Complex politics or simple geography: Is Ireland part of the British Isles? Complex politics or simple geography: Is Ireland part of the British Isles? A topic where geography and politics are completely intertwined, we looked at it from the two viewpoints to see how the term is used. Oct 28th 2013, 8:30 PM 73,365 Views 259 Comments One possible way of viewing the islands. Black line in center leading right denotes the Isle of Man. FOR SOME IT is a question of politics, for others a question of geography. Whether or not those little islands off the western coast of Europe should be referred to collectively as the British Isles is something sure to spark debate wherever it is brought up. On one side of the argument, it’s said that it is a politically benign term and simply the handiest way to refer to the Atlantic Archipelago. We’ve come a long way since 1916, right? Others say that no, that when the Republic of Ireland Act 1948 came into effect, we left the Commonwealth and so ceased to be in any way British. Why would we want to be called British after years of trying to get away from them?

After some heated discussion in the comments section last weekend, TheJournal.ie decided to see if this argument can be put to bed once and for all. The Brytish Iles The first use of the term “British Isles”, recorded by the Oxford English Dictionary, was in 1577. John Dee, a mathematician and something of a polymath, used the term in a possessive sense, in whatever he was trying to get at here: “The syncere Intent, and faythfull Aduise, of Georgius Gemistus Pletho, was, I could..frame and shape very much of Gemistus those his two Greek Orations..for our Brytish Iles, and in better and more allowable manner. ” It’s important to remember that he probably didn’t create this term, and that he was also quite close to the Queen. A map of the islands from 1579, portrayed in a different orientation than what we’re used to. ( Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons ) View of the Department of Foreign Affairs Let’s forget about John’s 400-year-old ramblings, and see what our current government have to say on this matter.

Responding to questions from TheJournal.ie, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) stated that the two islands are commonly called “Britain and Ireland”. The government’s position is the same as outlined in a Parliamentary Question from 2005 , which was pointed out by TheJournal.ie commenter Alan Lawlor in the discussion last week. The answer was given by then-Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin . The TD had asked for the government or DFA position on “the use of the term British Isles when referring to Ireland and Britain”: 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. Of course, that presents a difficulty. Sometimes you have to refer to the islands together. Addressing the British Irish Association in Cambridge this year, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore had to do just that: Two years ago I had the honour of welcoming Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to Ireland. I did so at an airfield named for Roger Casement, an Irish nationalist executed in 1916 for treason against the British state.

Knighted previously by the crown, Roger Casement embodies the complexity and closeness of relations between these islands. “These islands” is a common diplomatic way to describe the islands. The DFA cited The Good Friday Agreement as a notable example of this, in which the term “British Isles” is avoided completely and “these islands” used when needed. The DFA also added that they were not aware of any recent usage of the term “British Isles” by a British Government Minister. Just last week the Northern Irish Secretary of State Theresa Villers spoke to the British-Irish inter-Parliamentary Assembly where such terminology would been rife. Instead of referring to the islands themselves, she avoided the risky topic by referring to the governments instead: In recent years your focus has rightly extended beyond the consideration of Northern Ireland affairs to look at the benefits of broader and deeper co-operation between the UK and Irish governments. Both governments take that goal very seriously and it was embodied in the joint statement on the next decade of UK-Irish relations which was made by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach in March last year. On the map Some will argue that we should forget the politics and simply look at it from a geographic sense.

Having been in use for more than 400 years, the term has stuck around, with even a quick Google search revealing that most maps fitting the description of “British Isles” contain Ireland, showing that it still serves as a way to describe the two islands. (Image Credit: Google Image Search) We contacted the main authority for map-making in Ireland, the Ordnance Survey (OS) of Ireland , but they declined to comment fully on the issue, saying that they “have no need to, nor would we use term British Isles”. While our OS are not in the business of making maps which include the United Kingdom, a publication on their website , to which they contributed to along with their Northern Irish and UK counterparts and two universities, uses the phrase “the British Isles and Ireland“. On the other side of the Irish Sea, the British OS addresses the issue on their website, stating that : ["British Isles"] is purely a geographical term – it refers to the islands of Great Britain and Ireland – including the Republic of Ireland – and the 5000 or so smaller islands scattered around our coasts. Anglo-centrism Since the term is quite common, is there a point in referring to the British Isles in any other way?

Is it akin to saying hoover instead of vacuum cleaner? Professor of Geopolitics at NUI Maynooth Gerry Kearns explained that it is very difficult to take the politics out of it completely. “Whenever someone refers to all those islands off the coast of Europe as the British Isles,” he told TheJournal.ie, “they are engaged in some unconscious anglo-centrism.” “However, as far back as the Act of Union in 1800 , which brought Ireland into the United Kingdom, even then it was referred to as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland”. More than two hundred years after Mr Dee called them the British Isles, the government of the day still decided to include “and Ireland”. What’s your say on it? This is not an argument that can be put to bed easily. Some will agree with the government’s view that the name “British Isles” has no legal status. Others will agree with the British Ordnance Survey and say that it is a purely geographic term. What do you think? Ordnance Survey Blog The difference between UK, Britain and the British Isles Hows about the Channel Islands then. OK – not part of the UK but are they part of the British Isles?

