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.

You're all wrong. Ireland is a village in Bedfordshire.

Western Atlantic Archipelago
That would be the islands off the east coast of the Americas then.

It has derogatory connotations, owing to how it was used by British politicians and people from the late 30s onwards. All part of poking fun at and asserting superiority over the silly Irish with their silly language.

This^. If you can imagine it being said with air quotes whilst rolling eyes and smirking.

As an Irish person who lived in the UK the sheer volume of people who didn't know there was a part of Ireland that wasn't part of the UK really shocked me. And those that did know part of it "didn't belong to us anymore", didn't know whether it was Southern or Northern Ireland. The use of "Southern Ireland" boils my blood, so I started to refer to it as The Republic of Ireland.
I don't think it's just bad education, although I do think the school history there is bad. But people mostly just didn't care, even after being corrected.
I have also lived in Turkey. Most people there understood the difference between the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic. The only mistake I encountered was one person not realising Northern Ireland was still in the UK, and not Ireland.

Yes there is something about the use of 'Southern Ireland' that really grates.

I live in Germany and am married to a German and using 'Deutschland' in a conversation otherwise being conducted in English would, to me, be about implying something about Germany or the Germans. Probably relating to a 'Nazi' stereotype. Likewise, sometimes Germans drop words of English into conversations with me, where perfectly good German equivalents exist. Some are just showing off, but it often has an aggressive or patronising edge (or both) to it. So I can well imagine that smirky eye-rolly use of 'Éire'. (IIRC, using it was considered the 'correct' form of address for a letter to Ireland when I was a child in England in the 80s). And even if not used with that intent, it's kind of cultural appropriation.

I have also lived in Turkey. Most people there understood the difference between the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic. The only mistake I encountered was one person not realising Northern Ireland was still in the UK, and not Ireland

Well that's encouraging. Because the number of foreigners who think Wales and Scotland are in England is quite extraordinary.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon

It’s on a par with saying “i’m going on a holiday to España next week” or maybe “I’ve heard Mary’s new neighbour is from Deutschland”.

If they are the kind of things you would say normally then I guess you don’t see why it’s incorrect.

runningkeenster

I have never heard anyone make that mistake, but being from Ireland of course I'm more sensitive to mistakes around my own country! I can see how that would be frustrating too!

im offended op refers to a country called 'UK' there is no country called the uk referring to the 'United kingdom' however there is no country called the united kingdom there is a country (sovereign state) called United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland it seems as the op is forgetting Northern Ireland. when creating a thread about names of countries to be completely accurate on all countries they mention

Hmmm, well my mother always called it Eire, and as she was born there as the eldest of 12 in 1916, I and my family will continue to call it Eire in speech and written correspondence, go raibh maith agat.

OldBean - it's (obv) different if you are actually Irish.

Some Dubliners still don't realise that Donegal isn't part of Northern Ireland. What hope is there for other countries.

As a side note I have only heard the ROI be referred to as the Free State by a Shinner recently. I thought that phrase was long gone.

Singerleon

That of course wouldn't be the usual way of referring to those countries in english, but j wouldn't go as far as saying as it's incorrect.

I take the point about the historic derogatory comments about the use of Éire (which I hadn't appreciated before) and the fact that if you are speaking irish you'd be unlikely to actually say "Éire" due to the grammatical structure. But I can't see how it's incorrect just because you're speaking English (at least they're not saying "southern ireland" which is obviously incorrect!) But then I also remember being taught that it was the proper way to address a letter so maybe I've internalised it as the correct form of address!

I knew that Northern Ireland was ours and Ireland wasn't. It's amazing that some people don't, but nothing has surprised me since I found out that some people really do think the world is flat.

The naming conventions I was less sure of given that the island is called Ireland. I had thought Éire was the polite term at one point and then I found out that it wasn't. It's not like everyone here is waiting for a chance to use the wrong term on purpose.

@DrMantisToboggan @SamBob

How was that possible, Ada, since they are only just announcing plans to remove History as a compulsory Junior Cert subject - much to the chagrin of, among others, Miggeldy Higgins?

AFAIK, history is compulsory in voluntary schools associated with religious orders, but not in community or VEC/ETB schools.

I knew that Northern Ireland was ours and Ireland wasn't.

Where are you from? Because Northern Ireland is part of the UK, it doesn't belong to another part.

I knew that Northern Ireland was ours

Sorry, what??

Peace and love to everyone in the Western Atlantic Archipelago or Islands Of the North Atlantic.

NEVER heard any bit of Ireland referred to as Western Atlantic Archipelago before

Me neither

I would have assumed that many people talk about southern (with a small s) Ireland to distinguish it from the bit at the other end, which seems fair enough to me.

No doubt many people innocently get it wrong, but then they probably aren't aware of the nuances at play and are not doing it on purpose to offend.

How many of you know the political history and precise current situation on the islands of Cyprus, Timor and Hispaniola?

Moneypenny
"I have only heard the ROI be referred to as the Free State by a Shinner recently"

Isn't that because historically Sinn Fein/IRA did not recognise the Republic; their aim is was a united 32 county Ireland?

LastTrain do you consider some countries to belong to you? As in Northern Ireland?
Is that how you view the world- "that bit belongs to us, but that bit doesn't?"
I'm not being goady and I realise the tone may not translate on-screen.
I'm genuinely interested to know if that is how people view the world.

Ah ok angelika. I went to a community school but can’t remember if history was compulsory at the JC or not (I know I did it though, and for the LC).

The whole issue has been reported in an odd, classist way, in that case.

actually
"How many of you know the political history and precise current situation on the islands of Cyprus, Timor and Hispaniola?"

I'm quite familiar with the situation in Cyprus; I've visited there , and being a polite person, I read about the country and it's history before and after.
Timor- I've certainly read about in the papers, and would love the opportunity to ask a native about their country.

Hispaniola- without Google not a clue.
However, if it was the next country over from me, you can bet I would know a lot about it and would likely have visited regularly.
And I doubt I would have the attitude that it "belongs" to me.

How many of you know the political history and precise current situation on the islands of Cyprus, Timor and Hispaniola?

None of those are

(A) our closest neighbours
(B) with whom we share a land border
and (C) formerly a constituent part of our country until they won (partial) independence.

Not the same thing at all.

How many of you know the political history and precise current situation on the islands of Cyprus, Timor and Hispaniola?

Ah yes, Ireland’s famous next door neighbours with which it has long standing history.