The "British Isles"

turnikett1

Does it annoy you when this terminology is used? As in reference to Britain and Ireland, though I've never seen it not referencing Britain and Ireland both.

It really irks me. I understand and have no problem with being associated with Britain, we obviously have a shared history and culture, much like Spain/Portugal, Germany/Austria, Russia/Ukraine, Norway/Sweden/Denmark, Australia/New Zealand, etc. But "British Isles" implies the island of Britain and all other lesser islands which belong to Britain. What the hell is wrong with "Britain and Ireland", "Anglo-Celtic Isles" or "the Western Isles"!?

I live in France and it just gets a little bit frustrating when I tell people I'm from Ireland then have people constantly proceed to ask me questions about the "British Isles", similarily I hear a lot of Americans and Brits refer to it likewise.

A minor issue, yes. A geographical description is all. But regardless, when somebody calls it the British Isles it subtly reinforces the idea among foreigners and non-Irish Anglophones alike that Ireland=Britain. This isn't helped by the fact that it's usage was popularized by English writers and politicians from the 1500s onwards, when Ireland was suffering the most under the plantations.

That is all.

Steppenwolfe

Please God no...not again.

endacl

Couldn't give a polite shyte. This vid's entertaining though...

jimbis

If tourism Ireland had their way we'd be called the Star Wars isles

fullstop

It irks me when this thread is rehashed every 3 months

dpofloinn

Sweet suffering Jesus have we finally run out of things to discuss that we have to wheel the same old crap out every couple of months?

Iwasfrozen

It's a geographic term. Build a bridge and get over it.

endacl

dpofloinn wrote: »

Sweet suffering Jesus have we finally run out of things to discuss that we have to wheel the same old crap out every couple of months?

It's because of travellers on the dole in pyjamas.

Ruu

No doesn't bother me at all. Let's close this thread, bye now.

recylingbin

You're right op. Let's kill everyone.

bodice ripper

And American ought to be anyone from the Americas. So what?

Arkady

I suppose it's better than the Aviva Isles, or the 02 Isles

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

I say we follow Brass Eye's example and go with the Pedoph Isles....

The flying mouse

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

It's a geographic term. Build a bridge and get over it.

If we did build a bridge and did get over it, would that not make us more connected to Britain ?

Dirty Dingus McGee

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

It's a geographic term. Build a bridge and get over it.

No.It isn't.

If Ireland were the politically dominant island over the years the term British Isles wouldn't have come into accepted use.

It's not a term used for Geographic reason anymore, Britain and Ireland is now the favoured term in those circles.

Out government don't recognise the term as including Ireland.

The flying mouse

I don't like the term as it gives the impression that Ireland is somewhat owned or governed by Britain, it's mostly used by folks who still cling onto the auld empire dreams of a forgotten era.

Pkiernan

OP doesn't seem to realise what Americans are.

youreadthat

The flying mouse wrote: »

I don't like the term as it gives the impression that Ireland is somewhat owned or governed by Britain, it's mostly used by folks who still cling onto the auld empire dreams of a forgotten era.

The French?! (Did you not read the post?).

Anyway that's it. I'm starting a poppy thread, only 8 months to go!

Tigger

It's "these islands" or something about an arpidegeo

fergiesfolly

The first only time I hear anyone refer to these islands as the British Isles is on these threads.


And Sky news.
I watch Sky news and get the impression they'd like to start each programme with a rendition of Rule Brittannia.

Your Face

Biscuits

Guy:Incognito

Do you know what annoys me? Scandanavia. Can they not just say Norway, Sweden, Finaland and Denmark? Bloody Iberian peninsula my arse. Sub Saharan Africa can get ****ed, name the countries or dont bother. In fact, I'm refusing to use the word Europe from now on and will be listing all countries when referring to said grouping.

They can piss off with their British Isles but it'll be a cold day in hell when it stops being the Irish sea.

LordSutch

turnikett1 wrote: »

Does it annoy you when this terminology is used? As in reference to Britain and Ireland, though I've never seen it not referencing Britain and Ireland both.