Nicholas “Britain” does not mean “England and Wales”. When the Kingdoms of Scotland and of England were united by the Act and Treaty of Union, the resulting new country was called “Great Britain”. It was called “Great” to distinguish it from Brittany. The Channel Isles are part of the British Isles, but not part of the United Kingdom. They are Crown Dependencies as a result of them forming part of the Dutchy of Normandy Paul Hi Nicholas, Our research points to the name Britain coming from the Roman name “Britannia” (or “Britannia Major”, to distinguished from “Britannia Minor”, ie Brittany in France). Since the Roman’s only ever conquered the areas of modern day England and Wales, it is arguable that the name Britain originally referred only to those countries. Hi, I was interested to ask on what basis was the British Isles “purely” a geographical term? How is the Channel Islands similar (its geographically not, hence why everyone struggles to get on the map and settles for a little box in the corner) in terms geology to the other islands and more similar to them than they are to mainland France?

How can the term be considered “purely” geographical considering its use, historically and at present, by the UK Government to refer to the Islands that are somehow “British” i.e. pre 1948 the Government defines it as including Ireland and post as not including Ireland, it being used as a synonym for the British Islands? If it is just islands off North-West Europe how come the Faroe Islands is not included or Iceland? The Faroe Islands makes more sense geographically than the Channel Islands. Surly because of the overlap between its legal/political use it can’t ever be considered purely geographical? Because of its ambiguous nature (including Ireland/not including Ireland including the Channel Islands/not including the Channel Islands) Please not that Irish people find its use offensive because of its ambiguous nature and overlap as use as political and legal term. Please stop using this term and confine to the dustbin of history where it belongs. I am interested to understand your geological logic for these islands being similar. Look forward to hearing from you.

28 August, 2012 at 14:24 Gemma Thanks for the comment and a very good point – we posted this blog because, as the national mapping for Great Britain, we are often asked geography-related questions and this question crops up regularly. There is also a common perception that Ordnance Survey produce mapping for Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and so on, whereas our remit is Great Britain, and there is a lot of confusion as to what this entails and covers. The post is put together to answer the geographical definitions of what constitutes the UK, Great Britain and the British Isles and not intended to stray into either geological or political comments that would be inappropriate for us as the national mapping agency to comment on. A. Lindsay @Gemma thanks for your reply. The point is it is not a “purely a geographical term” as stated in your blog and if you use it you got to willing to debate it. You already have strayed into geological or political comments that would be inappropriate for you as the national mapping agency to comment on by including the term in your blog. Especially without clarification that its use can cause offence and that their is more than one definition commonly in use.

I support the Ordnance Survey’s idea of trying to get people to use the correct terms, but this term is not an appropriate geographical term for these islands and this promotes its use as such. If you don’t wish to have the debate on it or amend your blog then I suggest you remove the term. As it is, you are supporting its use. Andy Concise, and informative article. Thank you. I’m wondering if A. Lindsay bothered to read the article properly or was just having an off day? Boru Andy, I’m not sure if you understand the point A. Lindsay is making. The term “British Isles” can be viewed, certainly by persons in Ireland, as a political term. Just saying that it is only a geographical term does not make it so, especially when the term has political history. There are two major islands: Great Britain and Ireland. We could therefore just as easily call the islands the Irish Isles. Indeed, that would probably have been the accepted geographical term if Ireland had been the more powerful empire. So you see, geographical terms are highly influenced by political history, and there is no point in denying that. Naming of places is heavily influenced by politics and has been throughout human history.

For example, “North America” is a geographical term, but is named after an Italian explorer. It is inherently political. David Miller British Isles was accurate from the 12th century to the early 20th century, when the British controlled Ireland; however, now it seems that Ireland has renounced all Britishness since leaving the British Commonwealth in 1949. I notice that cruise lines and other sources use “British & Irish Isles,” which seems more 21st century. British Isles has become a political term, same as Persian Gulf (bordering Arab states use Arabian Gulf) and Sea of Japan (South Korea advocates East Sea). Persian Gulf and Sea of Japan place names suggest ownership, and British Isles implies a uniform culture, which does not exist. Thoughtless inertia and British nationalism appear to be great allies in the continued use of a British Isles descriptor that includes Ireland. 19 February, 2013 at 03:02 Peter In your version of Great Britian you have included all the Scottish isles and the Isle of Wight.

