[quote DownNative]@LizzieAnt
I've supported my argument that "Ireland" was used for decades by the Irish Government in their united Ireland agenda. That's very clear from quotes by Irish Government ministers and civil servants.
Vis a vis the Department of External Affairs quote, I'm actually saying that Irish Government wanted to use "Ireland" instead of "Éire" as seen here:
"....to prevent the use.....of expressions which are not in accordance with our external position and may prove embarrassing to us on policy grounds.”
Basically, their external position was “Ireland's claim to complete freedom of her entire territory.”
That means the entire island and, therefore, the Irish State should take the name "Ireland" in furtherance of their anti-partition agenda. To not to do so meant, in their view, their claim to the entire island could be undermined.
Indeed, it was argued in the Dàil they should adopt the name "Ireland" to prevent Northern Ireland from doing so. This would have ruined their political claim over the entire island.
That, I'm afraid, is the crux of that specific issue.
The assertions made by others is ahistorical which is why they cannot quote anything in support of their argument.[/quote]
But we know that history DownNative?
That's what I meant by saying it's not at all confusing and never was. It doesn't need explaining (in Ireland), as least not if you're a bit older, as I am.
The position has changed over the years though.
And the Irish state relinquished their constitutional claim on NI in the Good Friday Agreement. Today, if I say I'm from Ireland, it doesn't mean I'm pushing for reunification or that I think Ireland the state means more that 26 counties. It's been that way for a long time actually, for most people here anyway, I think?
I do, of course, appreciate that those in NI have a different perspective on naming.