Nice hat. You have 60 seconds to name the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland. No Googling now…

Unfortunately it’s hard to legislate for dumb people where ever they’re from. Some people barely know past the end of their road!

Tá an hata sin galanta a chara! Tá mé ag súil le labhairt leat chomh luath agus is b’fhéidir.

Beidh muid ann a mhac, agus tá an hata speisialta ar ndóigh, feicfidh mé ar ball thú

I once read that Ireland was the 10th largest island country in the world – Australia being the largest of course. They didn’t seem to bother about the border at all :-)

When I moved to the UK, I went to a bank to open an account but the girl refused after I explained I wasn’t British because according to her I needed a visa to live in the UK. Much wrangling ensued after which, I left.

I got a call on my mobile about 10 minutes later and she told me that the girl next to her told her that I didn’t need a visa. At this point I was already walking through the doors of another bank.

I hope she wasn’t trying to goad you ;) I met 2 English women in the airport who wouldn’t use the blue channel at Dublin airport because they ‘ weren’t part of the EU’! I also overhead an English couple asking a Scottish family (who lived in Scotland) if they ‘had ever been to the UK’, obviously referring to England. The Scottish family were politely silent.

In Ireland???

That does not surprise me in the least. Isn’t it amazing how we were suddenly independent when the Republic’s economy crashed and we were forced into the bailout?

Fergal, ever notice that about Andy Murray the tennis player from Scotland (particularly in tabloid media)? If he is doing badly he is a Scottish tennis player. If he is doing well he is a British tennis player…..

@Réada: In Sweden, we moved in August, couldn’t afford to live in Ireland any more :-(
Having said that I love it here. :-D
The Swedes are pretty clued in alright, but I’m studying an International (taught in English) course, so all my class mates are from China, Africa, Sri Lanka, Iran, Pakistan, India, Saudi-Arabia – every one of them thought Ireland was part of Britain.

Not surprised they think Ireland is part of the UK with the amount of English soccer supporters here and the amount of English tv and media people follow.

…but at the same time, ever hear of the state of Delta, Nigeria?
I hadn’t, but it has nearly twice the population of Ireland.

He asked you were you were from and without giving you an opportunity to answer replied “I am too”. That makes no sense you sausage

@IYFD – hahaha, ‘you sausage’! I havent heard that use as an offensive or derogatory term since I was four!

Exactly, all the countries of the former Soviet Union as “Russia”, The US and Canada together as “America” or Australia & New Zealand (in reality about 1,000 miles apart, I know) as “Australia”. Completely offensive and wrong.

The Isle of Man is in the middle of the ‘Irish’ Sea, and the ‘Irish’ Sea laps the coast at Blackpool, England!! Quid pro quo?

Yeah but the English Channel runs across France. Its different when your applying a name for one island across a few islanda which don’t share the name.

The French call the English Channel, La Manche, so I guess it’s the English Channel in British territorial waters and La Manche in French territorial waters, so just done a translation of the Irish Sea into Manx and it comes up as “Mooir Vannin” (Manx Sea). All very pedantic but a bit of fun!!

Just the dumb ones and even then not as many as you might think

i didnt know that..

She’s right! The amount of people that have actually said that too me is ridiculous.

That’s ridiculous…. Everyone know that Africa is a deodorant fragrance

I’ve had this said to me so many times it’s ridiculous.

I’ve even been asked why I’m not black if I was born in Africa. And they were 100% serious…

Okay, Okay colour me corrected. ;->

Some Brazilian friends of mine get asked what such and such a word is in “Brazilian”…

That’s ridiculous…. Everyone knows that Brazilian is a number between a billion and a trillion

You’ve got to learn how to link Houston. He mightn’t hear you

Phil, now there’s something I did not know!! What is Isle of Man “part of”, if that’s the best way to phrase it?!

And green tax evaders’ cash

Frank, how to explain our constitutional position in a paragraph!!! We are a Crown Dependency, in other words we are “owned” by the Queen under her title of “the Lord Of Mann”. Wikipedia describes the Queen as “Lord Proprietor” and “Head of State”. We are independent of the UK in political terms – we have the longest continuous Parliament in the World, own Tax rates, much to the UKs chagrin, own Health Service and there are reciprocal agreements with the UK – as they say Facebook, our relationship with the UK is “complicated”.

