Do Irish people refer to the Islands of North West Europe

diomed

Great Britain is the large island.
Little Britain is the small island, which is appropriate.

Widdershins

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Gordon Brown. You're welcome. One to stroke off your bucket list.

There's an exception to every rule and maybe it was prudent to use such language in his line of work. I'd imagine it could easily become habitual if you picked it up from peers and didn't give much thought to it. I have never *personally* heard it.

Jesus.

You haven't heard a lot of things Widdershins. You sure you get out enough?

I've heard many's a Scot & Welsh call themselves British.

Widdershins

Jesus. wrote: »

How is it faster to say Britain and Ireland than the British Isles?



No I was talking about people referring to Ireland alone. Or, if they were to say Britain and the British Isles rather than Britain and Ireland.

Widdershins

Jesus. wrote: »

You haven't heard a lot of things Widdershins. You sure you get out enough?

I've heard many's a Scot & Welsh call themselves British.

Yes plenty. I haven't spoken to every scot or welsh person nor have you. I'll take your word for it. As I have said it's probably a habit. It might be a political statement too. Some might call it ignorant.

Jesus.

Widdershins wrote: »

It might be a political statement too.

As it would a Scot when asked are you British and he says "no I'm Scottish".

Load of nonsense really.

Widdershins

Jesus. wrote: »

As it would be a Scot when asked are you British and he says "no I'm Scottish".

Load of nonsense really.

Yep and why shouldn't he. It doesn't need to cause friction or anything.

Your Face

I think they call them islands.

The Backwards Man

Jesus. wrote: »

How is it faster to say Britain and Ireland than the British Isles?



How about "down the north". I've heard many Country folk say that.

Nobody here says that.


You go into the north and out to the south. Everybody knows that.

Jesus.

Widdershins wrote: »

No I was talking about people referring to Ireland alone. Or, if they were to say Britain and the British Isles rather than Britain and Ireland.

Well that's something I have never heard simply because it doesn't make sense.

You sure you heard somebody say that?

Jesus.

Widdershins wrote: »

Yep and why shouldn't he. It doesn't need to cause friction or anything.

Sure but you said a Scot calling himself British could be making a political point and I'm saying the opposite could also be true.

Widdershins

Jesus. wrote: »

Sure but you said a Scot calling himself British could be making a political point and I'm saying the opposite could also be true.

I agree. Neither is the end of the world but I feel the scot has the right of it if he asserts that he's scottish in response to being called british.

Widdershins

Jesus. wrote: »

Well that's something I have never heard simply because it doesn't make sense.

You sure you heard somebody say that?

Yes, on Facebook. I think he was on a crusade to be annoying.

Jesus.

Widdershins wrote: »

I agree. Neither is the end of the world but I feel the scot has the right of it if he asserts that he's scottish in response to being called british.

But he doesn't if he asserts that he's British in response to being called Scottish?

OldGoat

Is it too early to mention Great Blasket and the Blasket Islands? Is there a case to be made for calling ourselves Blasketers, a Blasket-case if you will.

Widdershins

Jesus. wrote: »

But he doesn't if he asserts that he's British in response to being called Scottish?

I'd find it strange for him to assert a british identity above a scottish identity, I'd have thought it would be the other way around. Surely Scottish first and foremost is simply more accurate but british also applies. If scotland were to become independent then that would be different. If he wants to identify as a brit above a scot or instead of a scot that's his choice. I wonder if he would still go for ''brit'' if they did become independent? And why?

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

BabyE wrote: »

as the 'British Isles'? Because if you do, then by defacto you are technically British, not a British national but you self-identify as belonging to the islands of Britain, therefore you are British.

What absolute bollocks - even by AH standards.

Riva10

The government’s position is the same as outlined in a Parliamentary Question from 2005, which was pointed out by TheJournal.ie commenter Alan Lawlor in the discussion last week. The answer was given by then-Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.
The TD had asked for the government or DFA position on “the use of the term British Isles when referring to Ireland and Britain”:
The British Isles is not an officially recognised term in any legal or inter-governmental sense. It is without any official status. The Government, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, does not use this term.

Skylinehead

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Great Britain actually, as in bigger. Which means Ireland should really be Little Britain.

diomed wrote: »

Great Britain is the large island.
Little Britain is the small island, which is appropriate.

Little Britain is actually Brittany.


Or that tv show

Omackeral

Omackeral wrote: »

The British and Irish Isles maybe? If British Isles covers IOM and the CI's then that term should work.

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Or, we could go with the term British Isles used by the Greeks long before either country existed and stop being so self conscious.

Oh I don't actually mind about us being called the British Isles tbh. Just coming up with some possible alternatives.

Omackeral

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

I geographically identify as a northern hemispherean

TRIGGERED!

