To point out that Ireland is a separate country?

[DrMantisToboggan]

Just that.

Ireland is a sovereign state, not part of the U.K. It hasn’t been part of the U.K. since 1922.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. It’s not part of Great Britain though.

Some people refer to Ireland as the Republic of Ireland, partly to differentiate it from Northern Ireland, but the legal name of the state is Ireland.

While I’m at it, the term “British Isles” is controversial and the product of colonialist geography (geography is not a value-free discipline obviously). The British Gov itself apparently has internal guidance not to use it. In joint documents the British and Irish Govs use the euphemistic phrase “these islands”, and other options include Western Atlantic Archipelago or Islands Of the North Atlantic.

There’s no such country as “Southern Ireland”. And “Eire” is also incorrect, unless you’re in the habit of referring to Germany as Deutschland or Spain as España.

The 'South' is never going to 'rejoin' England. It didn't 'join' it in the first place.

‘If the South wants to rejoin England’

Sweet Jesus. Please Xenia, just stop.

Eire? You're speaking in English, it's Ireland.

And it's definitely not "the south".

England already invaded Ireland and it took 800 years to get rid to the English from most of the country.

How you would even think for a second that the South would want to "rejoin" is beyond me. We never joined.

if all the South wants to rejoin England fine

I get what you're saying and I'm sure it feels like you're getting a hard time over this.

But the fact that you think that anyone in the republic might want this, that it's a possibility worth discussing speaks volumes.

It's like asking the English if they want to rejoin France. Of course they don't, it's a different country.

Throughout the brexit debate, it's become clear that some of the English haven't got their heads around the fact that the republic is a totally separate country. One which the English have no more authority over than say, Denmark. That attitude is really fucking annoying to the Irish, who, as another poster pointed out, spent 800 years trying to free themselves.

I get what you're saying and I'm sure it feels like you're getting a hard time over this.

But the fact that you think that anyone in the republic might want this, that it's a possibility worth discussing speaks volumes.

It's not so much the initial unawareness I object to, it's the ignoring of a number of posts trying to explain what is so ridiculous about what Xenia is posting. Not to mention doubling down by repeating the statements.

Obviously, Irish posters will know more about the detailed history of our country, which I wouldn't expect English people to necessarily know, but Xenia claims an Irish heritage yet shows no interest in learning about even the basics of what actually took place. Talk about proving the OPs point!

I was taken out of context. I said if the North wants to be part of the South fine, if all the South wants to rejoin England fine. If they want to stay as they are that's fine. I have never recommended the irish invade England or England invades Eire.

Jesus wept.

Ok Xenia how about this:

I don't mind if Palestine rejoin Israel, Israel votes to rejoin Palestine or they stay the same. I have never understood what all the fuss us about!

Do you predict that people will agree or disagree with this? Do you spot any historical issues?

Just for total clarity I DO NOT think this.

if all the South wants to rejoin England fine Jesus, what part of the statement you were an occupying power is it that you fail to understand?

We can't rejoin with you because we never joined with you in the first place.

Can't you just accept you were wrong and apologise?

*AND STOP CALLING US EIRE"

Ive just seen Xenia post on another thread. I don't know much about her but there seems to be a big backstory. In any event, based on this thread and the other one I've just seen she is either supremely dense or being goady so probably no point in further engaging.

Hilariously/tragically, the translation of the UK government’s White Paper into the Irish language is entitled “Gaelic/Gaeilge”.

I have three of these threads on my threads "I'm watching" at the moment.
Part of me is glad that posters are asking questions and opening a debate.
Part of me is tired of rehashing the same old same old over and over again.

Much as I feel posters on FWR must feel when posting about Trans issues.

I think our invasion of Ireland is an important topic that needs to be covered and should be something they learn in secondary school.

Oh my gosh, I just flicked onto the last page of this thread and saw Xenia’s comments / I agree the with the pp who said some basic history should be taught in English schools. Ireland is a different country!

I’m Irish and visiting Tanzania at the moment. In amongst the few Irish there are 10 times more British. No problem. We all get on. What has shocked the Swiss, Canadian and American and Irish volunteers is how little the British know of their own history. They ask questions such as “Is Ireland not part of Britain then?” And have no idea of where there own country’s border ends. It speaks of an education system that has failed to teach them their own geography and history.

I used to feel that when the Irish were faced with statements like this when abroad it was an arrogance that made some British people ask such ignorant questions but having had many a late night debate on all sorts of topics I’ve come to the conclusion that your education system has omitted some relevant and useful information.

@Inkspellme you're right and depressingly we are heading the same way, with history being removed as a compulsory subject in the Junior Cert.
www.irishtimes.com/news/education/president-voices-fears-about-teaching-of-history-in-schools-at-book-launch-1.3479586

It's been awful to witness the dumbing down of education in the last 20 years or so. There was huge progress (my parents left school at 14 but all their children went to university) and then it all seemed to go backwards. It's going to sound codger-ish but I'm shocked at how uneducated and ignorant a lot of young people are, even though they're "educated" on paper.

@shins, none of my children have studied recent Irish history. They could tell you all about the Monasteries and Romans etc but nothing about Michael Collins, Eamonn Dev, Padraic Pearse etc.

Apparently Irish history is too time consuming so they leave it out nowadays

If nothing else at least The Wind that Shakes the Barley and Michael Collins got them talking.