Phil, you need a video!!

@Phil Interesting. I did not know that

The Isle of Man is also a Celtic country, albeit with a Norse input. Our town names and surnames reflect this duality. The official language is English, of course, but Manx Gaelic is well spoken and there is primary school where Gaelic is taught as a first language. Our road and town names also reflect this.

As other countries, though, the Isle of Man has a diverse population, made up of Manx born, English, Scottish, Irish, both North and Republic, South Africans, Philippines, Polish in large numbers, plus many many other nationalities. Wonderfully cosmopolitan and, no, I don’t work for the Tourist Board!!!

Hello Phil,
While originally the term “British Isles” may have been geographic, it was hijacked and politicised over the centuries to become really another term for the UK. In that respect, the Republic at least, left the “British Isles” in 1922. Far less offensive terms are now sometimes used, eg British & Irish Isles, Anglo Celtic Isles etc.

Apologies Phil,
I think I misread your post. When you mentioned the British Isles, I forgot for a sec you were referring to Isle of Man!

Phil, how many of us can you take in (as refugees) if it comes to it? ;-)

Come aboard Sheila, plenty of room!! 84,000 population, I’m sure we could go higher!!

Fergal, It may be geographically the British Isles, but we are in the middle of the ‘Irish’ Sea. Any votes for the Manx Sea!!! As an aside, claim to fame, the Bee Gees are Manx!!

As she ellan feer aalin t’ayn. Bee, jough, kiaull, daunse, as sleih caarjoil as gennal. S’doillee dy hoiggal yn aght dy vel begnagh chooilley ghooiney smooinaghtyn nagh cheer t’ayn ayns Mannin agh cooid jeh Sostyn. Fastyr mie, Phil, veih Nerin.

Fastyr mie, Brian,

Your knowledge of Manx Gaelic has put me to shame, but you are quite right. The Island is a beautiful place, with much traditional music and dance, which we take to the Pan Celtic festival in Brittany each year and many other places too. One of my colleagues is in the Perree Bane music and dance group.

We are a friendly bunch, whether native or ‘come overs’ from of Island. In fact it is often the non Manx born who are more fanatically at keeping Manx traditions alive and thriving.

Phil

A peninsula is a strip of land jutting out into the sea. Perhaps we’re an archipelago?

British Isles is a long outdated term and could never really be accurately used to include Ireland. I prefer the term These Islands which makes British and Irish all Thesians?

As is the video maker Mark Cantan, who thinks that Northern Ireland is a part of Britain. It is not, it is part of the United Kingdom, but not Britain.

Correct. I had a Dub argue with me that Scotland is ‘not Britian’ and when I explained that Scots are in fact British, she said “not the real ones”! (I gather that Catholic SNP supporters are ‘real’ Scots). It annoys me when popular media says “the Scots fought the British etc etc” when the Scots are British. Or the term ‘Brits’ when people refer to the English.
It’s the UK of Great Britain (England, Scotland & Wales) and NI. Hence one can be at the same time either English, Scottish or Welsh AND British. This fact seems to confuse some people.
Northern Ireland at this time is legally part of the UK. Although using the term ‘British’ is strictly incorrect, those folk who wish the status quo to remain could also be said to have this duality – Irish AND British.
Anyway, most readers here know this.
Funny though (in London) whenever I post a letter and tell the person it’s for Dublin (in IRELAND I sometimes need to explain) they always ask “Oh, Southern Ireland?” “Yes, the Republic” I reply, as it would take too long to explain!

And the Isle of Man along with the Channel Islands never joined the EU. Don’t you love these anomalies from history.

Absolutely Paul no argument from me on that. However the occupied part of Ireland is not part of Britain as described in the video. The occupied part of Ireland is (unfortunately) part of the United Kingdom.

But isn’t the whole world partitionist? If countries were only separated by physical land borders we’d have a very small number of very big ones…

Oissene, apart from a reprimand, comments that insult people by are not worthy of response, regardless of ones opinion.