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Omackeral wrote: »

Oh I don't actually mind about us being called the British Isles tbh. Just coming up with some possible alternatives.

You realise everyone outside of Ireland, no one cares and a lot of them use the term "Brittish Isles" when speaking English?

Skylinehead

Omackeral wrote: »

TRIGGERED!

I'm so far north I'm a special snowflake

Omackeral

BabyE wrote: »

as the 'British Isles'? Because if you do, then by defacto you are technically British, not a British national but you self-identify as belonging to the islands of Britain, therefore you are British.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

What absolute bollocks - even by AH standards.

Agreed. Are Canadians considered American because they're from North America? Or Chileans because they're from South America? It's just nomenclature.

IrishProd

RayM wrote: »

Doesn't bother me at all when people over on the mainland call Ireland 'Eire'.

Éire

Steve wrote: »

It's actually the Republic of Ireland..

Don't that fact hamper your rant though.

I refer you both to:

Bunreacht na hÉireann

THE STATE

ARTICLE 4
The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English
language, Ireland.

As you were.

BabyE

Omackeral wrote: »

Agreed. Are Canadians considered American because they're from North America? Or Chileans because they're from South America? It's just nomenclature.

Yes, yes they are, a south american will always correct you if you call an 'estadounidense' an american seemingly oblivious to the fact that they too are Americans. I've never encountered that with a Canadian but I know south americans have a complex about not being referred to as Americans. Its sort of the opposite phenomenon to what we are talking about here, I suppose it be like an American(I use the term too) or a South American referring to us as 'British' and talking about 'Europeans' in a different sentence.

Widdershins

IrishProd wrote: »

Éire




I refer you both to:



As you were.

So when speaking in English we refer to it by its English name. If not, why not?

dont bother

BabyE wrote: »

as the 'British Isles'? Because if you do, then by defacto you are technically British, not a British national but you self-identify as belonging to the islands of Britain, therefore you are British.

Western European archipelago seems better. Makes more sense, European is an organic natural fluid term, reflecting our shared heritage and culture, it is extremely annoying when in other parts of Europe and we just get lumped in with Brits.

what a load of sh!t - who gives a sh!t????

if people can "identify" as whatever the fvck they want these days, why would you care if people want to be something else than "irish"?
i hate this kip and i'd give anything not to be lumped in with the irish

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

BabyE wrote: »

as the 'British Isles'? Because if you do, then by defacto you are technically British, not a British national but you self-identify as belonging to the islands of Britain, therefore you are British.

Western European archipelago seems better. Makes more sense, European is an organic natural fluid term, reflecting our shared heritage and culture, it is extremely annoying when in other parts of Europe and we just get lumped in with Brits.

People in Britain refer to the stretch of water between us as the Irish Sea. Are they technically Irish?

IrishProd

Omackeral wrote: »

Agreed. Are Canadians considered American because they're from North America? Or Chileans because they're from South America? It's just nomenclature.

How difficult is this for you most of you to grasp?

North American=Geographical Term
American=Political Term as it describes a nationality
South American=Geographical Term
British=Political term as it describes a nationality

IrishProd

Athena Flaky Thermostat wrote: »

People in Britain refer to the stretch of water between us as the Irish Sea. Are they technically Irish?

Would that make them mermaids as well then seeing as you are equating landmass with the ocean?

IrishProd

Widdershins wrote: »

So when speaking in English we refer to it by its English name. If not, why not?

Whatever you prefer, as long as you spell and say it correctly, otherwise you would just look and sound stupid.

Widdershins

dont bother wrote: »

what a load of sh!t - who gives a sh!t????

if people can "identify" as whatever the fvck they want these days, why would you care if people want to be something else than "irish"?
i hate this kip and i'd give anything not to be lumped in with the irish

With that attitude I'm sure any country would see you as an asset and take you in with open arms.

Omackeral

IrishProd wrote: »

How difficult is this for you most of you to grasp?

North American=Geographical Term
American=Political Term as it describes a nationality
South American=Geographical Term
British=Political term as it describes a nationality

Nice smug attitude but the British in this sense refers to Britain, as in the island, which contains England, Scotland and Wales. It's a geographical term in this instance.

blackwhite

vicwatson wrote: »

It does wreck my head when GB companies send a package to me like ...

45 Old Road
Longford
EIRE

EIRE? Like what? Bet they don't say the same when writing to FRANCAIS or DEUTSCHLAND - it's always France or Germany at bottom line, lack of education methinks

http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Historical_Information/The_Constitution/Bunreacht_na_h%C3%89ireann_October_2015_Edition.pdf

Article 4, Bunreacht na hÉireann

The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland.

