UKers: How many, if any, of your countrypeople think Ireland is still part of your country?

[yojimbo]

I have experienced many British people confused about the Irish thing. There are also many many examples of the media claiming Irish people as British, they can have Bono though

A few years ago there was an incident with a potential live grenade (left behind as part of a robbery) on the street beside my job. The bomb disposal unit arrived and an English guy beside me said “Here’s the British Army”. I said "Nope, Irish Army, see the Irish writing on the side of the van (http://i2.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/article2230856.ece/alternates/s615/CP49265549.jpg). " “Oh”, he said. “I thought we still did all the heavy lifting over here”. Everyone around him just turned and stared

[An_Gadai]

Now that I think about it, at least once in my shop someone tried to pay in sterling oblivious to the fact we don’t use that currency. We were beside the airport though so it wasn’t as if they had travelled the country o’er without realising.

[Bozuit]

I have a hard time believing the story linked in the OP, and I can’t say I’ve ever noticed the media claiming Irish people for the UK. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know Ireland is a separate country.

[amanset]

@notquitekarpov

Mind you there was a girl in my class who, upon hearing that the Falklands had been invaded, asked aloud what the Argentinians were doing off Scotland, so maybe anything is possible…

Was also a joke in the original “Secret Diary of Adrian Mole”. Adrian’s Dad IIRC.

I’ve personally never met anyone that thought Ireland was part of the UK. Not saying it doesn’t happen, but I’ve never come across it.

[glee]

It gets a bit complicated when you look at the different sports teams in world finals.

Olympics: Great Britain, Ireland

Soccer World Cup: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

Rugby World Cup: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Chess Olympiad: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey

[eclectic_wench]

@Bozuit

I can’t say I’ve ever noticed the media claiming Irish people for the UK.

If you know any Irish people, ask them. I guarantee they all have.

[Claverhouse]

I’ve never met any British person who thinks Ireland is not a separate, independent country.

[leahcim]

@njtt

I think this is on the level of Americans who deny that New Mexico is part of the United States.

Or claim that Canada is. In fact, if you take notalwaysright.com as a representative sample, there is a lot more of that than treating Ireland as part of the UK.

[notquitekarpov]

@glee

It gets a bit complicated when you look at the different sports teams in world finals.

Olympics: Great Britain, Ireland

Soccer World Cup: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland

Rugby World Cup: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

Chess Olympiad: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey

It’s even more complex. For the Lions rugby tours they are actually the British & Irish Lions - all one team.

[thelurkinghorror]

Wonder if the story was in Heathrow. I’ve only been there once but in that time I’ve never met as many shitty, rude employees elsewhere.

@vontsira

Some fanatical Irish nationalists wish the whole archipelago to be called, instead, the Islands of the North Atlantic – getting rid of the “British” connotation. I sometimes feel that, politics quite aside, that idea maybe has something to be said for it. Adopting the alternative name might reduce the amount of confusion which people from other parts of the world suffer – understandably – over the geographical / political specifics of the area.

Sounds like it was invented by a UK Tory and not given a huge amount of interest by many? Some people might supply alternate names for America but that doesn’t mean that 99.99% of the population agrees or even is aware of the proposal. I don’t consider Bertie Ahern a fanatical nationalist.

@njtt

I think this is on the level of Americans who deny that New Mexico is part of the United States.

I’ve read things similar to the post in the OP where someone argued to a customer service rep that yes, they live in British Columbia, and no, that is not in Britain, I swear!

[SecretaryofEvil]

@notquitekarpov

Mind you there was a girl in my class who, upon hearing that the Falklands had been invaded, asked aloud what the Argentinians were doing off Scotland, so maybe anything is possible…

I suppose I could understand how someone not particularly well versed in geography might mix up the Faroes and the Shetlands with the Falklands.