Fergal,
The distinction between the terms “country” and “nation” is important here.Sadly Northern Ireland is “another country”,that’s just the political reallity we’re stuck with.Only a moron would argue against the fact that the Irish nation stretches into every corner of this island regardless of borders imposed by foreign institutions.

lol – “the Great State of Texas + the other 49 “

When people ask me if I’m from southern Ireland (meaning the republic) I tell them no I’m from the west, confuses them slightly at first

So do I Aideen, except from the east. It’s a simple pleasure I get. God love me. :-(

Yeah, I’ve come across this “Southern Ireland” nonsense as well. It comes from people who obviously don’t have a clue about Ireland incl. from many British Customer Service people who are supposed to have some knowledge when it comes to dealing with us.

I’m from St Albans. Where’s that then?

No Googling now…

differently in name only re poll/council tax etc. More’s the pity.

A tesco in London refused to accept my northern Ireland bank note, I tried to explain it was legal sterling tender. They called the police saying I was trying to pass off fake notes. Hardly got an apology when the police told them they had to accept it

well a girl asked martin mc guinness during the presedentials ,why are you coming down to our country with your politics? .talk about partitionist .anyway maybe some people think wew are like britain because they seem to be opening british shops in MAINLAND IRELAND every day .

Remember that Eamonn. The stupid girl obviously didn’t even know where Mary McAleese was from!! And that girl had a vote. Wtf

Actually Aideen while the Northern irish notes are sterling they are not actually legal tender outside of northern Ireland. The women in Tesco was legally correct. http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/about/faqs.htm#15

Northern Ireland is a separate country.

Country is a technical term not an opinion.

Northern Ireland is a seperate country.

‘A nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.’

Under what definition does it not fit?

Hello Conor,
For a start, I can’t see in any way how Northern Ireland could be considered a nation, esp given it’s divisions, whereas when the people of the Republic and a very large minority in the North are taken together, the vast majority of people on the island of Ireland most definitely see themselves as Irish.

Plus the fact that Northern Ireland is not self sustaining in any way and very much depends on the British exchequer to keep things going. The public service in the North is approx. 60% or more of the total work force.

New Republicans needed for that. Not the guys out there now.

Predictable…

Or even the countries in Europe or any other continent and they look down on others for not knowing their local patch

Actually Suzie – he said “Northern England which is just under Scotland”.

He doesn’t say that, he says north of England which is south of Scotland

What?

Steady on, most Europeans think Britain and England are synonymous.

I think it happens the other way around Adrian…

Well England basically owns Britain

There is a Dublin in England, of a sorts – “Blackpool”

Yes it is David, but Britain is a province of Ireland, and Dion Dublin is a retired footballer. Wales is the largest country on the “mainland” that starts with the letter w and features extensively in the novel Moby Dick. Scotland on the other hand means literally ” the land of the scots” whose historical battles against the english all took place in Kildare under the leadership of a blue haired Australian, not dame Edna though. Blue is the colour of Dublin and this is why union jacks are waved on All Ireland Football final day, although not in Ireland. The expression jackeen is meant as a celebration of all the things Dubs and the British have in common. In fact the terms Dub and Jah Queen are synonymous and associated with traditional musician Bob “forty coats” Marley

When you say mainland, you mean Britain … right? :-p

Oh dear….tell me you are not referring to britain as the ‘ mainland’….I even know not to do that.

Eh…mainland Europe lads…As in where the Eastern Bloc, Hungary and West Germany were/are.

You used to give English language classes in COLLAGES?

Interesting.

phew! :)

Mainland – read the bit I wrote about Germany and Hungary – Neither are in Britain.
And yes – sorry it is of course colleges – slip. I spell it differently in other languages.

Appal Murphy…

Thanks Phil, you are absolutely correct.

And if you want to avoid the red-thumb brigade next time – if there is a next time – there is a ‘send a correction’ option beside my picture at the end of the story!

Thanks again but unfortunately there’s no prizes yet for spotting typos/grammatical mishaps ;)

It’s not often one gets to correct the Journal twice in the one morning but…. There is no “send a correction” button on the Journal’s iPad edition Sinead. I wonder how many red thumbs that’ll get me ;-)

ah sure i might always red thumb ya aswell to bring you to 76, i’m sure you can make a 100 on both!