To want to shout at people who write Southern Ireland

[ParadiseCity]

THERE IS NO SUCH FUCKING COUNTRY! And if you really were as clever as you pretend to be, you might just fucking know that. Arrrgghhh.

I feel a bit better for that. Please feel free to add your own

I think people say it to try and help the ignorant along a bit don't they? That's the way I've heard it; "Ireland. No the Republic...No...SOUTHERN Ireland!"

It's amazing how many people don't seem to know where Ireland is, or that it's split, or that NI is part of the UK or anything much at all

Why?
I am married to somebody from the "occupied six counties" and have had enough of this. People mean no harm. They are contrasting Northern with Southern. A mistake but not 700 years of oppression.

Ask them how Donegal is in Southern Ireland

NI is not part of the UK

YANBU.

Ditto "Eire"

Yes it is 7to5

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countries_of_the_United_Kingdom

NI is not part of the UK

It is isn't it?

It's the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland I hope I'm right.

NI is not part of the UK

Eh? When did that happen. You'd think they'd have told me if I no longer lived in the UK...

I guess it's seen along the same lines as Southern England, North East, North of England, Scottish Islands and Highlands etc is it worth being annoyed about?

Maybe you're being towed treacle. Check out of the window

My mind is blown that anyone can be unaware that NI is part of the UK.

What do you think almost 100 years (and counting) of fighting was about?

Yes yes Mumof56 - explaining to people that Donegal is in Republic is shockingly difficult!

I've no problem with people referring to southern Ireland

so long as they mean the Cork, Kerry, Waterford area......

7to25
Since when?

It's about politics. Those who feel Ireland should be a united republic sometimes refer to "the north of Ireland" and "the south of Ireland".

Maybe you're being towed treacle. Check out of the window

This has implications for me! I've been paying tax as a UK citizen, using the NHS etc...

What's wrong with Eire?

I tend to use Republic of...but I'd like to know! Eire used to be used a lot on adverts.

NI is not part of the UK

I totally agree. People who live in the Republic don't call it the South.
NI is part of the UK but not part of GB.

Us Irish are a bit sensitive about such things.

@Ginorchoc - no, not the same at all. Parts of what people refer to as Southern Ireland are more northernly than Northern Ireland. When people refer to southern England, they are using it as a geographic descriptor.

Ask them how Donegal is in Southern Ireland

Is that the bit in the far north west of the Island of Ireland?

To offer a defence on behalf of those of us in England/Wales/Scotland. I don't think the history, geography and politics of Ireland is generally taught in schools, which is a shame, as it is interesting and relevant - I've been reading a bit since the General Election and situation with the DUP/Conservative arrangement or whatever it is.

But what hope is there when most of the country seem to think that Elmlea is the same as cream, even though the word cream isn't visible to the naked eye on the tub.

Eire has a whiff of a 1940s BBC newsreader. It just sounds condescending.

Eire is fine if you also call Germany Deutschland etc

People who live in the Republic don't call it the South

They do sometimes actually; here in the no-man's land that is the border region. When you sometimes have to explain to people from 'down the country' that yes, they do take euros in Donegal/Monaghan/Cavan, because 'it's the South'. Although technically and geographically speaking, it's north...

Ah, Oireland, you gotta love it!

NI is not part of the UK

Yes it is. You might think it shouldn't be, but that's a different thing.