quote i understand that many irish don't like the term british isles ' not totally true the term is rarely used in ireland most irish people don't care what people in britain want to call the group and would consider the term outdated in a modern forward democratic world and thus avoid its usage the term is occasionally used throughout the world its usage is the exception rather than the rule i think the problem with the term is that it started out in life as a political term of great britain claiming ownership of all the islands in the group and to many people that original meaning still stands as britain ceased to be roman britain ireland ceased to be a british isle