And btw, the reason they don't say "Francais" is that it means French, not France (which is "La France")

Omackeral

BabyE wrote: »

Yes, yes they are, a south american will always correct you if you call an 'estadounidense' an american seemingly oblivious to the fact that they too are Americans. I've never encountered that with a Canadian but I know south americans have a complex about not being referred to as Americans. Its sort of the opposite phenomenon to what we are talking about here, I suppose it be like an American(I use the term too) or a South American referring to us as 'British' and talking about 'Europeans' in a different sentence.

I wasn't aware of this. So South Americans would consider themselves American in the sense we'd be considered European? I think I've heard that Latin American countries think of all of America ie North and South as just one continent. Is that right? It's a different kind of American, if that makes sense.

Canadians wouldn't ever use the term though.

IrishProd

Omackeral wrote: »

Nice smug attitude but the British in this sense refers to Britain, as in the island, which contains England, Scotland and Wales. It's a geographical term in this instance.

Do I need to point out that it also refers to Ireland in this context, hence the issue, like it or not it has political and nationalistic connotations in that regard.

Which is why a signifcant amount of people, probably a majority in Ireland anyway, when referring to Ireland and Britain prefer to say........Ireland and Britain.

It really is not rocket science...

Harvey Normal

Omackeral wrote: »

Agreed. Are Canadians considered American because they're from North America? Or Chileans because they're from South America? It's just nomenclature.

Er, yes they are considered Americans.

KERSPLAT!

IrishProd wrote: »

Would that make them mermaids as well then seeing as you are equating landmass with the ocean?

Ah Jaysus, I'm in stitches here

Harvey Normal

Omackeral wrote: »

I wasn't aware of this. So South Americans would consider themselves American in the sense we'd be considered European? I think I've heard that Latin American countries think of all of America ie North and South as just one continent. Is that right? It's a different kind of American, if that makes sense.

Canadians wouldn't ever use the term though.

Canadians are American too. It's a continent. Of course most people when they say American think US citizen but that's not correct.

IrishProd

Harvey Normal wrote: »

Er, yes they are considered Americans.

By who?

Harvey Normal wrote: »

Canadians are American too. It's a continent. Of course most people when they say American think US citizen but that's not correct.

Newsflash.

America =/= North Amercia

Ragnar Lothbrok

I've always thought that the term British Isles was a purely geographic term used in atlases, not a political term.

I can't really think of any scenario when I'd ever need to use a specific term to describe the islands of Ireland and Britain as one unit, though. Does anyone ever really use the term, or is it just a wind up OP?

Iwasfrozen

IrishProd wrote: »

By who?



Newsflash.

America =/= North Amercia

If you ask a Brazilian what continent they're from they'll say America, not South America and they get annoyed by people who say American = US.

I believe the other Latin countries are the same.

IrishProd

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

If you ask a Brazilian what continent they're from they'll say America, not South America and they get annoyed by people who say American = US.

I believe the other Latin countries are the same.

Are we basing facts on anecdotes now?

Jesus.

IrishProd wrote: »

Do I need to point out that it also refers to Ireland in this context, hence the issue, like it or not it has political and nationalistic connotations in that regard.Which is why a signifcant amount of people, probably a majority in Ireland anyway, when referring to Ireland and Britain prefer to say........Ireland and Britain. It really is not rocket science...

Are you really an Irish Prod?

Iwasfrozen

IrishProd wrote: »

Are we basing facts on anecdotes now?

You don't believe me?

IrishProd

Jesus. wrote: »

Are you really an Irish Prod?

I am an agnostic.

Are you really Jesus?

Omackeral

Harvey Normal wrote: »

Canadians are American too. It's a continent. Of course most people when they say American think US citizen but that's not correct.

So what is the nationality of US citizens? United Statesian is it? All this "eh of course" type of language really isn't necessary btw. I've never once heard a Canadian being referred to as American. North American, yes. American, no. American in the English speaking world generally refers to the US. Continents are described as North or South or together, The Americas.

Skylinehead

Omackeral wrote: »

So what is the nationality of US citizens? United Statesian is it? All this "eh of course" type of language really isn't necessary btw. I've never once heard a Canadian being referred to as American. North American, yes. American, no. American in the English speaking world generally refers to the US. Continents are described as North or South or together, The Americas.

They're United States of American, rolls off the tongue.

storker

maryishere wrote: »

Same here, I do not care less what terms people use, Eire, Southern Ireland, British Isles etc. Generally people know what is meant. I am not insecure enough to get offended that easily.

It's a geographic term, that's all, like the Iberian Peninsula, or Scandinavia, or North/Central/South America. It's useful as a means of referring to "those big islands off the coast of northwest Europe", particularly with regard to natural phenomena such as climate, wildlife habitats and migrations, etc. Certainly nothing to get triggered over just because it's got the word "British" in it.