Is it true Irish counties were decided by the British as administrative divisions?

Why would you change something that works quite well ? And replace it with what ? Reinstate clan warfare and cattle raiding to settle boundaries ?

Uncharted wrote: »

Counties were decided??

Ya wha?

I thought county boundaries are decided by the rivers and streams.

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Why would we bother. Also what’s the free state? Where’s that?

The free state is the name given to the false administration that attempted to usurp the 32 country republic in place before 1922.

Ah here, leave it ou'.

dinorebel wrote: »

Does that mean you can blame the Brits for Leitrim ?

You mean, West Cavan?!

flookdgates wrote: »

British burecrats drew imaginary lines on a map and decided this piece of land will be called Co. Meath and this piece of land will be called Co. Westmeath.

You would appear to be correct. Fancy that.

In 1543, during the Tudor reconquest of Ireland, the Parliament of Ireland passed an act dividing the county into two, the eastern portion retaining the name Meath and the western portion called Westmeath.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_Westmeath
(With citation you can check out your good selves)

flookdgates wrote: »

British burecrats drew imaginary lines on a map and decided this piece of land will be called Co. Meath and this piece of land will be called Co. Westmeath.

Pre-Norman invasion there were 5 "king over kings" who rule over Leinster, Ulster, Munster, Connaught and Mide (Meath). These ruled "over kings" who themselves ruled over many smaller kingdoms.

There was always going to be a need to subdivide the country and set out proper boundaries. I don't think there's cause for anger about counties which were founded soon enough after the Norman invasion (especially considering the Norman's had invaded England relatively recently).

It wasn't until the 1500s and later that British rule began to sweep across the majority of the island and their grip began to tighten on areas outside of their control. I don't see the point in renaming counties on the back of us being ruled by Britain, since many of these counties were founded by the Normans after they had conquered England.

Many of the counties were designed based on Irish counties, duchies, other vassal holdings etc. Tyrone being a prime example. Most of the rest are based on geographical boundaries.

In any case, they're all arbitrary. So it really doesn't matter except that a genuine culture and sense of belonging has grown out of this arbitrary set of lines.

ELM327 wrote: »

The free state is the name given to the false administration that attempted to usurp the 32 country republic in place before 1922.

The Irish Free State was the name of the newly independent state from 1922 until 1937, when the current constitution came into effect. The'false administration' that you seem to hold in great disdain was called the Irish Republic.

If it wasn't for the GAA nobody would care about countries.
👽

ELM327 wrote: »

Irish kings.
Big difference.

I don't think Republicans are under any illusion. They know their version of nationalism owes a great debt to the French and American revolutions and their idea of a Republic.

Zebra3 wrote: »

Few know more of Irish history than Irish Republicans.

Picking out the bits they like and ignoring the rest?

Taytoland wrote: »

Seemingly not. Most of what they say is either myth or lies. Still waiting for them to explain what they mean by reunification.

Still waiting for Unionists to explain how they support the crimes of the British Empire and how it sits with their claims to support democracy and freedom.

ELM327 wrote: »

Irish kings.
Big difference.

Really? So some Republicans distinguish between various monarchs based on their nationality? Hardly very republican now is it?