Important info

[boomer]

Southern Ireland dont associate themselves with the British.

Looky here for some useless facts http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...k/geos/uk.html

[placidfemme]

Why were they called the British and Irish Lions? I thought Britain covered all the countries?

Excatly! And why are they called the Lions... no Lions in Europe other than Zoo's...

[TwoSeven]

Look at the flags.

Its includes southern ire. Ulster (northern ireland) is part of the UK. Britain is wales, scotland, england and northern ireland.

[Oscar]

Why were they called the British and Irish Lions? I thought Britain covered all the countries?

Geographically Ireland is one of the British Isles. Politically we have two separate entities: The United Kingdom including Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic (Eire).

Interestingly there is only one Rugby Union in Ireland which covers Northern Ireland and Eire.

[Biff]

Politically:

Britain - England, Wales, Scotland. 'The Mainland'
UK - England, Wales, Scotland & N.Ireland

Eire (Southern Island) is a separate country. Hence the official tour party name of the British and Irish Lions.

Southern Ireland is not part of the UK.

But people do tend to broaden the use of the term Britain to include N.Ireland, but technically/politically it isn't.

[Oscar]

Rugby heaven!!

I drove down to the 'Naki, watched the game and drove straight back.
I've got tickets for the Maori game and for the second test...rule Britiannia!

[James Deuce]

But we still don't know if that was Two Seven on his KZ in the latest BRM, do we?

[Ixion]

Look at the flags.

Its includes southern ire. Ulster (northern ireland) is part of the UK. Britain is wales, scotland, england and northern ireland.

Surely if there is St George's Cross and St Andrew's (not to mention the Dragon of Cymru) then Ulster should be represented by either St patrick's Cross, or the Bloody Hand of Ulster ?

[Oscar]

Surely if there is St George's Cross and St Andrew's (not to mention the Dragon of Cymru) then Ulster should be represented by either St patrick's Cross, or the Bloody Hand of Ulster ?

If yer a Nationalist the Cross of St. George is representative, if yer a Republican, then the Tricolour is OK.

[Sniper]

Southern Ireland is not part of the UK.

But people do tend to broaden the use of the term Britain to include N.Ireland, but technically/politically it isn't.

Has something to do with IRA and separatism doesnt it?

[Oscar]

Politically:


But people do tend to broaden the use of the term Britain to include N.Ireland, but technically/politically it isn't.

Small correction.
Politically, the name of the country is the United Kingdom, which includes Northern Ireland. The name "Britain" or "British" is used to refer to that Nation and it's inhabitants. The "British Isles" (geographically speaking) includes all of Ireland.

So the name change is just a bit of PC wank.
Saying the "British & Irish Lions" is akin to saying the "New Zealand and South Island ALl Blacks"

Me? Pedantic? Never....

[Biff]

Has something to do with IRA and separatism doesnt it?

Yup - in an around about way. The English imported thousands of Scots into Northern Ireland several hundred years ago. The Scots being used as both a local army to keep an eye on the Irish, but also as friendly 'natives' to mke use of the land. This naturally pissed of the local Irish after the Scots were given protection by the British crown and were awarded all the best jobs and houses.

After much trouble, strife and resentment over the years the IRA emerged.

[Oscar]

Yup - in an around about way. The English imported thousands of Scots into Northern Ireland several hundred years ago. This naturally pissed of the local Irish after the Scots were given protection by the British crown and were awarded all the best jobs and houses.

After much trouble, strife and resentment over the years the IRA emerged.

Actually, whereas there were several occasions that the English invaded, most of the Ulster Nationalist are of Scottish extraction. Robert the Bruce sent his Brother to Ulster to help fight the English, but the expedition turned into more of an invasion...

[James Deuce]

Red Hand anyone?

[Biff]

Actually, whereas there were several occasions that the English invaded, most of the Ulster Nationalist are of Scottish extraction. Robert the Bruce sent his Brother to Ulster to help fight the English, but the expedition turned into more of an invasion...

Yup sure - but in the 1300's (I think), the Scots were sent in to lay siege to NI's main castles and such like, and to set up home for good as oppossed to going in with the primary intention of simply opening a six pack of whoop arse on the poor paddys.

But Irish history is riddled with incidents like these. That's why the country (NI) is in such a mucking fuddle today. So it would take a couple of historians several hours/days to trawl back through history in order to find out the enitre story. A bit like the history of Israel and Palestine I guess.