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.

Ah so you want to do it in a “ya boo, up yours” sort of way?

You could phrase it like that if you were being childish. But as you know its not particularly me, its a whole country of people who feel they are just standing up for their culture/identity.

Until such times as a significant majority of people in N.I. want to be subsumed by the ROI then they should be respected as a separate country and not just a region of the ROI/Ireland.

Yes, Cork is in Southern Ireland. Being that it is in the southern part of Ireland.

Cork is de real republic, like!

www.europa-pages.com/ireland/map-of-southern-ireland.html

This is Southern Ireland . However, it refers to the most Southern parts of the Republic of Ireland.

But as you know its not particularly me, its a whole country of people who feel they are just standing up for their culture/identity.

Wait, are you now stating that all NI unionists use the term “Southern Ireland”? In order to “stand up for their culture”? Sorry, you’ve just jumped the shark

As someone who has lived in NI , Irish passport holder now and also British . I personally find most English people don’t know or care . It was also surveyed that they’d rather lose NI from the UK than impact Brexit

Really... I thought anything that would halt or impact Brexit would be well received by most in the UK.

I do not see why the term "The British Isles" should be objectionable when used in Britain. Outside Britain you can call them what you like.

Funny, my Irish granny, living in the UK, always puts Eire on her letters back home.

She also refers to the Republic when distinguishing between places in Northern Ireland and, well, you know where.

I guess she hasn’t seen the memo. Just semantics really though isn’t it? Try living in a part of the Netherlands that isn’t Holland, now they’ve got reason to be pissed off.

My DF still calls the Republic the Free State and at 97 he's not going to change now I wouldn't have thought.

Ireland is a country. Six of it's counties are occupied. It's still one country.
How hard is that?

Monty27 that may be wishful thinking on your part, but you are quite wrong.

The six counties are no more occupied than Wales and Scotland. Along with England, they are semi-autonomous regions which make up the UK. They can also be referred to as countries.

My DF still calls the Republic the Free State and at 97 he's not going to change now I wouldn't have thought.

Fine. He's still referring to something that doesn't exist any more, his age changes nothing about him being incorrect.

2up2
It's my opinion as it is with many others.
I am entitled to voice. Whether you think I am right or wrong is irrelevant.

Interesting thread, and welcome.

But what’s the objection to “the Republic” when used to distinguish between it and NI? I haven’t read any proper reason on this thread.

I don't have an objection to the Republic as a term because that's what it is. Whereas the other six counties of northern Ireland are occupied.
I can't see the confusion either

Ireland is a country. Six of it's counties are occupied. It's still one country. How hard is that?

You didn’t state this as an opinion. How hard is that? implies it is a statement of facts that everyone but you is getting wrong.

And I’m sorry but geopolitical descriptions are not a matter of opinion.

Monty27 not as per GFA.

Politicalacuityisathing*

It's like using "American" for things from the U.S.A. Ask a Mexican how they feel about that!

How does a Mexican feel about that?

Only in this case its politicians deliberately calling N.I. the North of Ireland, and its residents, people of the North to further a political agenda. And while they continue to do that I think its legitimate to use the same language for the South of Ireland.

They call it 'The North' don't they? Partly because they don't want to call it 'Northern Ireland' and partly because it is erm, The North.

Still don't get why that makes the rest of Ireland 'Southern Ireland'?

I find actually most Irish people avoid using stuff like North and South, and just say the county they where they are going (without the 'County' prefix!) eg. Antrim, Sligo, Cork, Wexford.

It's been a can of worms for years. I can understand people's strong views. I think as gradually Protestants are moving to a minority in Northern Ireland (48%) presumably the chances of a united Ireland increase.

walkingdeadfangirl NI is in the north of the island, so it's not wrong to call it "the North" (albeit people tend to do it because they dislike the country NI). However, it is factually incorrect to describe Ireland as "the South" or "Southern Ireland" as not all of it is in the south of the island (obvs) and some of it is north of NI.

Lots of catholics want to remain part of the U.K. too though Xenia. It’s not as black and white as catholics want X and Protestants want Y.

andylion cultural/social/political imperialism - co-opting the name of the continental mass as an adjective for one part.