Scottish Regiments in the Canadian Army

[O'Callaghan]

my misses is from newtownabbey ireland and she considers herself irish , it just so happens the ulster part of ireland is part of the uk

Like so much in life, it's more complicated than that.

The British part is called Northern Ireland, and it is only six of the nine counties of the old kingdom of Ulster, not including Donegal, Cavan or Monaghan. There are traditionally four kingdoms, Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connaught/Connacht. Some would like to call the British part Ulster, but are often suspected of territorial ambitions against those three Ulster counties that are in the Republic. So it's never correct to call it Ulster, even if that doesn't stop some people who live there, but see above.

Those who are from NI have the option of taking either British or Irish citizenship, which is practical enough because we have freedom of movement between the UK and Ireland, and can vote in eachother's elections as long as we actually reside there. EU law allows EU citizens to vote in local elections in other EU states, but the agreement between the UK and Ireland lets you vote in national elections too.

So, anyone from NI is Irish in the sense that they are from the island of Ireland, but if they choose to have an Irish passport instead of a British one, then they are also Irish in the more strict sense of nationality. Likewise, choosing not to be British doesn't stop them from continuing to live and work there and to vote in all the elections. Mind you, an Irish citizen from NI who lives in Scotland has no absentee vote, although they could vote in Scotland. I won't ask if your wife's passport is British or Irish. That's up to her.

Now, the independent part of Ireland has had multiple names in English over its relatively short history, but in Irish only one, Saorstat Eireann, which means the Irish Freestate. When they changed the English name to the Irish Republic, they hurriedly withdrew from a Commonwealth conference, quitting the British Commonwealth. Since then, other countries have withdrawn recognition of the Queen (i.e. become a republic) without leaving this organisation, notably Australia. Next it became the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and then just Ireland. I find the latter confusing, and prefer the previous name as being more descriptive. If anyone objects, then I suppose I will just have to call it Saorstat Eireann.

[thescot]

The Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish are, but the Irish aren't either British or members of the UK.

I'm not going to get into a big political discussion, but the folks from Northern Ireland I've known all considered themselves Irish.

Even the "Scotch-Irish" who came to America on centuries past made it plain that they were Irish, not Scotish.

On the other hand, I fully unnderstand that Northern Irish are also British. Just as I am Scots, Irish, and English, butan American, too.

Like O'Callaghn said: it's very complicated and confusing. I think I'll fix a good stiif scotch now and stop thinking.

[macwilkin]

I'm not going to get into a big political discussion, but the folks from Northern Ireland I've known all considered themselves Irish.

Even the "Scotch-Irish" who came to America on centuries past made it plain that they were Irish, not Scotish.

On the other hand, I fully unnderstand that Northern Irish are also British. Just as I am Scots, Irish, and English, butan American, too.

Like O'Callaghn said: it's very complicated and confusing. I think I'll fix a good stiif scotch now and stop thinking.

Jim,

I'm not so sure I agree with your statements regarding the Scots-Irish; historically, the Scots-Irish referred to themselves as "Irish" only before the immigration of the "Green" Irish began in the 1840's, and even then, the word referred to geographic origins only. Remember that the Lowland Scots (as well as the smattering of Welsh, English, Dutch, Palantine, Huguenot, etc.) did not assimilate with their "wild" (Catholic) Irish neighbours.

All of the Ulstermen I know today refer to themselves as that, or "Ulster-Scots".

Regards,

Todd

[JSFMACLJR]

Saorstat Eireann, which means the Irish Freestate. When they changed the English name to the Irish Republic, they hurriedly withdrew from a Commonwealth conference, quitting the British Commonwealth. Since then, other countries have withdrawn recognition of the Queen (i.e. become a republic) without leaving this organisation, notably Australia. .

Australia most certainly IS NOT a republic! It is a constitutional monarchy, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II --The Queen of Australia--as head of state. Moves to form a republic have been so far thwarted, thank God.

[slohairt]

That would be correct. Australia is a Commonwealth Realm like Canada.

[kilty]

I guess this has something to do with Scottish regiments in the Canadian Army...

[Cavebear58]

According to Rumpole of the Bailey, it has an altogether different meaning. There is a golden thread that runs through English justice, that one is innocent until proven guilty.

Unless it's a TV licence that you don't have!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009...fee-collection

Cheers, Graham

[wvpiper]

OT:
http://cgi.ebay.com/42nd-infantry-Ba...ayphotohosting

[thanmuwa]

.......... notably Australia.

As others have pointed out, Australia has not yet advanced to being a democracy, it is still a constitutional monarchy. I guess you just made a typo and the country you were thinking of was India, right?

[macwilkin]

As others have pointed out, Australia has not yet advanced to being a democracy, it is still a constitutional monarchy. I guess you just made a typo and the country you were thinking of was India, right?

India is not a democracy -- it is a Republic, just as the USA is. Democracies and Republics are not the same thing. And Constitutional Monarchies can and are democratic.

T.