as Deutschland (sorry if thats not spelt correctly!). As an Irish person I wouldn't find it offensive but would wonder why anyone who isn't Irish or doesn't speak Irish would use it?

I actually know Northern Irish who are catholic and Irish who of course do not mind at all to be called Irish, that's what they mostly call themselves...but I have yet to meet a Protestant Northern irish (of Scottish or English descent) who likes being called Northern Irish...it's the "irish part" that usually grates with them.

They are actually also the ones who identify their home country as Ulster.

Only the Protestant irish I know like to refer to themselves as Irish as well.

I am a N Ireland person of Scottish descent and I don't mind being referred to as Northern Irish Neither do any of my friends or family. In fact, I can't even find it in me to be offended by being called Irish, although in reality I'd say I'm in the minority there, as most people from my background would be horrified by it.

but I have yet to meet a Protestant Northern irish (of Scottish or English descent) who likes being called Northern Irish...it's the "irish part" that usually grates with them.

There are plenty of us I can assure you. I've never met anyone who objects to being "Northern Irish" and I grew up there!

I live in England now. I couldn't care less whether I'm thought of as Irish or not - I mostly am I think.

Really the only thing that shocks me is the bit about not knowing that Northern Ireland is in fact the UK. I admit I've been surprised at people not knowing that!

But, having said that, I'm still British. I was born in the UK and hold a UK passport. It's just that I don't see it as some horrible insult to be called Irish.

The thorny issue of ni identity has no bearing on the actual point of the thread. Although you are all proving my point...you always end up talking about northern Ireland.
Which is not in the country of Ireland. I'll repeat: DIFFERENT COUNTRY.

as most people from my background would be horrified by it.

That's what I thought, but of course there will always be the one or the other who doesn't feel that way...for example you two.

My feeling/observation was also that there is more and more a connection being made to be part of the celtic world/culture, when it comes to Northern irishscottish and irish, but hey with the ones of english descent...no, no no mostly it's UK, Britain and Ulster as an identity...yes being from Nortern ireland officially, but not really feeling happy about the irish part...

But happy to meet you and am sure there are more, what do I know, I only speak of my very individual (limited) experience as a visitor and guest.

Who has said it's in the country of ireland now???? Heh, I am confused

true, I know the thorny issue of our identity was not the original point of the thread but it does tend to follow on from the original issue, as sure as night follows day

We are just having a nice exchange, which sort of happens when people get to sit together and chat. One leads to the next...

Is limey still used in the us to describe english people? I've always wondered about the origin of that.

Well, I'm going to keep using the British Isles whenever it's necessary (which is rarely). If other people want to use the rather ambiguous term 'Western European Islands/Isles' then they are free to do so. Just as I'm free to think the term is a. less well known b. less commonly used and c. ambiguous.

WEI supporters are free to try to persuade everyone who lives in the UK and the island of Ireland (North and South) to adopt WEI... not sure how long it will take but good luck to them.

worldcitizen, the Protestant people in Northern Ireland are not so historically segregated that people are identifiably of English descent, as opposed to having Scottish, Huguenot, Dutch, or even Irish convert ancestors.

badtime I'm not so sure about that actually, because it's pretty clear around Co Antrim that we are largely of Scottish descent, both because of our accent and because Presbyterian churches outnumber Church of Ireland by about three to one. Whereas around Co Down and Armagh there seems to be a greater English heritage.

Although I do agree that people don't routinely look at it in such detail, and don't consider it to matter much.

Where do we stand on 'British Islands'? Is it political or geographical 'cos now I'm confused and my knowledge of UK/British/English/European geography is usually quite good.

badtime, I understand, however you won't find many with clearly identifiable Dutch or Huguenot names.
And many are also culturally and attitude-wise much closer to English than of Dutch or Huguenot, I would say.
With Scottish and Irish Protestant I find much more diffucult, but usually I would say yes there was and partially still is clear segregation in the sense of where do the Protestant live and what do they own and which positions do they have etc.
That community and neighbourhood feel and schooling and cultural traditions do make them identifiable, as much as the Irish Catholic are identifiable via names, attitudes, neighbourhoods and parts they grew up in and accent etc.

But again it can get tricky with irish and scottish. For me at least...Thanks again for you all with all the xplaining and all that.

And hey annabelle we're still not making it the SAME COUNTRY... just chatting

I'd never heard of 'British Islands' until this thread either.

I've got an identifiable Hugenot name!

But I still consider myself to be more of a Scottish heritage, because about 90% of my ancestors originated from there, it just happens that the name I've ended up with is Hugenot in origin.

I've heard of British Islands. That's not the problem. It's just now I'm not sure whether they are the same thing as 'British Isles'. And if they are the same is it not an official term because it should be 'Western European Islands' officially. If they're not the same thing it's fine and I'm no longer confused.

Yes, treaclesoda, that's what I mean. People are all mixed. Perhaps, worldcitizen, you meant with more of an English cultural heritage rather than of 'English descent'.

I have an Irish surname (actually from north Antrim), but I am of mostly Scottish descent, with a bit of Huguenot. There were at 2 people in my class of 30 in school with Dutch names.

Actually, forget that, ignore. I'm being a bit of a twat. Of course British Isles and British Islands are different things.

ah, yes, I understand now badtime. I see what you mean now. I agree.

Whistleblower0 Limey comes from the lime juice that the Royal Navy used to dose its sailors with to help prevent scurvy.

Yes, badtime. I meant more that. Sorry, English not being my native language, it sometimes doesn't come across so refined in trying to get the point across.

So, by the way which are now British Isles and which are the British islands?

I've heard or actually know both as geographical terms.