Pounds or Euros in Ireland
Mar 26th, 2008, 05:12 PM
#26
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OOPS!
You somehow missed hundreds of years of Irish rebellions and freedom fighting? As well as the fact that the Republic of Ireland freed itself almost 100 years ago?
Just so you're aware, the British Empire no longer exists. India and Pakistan are sovereign countries. Not to mention all of those African colonies that gained independence in the latter half of the 20th century.
You somehow missed hundreds of years of Irish rebellions and freedom fighting? As well as the fact that the Republic of Ireland freed itself almost 100 years ago?
Just so you're aware, the British Empire no longer exists. India and Pakistan are sovereign countries. Not to mention all of those African colonies that gained independence in the latter half of the 20th century.
Mar 26th, 2008, 10:57 PM
#27
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>>>>>
You somehow missed hundreds of years of Irish rebellions and freedom fighting?
....
Just so you're aware, the British Empire no longer exists
>>>>>>
don't be so tough on her, even some self professed 'intelligent' people here could not get their geography correct on this thread.
besides, even you, yourself seem to have no idea that northern ireland and the republic are two separate countries with separate economies, costs and currencies.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34919980
OOPS is right!!!
You somehow missed hundreds of years of Irish rebellions and freedom fighting?
....
Just so you're aware, the British Empire no longer exists
>>>>>>
don't be so tough on her, even some self professed 'intelligent' people here could not get their geography correct on this thread.
besides, even you, yourself seem to have no idea that northern ireland and the republic are two separate countries with separate economies, costs and currencies.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34919980
OOPS is right!!!
Mar 26th, 2008, 11:33 PM
#29
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My daughter was telling me today that one of her friends in high school wanted to know if Spain was in Europe. This same person also thought that Alaska was an island after looking at many maps that show Hawaii and Alaska as being separate from the mainland of the USA. I find her concept of world geography quite common in the US.
Mar 26th, 2008, 11:50 PM
#30
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10 out of 10 for this thread - made me laugh a lot!
I also like some of the pretend names posters give themsleves - some of which will be too subtle to non UK users.
travelingtish - please post another question....
I also like some of the pretend names posters give themsleves - some of which will be too subtle to non UK users.
travelingtish - please post another question....
Mar 27th, 2008, 01:26 AM
#32
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There is, however, no shortage of people in your country who claim to know exactly what went on. And when they explain it, I feel so, so weary.
What's worrying is that they put their money where their mouths were.
We have a Northern Irish friend who was shocked to see people wearing "Up the IRA" tee-shirts in Boston Ma.
He is a Catholic and a Republican BTW.
What's worrying is that they put their money where their mouths were.
We have a Northern Irish friend who was shocked to see people wearing "Up the IRA" tee-shirts in Boston Ma.
He is a Catholic and a Republican BTW.
Mar 27th, 2008, 01:31 AM
#33
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"Yes, but tish you could get into a great deal of trouble in the Republic for announcing that you believed that they were still part of Great Britain. It would be tantamount to asking a Croatian if they were attatched to Serbia. Or suggesting in India that they are still part of the British Empire. Or suggesting in South Carolina that hadn't they remained in the Union during the late unpleasantness between the States. It would not be a little boo-boo. People may be poking a little fun at you, but we would have serious concerns for your safety if you continued in this belief."
Very true.
I have a Canadian friend who called Northern Ireland 'the English part' and therefore Northern Irish people were 'English'. I tried countless times to explain that it was totally incorrect and would cause great offence in Ireland, but she just didn't get it. She thought I was being 'picky' and pedantic. I tried using the example of calling her American because she was from North America but she insisted that that was incorrect, she was Canadian. She just didn't get it. And this was a Polical Science major who is now doing a Masters in International Relations. I am really just embarrassed for her. She thinks she can work in the UN and she doesn't even have the ability to understand why called an Northern Irish person English might possibly cause offence.
Very true.
I have a Canadian friend who called Northern Ireland 'the English part' and therefore Northern Irish people were 'English'. I tried countless times to explain that it was totally incorrect and would cause great offence in Ireland, but she just didn't get it. She thought I was being 'picky' and pedantic. I tried using the example of calling her American because she was from North America but she insisted that that was incorrect, she was Canadian. She just didn't get it. And this was a Polical Science major who is now doing a Masters in International Relations. I am really just embarrassed for her. She thinks she can work in the UN and she doesn't even have the ability to understand why called an Northern Irish person English might possibly cause offence.
Mar 27th, 2008, 01:34 AM
#34
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We have Irish relations.