It really irks me. I understand and have no problem with being associated with Britain, we obviously have a shared history and culture, much like Spain/Portugal, Germany/Austria, Russia/Ukraine, Norway/Sweden/Denmark, Australia/New Zealand, etc. But "British Isles" implies the island of Britain and all other lesser islands which belong to Britain. What the hell is wrong with "Britain and Ireland", "Anglo-Celtic Isles" or "the Western Isles"!?

Oh No, not again :cool:

Do you have any idea how many threads have addressed this issue? I have been posting on boards for ten years now, and there must have been ten very long and winding threads dedicated to this topic. The same themes, the same arguments, the same tired old discussions, and now we have another one. - So this time I'm keeping out )

PS: But before I depart I'll just throw you this crumb from the mix. Brittany.

Adios, and have fun . . . . .

smurgen

Jesus you'd want to have a grand easy mind to be put out by such a small thing.

Mr. teddywinkles

If ya think that's bad op. The union jack contains remnants of an old flag used to represent ireland by the Brits and is incorporated into the union jack along with the Scottish and Whelsh flags as far as I know. I think lots of people don't know this. Not that it bothers me.

Balmed Out

Just try to change the subject to the Irish sea

turnikett1

No, I don't know how many times this has been discussed before on AH... Apologies then. We can use this thread to discuss the finer aspects of being Irish.

Isn't it great living on island with an incredibly high standard of living, removed from the turmoils and conflicts of international geopolitics, no crazy refugee crises, very low rates of crime, an island that will be least affected by global warming, suffers no risk of terrorist attack and pretty much gets on with everyone?

I can't think of anywhere safer to live, to be honest.

Badly Drunk Boy

Mr. teddywinkles wrote: »

If ya think that's bad op. The union jack contains remnants of an old flag used to represent ireland by the Brits and is incorporated into the union jack along with the Scottish and Whelsh flags as far as I know. I think lots of people don't know this. Not that it bothers me.

There's not a whiff of the St. David's flag in the Union Jack, even though it's probably the best of the main four saints of the British Isles. I was just saying this to all of my non-Welsh friends last Tuesday, St David's Day.

St. David's flag.

murpho999

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

It's a geographic term. Build a bridge and get over it.

It's a geographic term that was termed by the British and is outdated.

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Do you know what annoys me? Scandanavia. Can they not just say Norway, Sweden, Finaland and Denmark? Bloody Iberian peninsula my arse. Sub Saharan Africa can get ****ed, name the countries or dont bother. In fact, I'm refusing to use the word Europe from now on and will be listing all countries when referring to said grouping.

They can piss off with their British Isles but it'll be a cold day in hell when it stops being the Irish sea.

Can you not see Scandinavia or Iberian does not have a political context like British does?

endacl

Can we rename them the Insecurity Isles? To honestly reflect those who give a flying fcuk what they're called?

DrumSteve

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

I say we follow Brass Eye's example and go with the Pedoph Isles....

Gunishment for everyone

maudgonner

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

I say we follow Brass Eye's example and go with the Pedoph Isles....

Or the Pen Islands perhaps?

(The feminists would be raging!)

biko

"British Isles" thread number 28376...

AnonoBoy

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

It's a geographic term. Build a bridge and get over it.

A bridge would be a great idea actually. Good thinking dude.

The Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead Bridge anyone?

But what to call it?

The Irish Sea Bridge?

The United Kingdom Bridge?

The Ireland/British Linkatron?


We could start a TV show to come up with a name.

Call it The Great British Bridge Off maybe?

donegaLroad

jimbis wrote: »

If tourism Ireland had their way we'd be called the Star Wars isles

don't forget, the Game of Thrones was also filmed on the Island of Ireland!

CrabRevolution

It's not a neutral geographical term really. It's using the name for one island (which by sheer chance is the most populous and dominant one) and applying it to all of them. It's like calling all of Iberia "The Spanish Peninsula" or all of Scandinavia "The Swedish region".

