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

That's not very neighbourly araiwa.

I think Irish people overestimate the importance of Ireland to anyone outside of Ireland

I don't think so, we are well aware that most brits couldn't give a flying shit. But getting the name right isn't exactly onerous, is it? Do you have to be obsessed with the place to get the name correct?

I'm English. I say 'Northern Ireland' and 'Ireland Ireland' with friends and The Republic of Ireland in public. 🇮🇪

araiwa I think English people underestimate the importance England had on Irish history, Irish suffering and Irish life today.

As such, I think English people should be better educated. I don't blame anyone for this sins of their fathers. I really don't. I do, however, blame people who don't at least acknowledge and accept the part their fathers played in what was a massacre of a small country who had the geographical misfortune to be in their path of destruction.

Lest you forget etc.

I know the difference between northern ireland and ireland. I know belfast and dublin are the capital cities. After that im struggling to remember much else.

I thought the Republic of Ireland was the 'correct' name for the, umm, Republic of Ireland?

According to the Constitution of Ireland, "Ireland" is the official name, but "Republic of Ireland" can be used as a descriptor.

Generally it's English people who don't know anything about it and are too bloody rude to get the name of the nearest country to them right!
What? France?

Well, there's a bit of bedtime reading for you araiwa. If you can be arsed of course. I suspect you're not.

reborn there arent enough school hours to talk about all the countries England has fucked over in the past. Short answer - most countries have some sort of grumble with past english actions

I think Irish people overestimate the importance of Ireland to anyone outside of Ireland

I think you could substitute pretty much any country and corresponding nationality here and still be accurate.

True story araiwa. This one is particularly interesting though. But I would say that! Do you never wonder why the battle rages on, albeit somewhat contained at present? It think if it were Ireland I'd be very interested in knowing more.

Whats the issue then? I asked someone I was talking to where he was from and he said "western Ireland". I didn't know anything about it so I asked him. Simple. Whats special about Ireland that you can't describe in way that you would say eg "Im from up North" or West Yorkshire or some such? Why do you have to say "the South" or "The North" you aren't all one homogenous mass huddled together in same district are you..you have different areas within that (why does it even matter anyway.. )

Yes, abigcup, that is why some UK people don't use it. It isn't unreasonable to avoid using a term that you know other people don't agree with, even if you don't have a problem with the term itself.

To some people it is politically loaded, to others it is purely a geographical term which says nothing of politics. If you have a problem with it that is fine, but it is still very commonly used in the UK. Even The Guardian, which is more Ireland friendly than most UK newspapers, still uses it pretty often (despite their style guide saying "A geographical term taken to mean Great Britain, Ireland and some or all of the adjacent islands such as Orkney, Shetland and the Isle of Man. The phrase is best avoided, given its (understandable) unpopularity in the Irish Republic. Alternatives adopted by some publications are British and Irish Isles or simply Britain and Ireland")

Meant to add is saying you come from West or East banned

Generally it's English people who don't know anything about it and are too bloody rude to get the name of the nearest country to them right!
What? France?
wink

Both Wales and Scotland are nearer to England than France (also )

For most of us, MistressDeeCee, there is no issue. I would answer the question without a problem.

As an aside, did he say Western Ireland or the Wesht of Ireland. The pronunciation is v important.

Wales and Scotland are part of the UK (the UK being" their country" in this context). France is not closer to the UK than Ireland is, since we share a border.

I get that. But you did single out the English. So I am too.

I am ashamed to say that a good deal of the irish history that I know comes from the Rubberbandits or Barry Lyndon. It's not taught in schools over here, and while the IRA were bombing London when I was a kid, there was never any discussion about home rule, black & tans, or why partition happened. The odd U2 song perhaps gave a hint to anybody who cared enough to listen. It absolutely should be a part of our history curriculum.

To some people it is politically loaded, to others it is purely a geographical term which says nothing of politics. If you have a problem with it that is fine, but it is still very commonly used in the UK

Yes, people in the UK use an outdated and colonialist term because they don't have a problem with it. Very British of them altogether. Why would they, they were the colonials?

I think Irish people overestimate the importance of Ireland to anyone outside of Ireland.

It seemed important enough to England for them to occupy it.

Well I say south of Ireland - when I am going to cork!
I did explain about the Republic of Ireland to an Australian yesterday who was in a muddle.
I don't think people mean harm however I find it irritating too.

I get that. But you did single out the English. So I am too

Yes, the English as a people, but their country is the UK.

It is one of a commonly used tactic by the english. Fuck over a country then when leaving it, split it in two so they all end up fighting and hating each other and forget what the english did

Ireland, cyprus, india, palestine etc chuck in some religion too for the icing on that cake and the dispute will never end

I'd be astonished if Mistress's friend said he was from 'western Ireland' - he probably said 'the west of Ireland'.