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Wikipedia:WikiProject Ireland Collaboration/statementbyMooretwin (Problem 1)

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Statement by Mooretwin (Problem 1) edit

(A) Page contains "The island of Ireland"

Presentism should be avoided. The primary meaning of "Ireland" is clearly the larger, island unit. The 26-county unit has been in existence for less than one hundred years compared with the island's existence for many millennia. Indeed, the 26-county unit takes its name from the larger, island unit.

People generally who talk about Ireland usually mean the island. Someone "going to Ireland" does not generally distinguish between North and South. Someone from Northern Ireland who says that he is from Ireland will not generally be mistaken as coming from the 26-county state, but will generally be understood as coming from the island of Ireland.

People from, and places and things in, Northern Ireland are no less part of Ireland than are people, places or things in the 26-county state.

The use of "Ireland" to mean 26 counties rather than the whole island is not only offensive to unionists in Northern Ireland, but also to many Northern nationalists: In 2008, Sinn Féin MLA Barry McElduff wrote to all TDs and Senators in the Republic of Ireland to complain about the 26-county state using "Ireland" to refer only to the 26 counties: "I suppose I am doing it to challenge partitionism – this notion that the 26 counties constitutes Ireland. I find it very offensive. Even in the EU I hear people talk about Ireland and Northern Ireland. Sometimes they talk about the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. I’d call it geopolitical speak.[1]


  1. ^ Irish News, 29/07/08. "Lessons given to southern politicians". http://www.irishnews.com/appnews/540/5860/2008/7/29/593862_352672074045Lessonsgi.html


Users that endorse this summary edit

  1. R.T.G 11:24, 7 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  2. — Blue-Haired Lawyer 16:37, 7 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Valenciano (talk) 19:47, 7 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Kittybrewster ☎ 23:20, 9 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  5. BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 01:29, 3 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Users that oppose this summary edit

  1. waggers (talk) 15:35, 6 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
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  3. Redking7 (talk) 09:08, 7 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  4. --Domer48'fenian' 15:42, 7 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Daicaregos (talk) 17:00, 7 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  6. --HighKing (talk) 10:54, 9 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  7. --Snowded (talk) 12:25, 12 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  8. User:Jeanne boleyn
  9. RashersTierney (talk) 11:07, 13 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  10. ClemMcGann (talk) 14:12, 13 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  11. 86.44.111.162 (talk) 18:45, 22 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]
  12. Robertbyrne (talk) 22:40, 12 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]
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