It can't be a neutral and acceptable name if a significant number on the 2nd largest part of it reject its use. Why does one of the 2 countries on the islands not use it if it's supposedly such an acceptable description?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

CrabRevolution wrote: »

It's not a neutral geographical term really. It's using the name for one island (which by sheer chance is the most populous and dominant one) and applying it to all of them. It's like calling all of Iberia "The Spanish Peninsula" or all of Scandinavia "The Swedish region".

It can't be a neutral and acceptable name if a significant number on the 2nd largest part of it reject its use. Why does one of the 2 countries on the islands not use it if it's supposedly such an acceptable description?

It is a physical geographic term. Is the use of the term "Irish Sea" wrong in your eyes too?

Where's this 'significant number' you refer to? I know l know of nobody who doesn't refer to the group of Islands as the British Isles. Describing them politically is a different matter.

pawrick

Whats irritates me is referring to the UK as the mainland when in Ireland. If anything is the mainland it's the continent.

Junkyard Tom

It's an archaic geo-political term that ceased to be of any significance after Irish independence. Anyone who uses it in common parlance in Ireland is either poorly informed or a troll imo.

Dáil Éireann, Volume 606, 28 September 2005. In his response, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that "The British Isles is not an officially recognised term in any legal or inter-governmental sense. It is without any official status. The Government, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, does not use this term. Our officials in the Embassy of Ireland, London, continue to monitor the media in Britain for any abuse of the official terms as set out in the Constitution of Ireland and in legislation.

Steppenwolfe

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

It's an archaic geo-political term that ceased to be of any significance after Irish independence. Anyone who uses it in common parlance in Ireland is either poorly informed or a troll imo.

British Isles.

Junkyard Tom

Steppenwolfe wrote: »

British Isles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3GY_i-OsDs

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

It's an archaic geo-political term that ceased to be of any significance after Irish independence. Anyone who uses it in common parlance in Ireland is either poorly informed or a troll imo.

Well, I ain't no troll and very well informed. Indeed, I can even distinguish a political context from a physical geography reference - as can the Dept of Foreign Affairs.

Eugene Norman

Adonis Sweet Ransom wrote: »

It is a physical geographic term. Is the use of the term "Irish Sea" wrong in your eyes too?

Where's this 'significant number' you refer to? I know l know of nobody who doesn't refer to the group of Islands as the British Isles. Describing them politically is a different matter.

A fair number of academic books will use Atlantic isles etc.

Stojkovic

Badly Drunk Boy wrote: »

There's not a whiff of the St. David's flag in the Union Jack, even though it's probably the best of the main four saints of the British Isles. I was just saying this to all of my non-Welsh friends last Tuesday, St David's Day.

St. David's flag.

Because Wales was not recognised as a country but as a Principality ?

Junkyard Tom

Adonis Sweet Ransom wrote: »

very well informed.

Just saying it doesn't make it true. Ireland is not a British isle in any way shape or form. Even those patches of the north east of Ireland where people would describe themselves as British understand that they are referring to their political allegiance rather than any geographic reality.

darkpagandeath

Better rename America so...

GerB40

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

It's a geographic term. Build a bridge and get over it.

Yes yes a million times yes. I can't imagine much people on the west coast of England complaining about the Irish sea

Junkyard Tom

Gotta love the 'OMG WHADDABOUT THE IRISH SEA' red herring. Is there even any red herring in the Irish Sea?

storker

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Gotta love the 'OMG WHADDABOUT THE IRISH SEA' red herring. Is there even any red herring in the Irish Sea?

I've had potted herrings out of it. Mmmmmmmm...

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Gotta love the 'OMG WHADDABOUT THE IRISH SEA' red herring. Is there even any red herring in the Irish Sea?

No red herring. Just a point you won't reply to. How must all those poor Welsh and West Coast English people feel every time we refer to the Irish Sea?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Eugene Norman wrote: »

A fair number of academic books will use Atlantic isles etc.

I've seen more use of Pretanic Isles than Atlantic Isles in an academic context.

Then there's the Northwest European Archipelago and the West European Island used also.