Did you know that Ireland is not a part of the United Kingdom? It isn’t. Well, Northern Ireland is but Ireland is not—though both are part of the British Isles.*
Oh, you didn’t know there were two Irelands? Then you need to watch this entertaining video which explains all that and much, much more.
Note: I originally had all this confused. Apparently, I didn’t watch the video closely enough.
(Via: Braniac)
February 2nd, 2011 | 10:02 am
I was pleased to find this a few years ago:
http://min.us/mbfigEWBZIFJic
February 2nd, 2011 | 11:33 am
Hello Mr. Carter,
Thanks for this link!
Your first two sentences are in error though: Even Northern Ireland isn’t part of Great Britain, and neither the island of Ireland nor the country of Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.
February 2nd, 2011 | 11:40 am
I haven’t watched the video – yet. However no part of the island of Ireland was ever part of Great Britain.
All of the island was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1800 until 1922. The six north eastern counties are part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland still.
February 2nd, 2011 | 11:46 am
Thanks, that’s now fixed. I guess I didn’t watch the video closely enough! ; )
February 2nd, 2011 | 12:21 pm
Entertaining and informative, but it contains one statement in serious need of amendment: “When people say they are ‘Irish’ they are referring to the Republic of Ireland which is a separate country from the United Kingdom.” People often refer to themselves as “Irish” even when they come from the north of Ireland. These people do not call themselves “Northern Irish” or “British” but “Irish.” The term of course conveys an ethnic and cultural identity wholly apart from any political entity exercising jurisdiction over the geographical territory of Ireland. My late father who was from Belfast (Falls Road) and all of the members of his family (many of whom now live in England) always referred to themselves as “Irish.” It may be the Queen’s English but she doesn’t have sovereignty over this use of language!
February 2nd, 2011 | 12:46 pm
The “Lordship of Ireland” was granted to Henry II by Pope Adrian IV (Nicholas Breakspear, the only English pope so far). Henry VIII had himself declared king of Ireland one afternoon when he was taking a break from abusing women, tearing down monasteries and refraining from torturing Sir Thomas More (his delicate conscience, y’know). It was a separate kingdom ruled by the king of England until 1800 when its own parliament dissolved itself. That is when the term “United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, etc.) and Ireland” came into effect. Today it is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, an artificial enity made up of the six counties of the Province of Ulster and three additional counties. The rest of the island was The Irish Free State, a dominion like Canada and Austalia from 1922 until they unilaterally declared their total independence as the Republic of Ireland (Eire). They claim legal sovereignty over the whole island.
February 2nd, 2011 | 1:35 pm
The commentator kept referring to “British citizens.”
I thought they are more properly termed “subjects.” Or perhaps one is a subject of the Queen but a citizen of England or Scotland?
Can someone explain?
February 2nd, 2011 | 5:43 pm
“British subject” now has only a residual legal meaning (too tedious to recount). Just about anyone who is British by nationality has, since 1981, had the status of British citizen. Also, on a legal note, the Republic of Ireland amended its constitution in 1999 to remove a claim of sovereignty over the whole island of Ireland.
February 2nd, 2011 | 10:02 pm
I hope my fellow Irish commenters have educated you on the still-disputed status of Ireland– a matter which the British narrator understandably didn’t cover.
“United Kingdom of G.B. and Ireland” was not accepted by many Irish after the Act of Union (1800) which added Ireland’s name to “UK of Great Britain”. Those who did accept it were called Unionists. “UK of GB and N. Ireland” (the name change of 1922) is also disputed. Some of us prefer to specify England, Scotland, Wales, or N. Ireland– leaving out the UK– when sending mail to any of those destinations.
February 3rd, 2011 | 7:20 am
Neither the Channel Islands, nor the Isle of Man are part of the United Kingdom; they are, however, part of the Queen’s dominions
Channel Islanders frequently remind English people that they were part of the Duchy of Normandy at the time of the Conquest and the loyal toast is still drunk to “The Queen, Duke of Normandy.”
Note that the Queen is “Duke of Normandy,”just as she is “Duke of Lancaster” – a Duchess is the wife of a Duke.
February 4th, 2011 | 11:53 pm
[...] Tip of the old scrub brush to Joe Carter at First Things. [...]
February 5th, 2011 | 1:08 pm
[...] Tip of the old scrub brush to Joe Carter at First Things. Borrowed with permission from Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub. [...]
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