One who works in London for an American firm had an American colleague who thought that Ireland actually was part of Great Britain and was surprised that you could only reach it by boat or plane.
I think that she was confusing it with Wales, no real difference ;-)
Another Irish person went to work with mainly black teenagers in the US and when she said that she came from Ireland the response was a sceptical, "Oh, yeah, right!"
When she managed to convince them, it turned out that they thought that Ireland was a mythical place. Goodness knows why.
One who works in London for an American firm had an American colleague who thought that Ireland actually was part of Great Britain and was surprised that you could only reach it by boat or plane.
I think that she was confusing it with Wales, no real difference ;-)
Another Irish person went to work with mainly black teenagers in the US and when she said that she came from Ireland the response was a sceptical, "Oh, yeah, right!"
When she managed to convince them, it turned out that they thought that Ireland was a mythical place. Goodness knows why.
Mar 27th, 2008, 02:04 AM
#35
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Politically there are two Irelands. One is the Republic of Ireland, called Eire in Irish and Ireland in English. It became a Republic (independent country) in 1948. It is the southern part of the island. Northern Ireland is the other Ireland. It is part of the United Kingdom. The other parts are England, Scotland and Wales.
Mar 27th, 2008, 02:19 AM
#36
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It still isn't really that simple though. A lot of people from other countries who realise that Ireland isn't part of the UK, tend to think N.I has nothing to do with the Republic, which is also wrong. I had an American girl tell me Belfast 'wasn't a city in Ireland' which is an ignorant statement to make. The whole situation is often oversimplified (which I suspect is why my friend called N.I 'the English part). Northern Irish people are as entitled to an Irish passport as anyone from the Republic and many wouldn't take kindly to being called British. Many people there speak Irish and go to Irish speaking schools. The Irish national broadcasters broadcast in Northern Ireland and the news and weather refer to the island of Ireland without making any distinction.
Mar 27th, 2008, 02:28 AM
#37
OK, English geography terminology is not as easy as it looks. Am I right in assuming:
England: Does not include Wales, Scotland or Ireland.
Great Britain: Does not include Northern Ireland (only mainland areas)
United Kingdom: Includes England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
Ireland: An independent country
And....
Is a Brit always English and vice-versa?
What do the Northern Irish call themselves? Irish? Northern Irish?
I hereby declare a lot more people know their history better than I do and I constantly get the above terms mixed up. I apologize for my ignorance in advance.
England: Does not include Wales, Scotland or Ireland.
Great Britain: Does not include Northern Ireland (only mainland areas)
United Kingdom: Includes England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
Ireland: An independent country
And....
Is a Brit always English and vice-versa?
What do the Northern Irish call themselves? Irish? Northern Irish?
I hereby declare a lot more people know their history better than I do and I constantly get the above terms mixed up. I apologize for my ignorance in advance.
Mar 27th, 2008, 02:31 AM
#38
Fascinating as an Englishman I had no idea Eire was called Ireland in English. I thought the Island was called Ireland and the countries were called things like the republic of ireland or eire or Northern Ireland.
We all live an learn I guess
Still a bit similar to calling a place America when one means the United States of America
We all live an learn I guess
Still a bit similar to calling a place America when one means the United States of America
Mar 27th, 2008, 02:49 AM
#39
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schuler, you have it about right if we agree not to quibble about coastal islands.
Your questions: in my experience, English people are often happy to refer to themselves as Brits, and Welsh or Scots people are much less likely to.
People from NI on the Nationalist or Republican side of the community usually refer to themselves as Irish, but most of them would not be bothered to be referred to as Northern Irish unless they are in a frame of mind where they want to make a political point. People on the Unionist side generally refer to themselves as Northern Irish except when they want to make a political point, when they might call themselves British.
bilboburgler, Article 4 of our constitution: "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland." Read that carefully, and you will see that "Éire" should not be used in English. It seems all right to use it in French or Romanian.
Your questions: in my experience, English people are often happy to refer to themselves as Brits, and Welsh or Scots people are much less likely to.
People from NI on the Nationalist or Republican side of the community usually refer to themselves as Irish, but most of them would not be bothered to be referred to as Northern Irish unless they are in a frame of mind where they want to make a political point. People on the Unionist side generally refer to themselves as Northern Irish except when they want to make a political point, when they might call themselves British.
bilboburgler, Article 4 of our constitution: "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland." Read that carefully, and you will see that "Éire" should not be used in English. It seems all right to use it in French or Romanian.