Great Britain is strictly the mainland and none of the surrounding islands, so for example Great Britain does not include Angelsy, The Isles of Scilly, or even places like Peil island or Chapel Island off the coast of the Furness peninusla in Cumbria (Or more correctly “Lancashire beyond the sands”, for friends of real Lancashire) Nigel Robets The terms ‘British Isles’ is deprecated becuase it is ambiguous and historically provocative. The similar term ‘British Islands’ however, is precisely defined in statute (the Interpretation Act 1948) and has a different meaning. It means ‘the United Kingdom of Great Britain and N. Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man’. It does not include the 26 counties that were part of the the UK between 1801 and 1922 and, following a period as a self-governing Dominion of the Crown (as the Irish Free State, and from 1937 ‘Ireland’), became a fully sovereign state in 1949. Incidentally, American news readers still incorrectly refer to the UK as ‘Britain’ or ‘Great Britain’.

That country ceased to exist in 1801, so whenever you hear that term, you should realise that the person using it is 210 years, and two major constitutional changes (a union and, 121 years later, a breakup) behind the times. 13 September, 2014 at 04:11 Sean I am from Ireland and British Isles is only “provocative” for the most half-witted of Irish Republicans who suffer from a severe inferiority complex and out-dated irrational hatred of “the Brits”. Many people from Ireland (only confident types) also DO consider themselves British in a British Isles sense but not British in a United Kingdom sense. (similarly to the way people in Northern Ireland can consider themselves Irish in a geographical sense) Seán Sean I too live in Ireland. As a half-wit corporate City lawyer, I also lived in England for many years and have a great affection for England and the English – they’re a friendly, hospitable and quick-witted people and I return there regularly for holidays and to visit the many good friends I made there. We’re very lucky to have them as neighbours, frankly.

I have no ‘hatred’ of anyone, despite your ill-mannered and patronising preconceptions about anyone in Ireland who disagrees with you on this point. Most people in Ireland (including confident types) do not consider themselves British in a British Isles sense; including the Irish government. If only we all could be as confident as you Sean, eh? Another Seán 2 November, 2013 at 14:40 Satan “The islands to the north by north west of Europe” works good if you have less spare time in your day. 😛 6 August, 2013 at 23:32 Alex In reference to what constitutes ‘Britain’ (without the Great), the Romans occupied (for two periods) plenty of modern day Scotland and built the Antonine (or Severan) wall between the Forth and Clyde. North of that they called Caledonia. If Britain is different from Great Britain and is based on what the Romans called Britannia, surely it should end at either the Antonine wall (incorporating the borders and lowlands of Scotland) or at Hadrian’s wall (excluding northernmost England).

In Edinburgh you have the North British Hotel (at the end of the North British Railway) and other organisations such as the North British Rowing Club. It seems that if a distinction is to be made, then the boundary should be the Antonine wall. 18 dudley court 24 Lethington avenue The term “North British” was used to prefix many places, hotels, companies etc as a calculated attempt to remove the distinctions between Scotland and other parts of the UK, particularly England. It was an early form of ‘British nationalism’ which sought to blur and even remove those national distinctions which prevailed in the constituent parts of the UK. 3 September, 2014 at 19:19 Andy Peter (19/12/2012) – the 3rd largest island in the British Isles (by way of population) is Portsea Island, which forms about 70% of the City of Portsmouth. As a resident of Portsea Island, I would not welcome the notion that I do not live in, or on, Great Britain!!!

1 October, 2013 at 18:45 Paul “Britain”is short hand for the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ” in the Political sense, then of course Great Britain is a geographical term, now I’m from Northern Ireland and I’m often insulted when told “Im not British” because i dont come from “Great Britain” but the term “British” refers to all people from the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland included) as well as British people from the Crown dependencies of the Isle of Man and Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey as well as the Overseas territories like Gibratar for example …also I live on the Island of Ireland so I’m Irish as well as being British and Northern Irish also… 26 May, 2014 at 16:14 John Richards It does seem a shame that the nomclemature of Geography, a physical science, should be involved in matters related to Politics, a social science, but, and for very understandable historical reasons that is what has occurred. Should Geography alter it’s vocabulary to accommodate this?

I do not personally think so, though neither do I think that my opinion should be uncritically accepted by anyone else… IMHO, and only that, the term ‘Great Britain’ refers to the largest of the islands of the British Archipeligo, the ‘Great’ simply denoting ‘big’ and not any other concept of superiority. Sorry if you live on Portsea, but you do not live on or in Great Britain; you are, of course, absolutely British! The Irish aspect of this is the one most confused by Politics and history, and I can fully understand and sympathise with the reluctance of some Irish people to be associated with anything British, but, in Geographical terms, Ireland is the second largest land mass in the British Isles. I would like to see the use of the term ‘Great Britain’ superseded by the use of ‘Mainland’, within a context of the British Isles.

This would satisfy the Geographical requirements, clear the confusion over offshore islands such as Orkney or Anglesey which are part of the ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ but not of Great Britain in a Geographical sense, and would hopefully put an end to the ridiculous and jingoistic use ‘Great British’ this or that which I find highly irritating! David Hi, There seems to be quite a bit of confusion here, both geographically, historically and politically. So much so that it’s hard to start from one single point. I’ll try my best to approach the points raised from an historical timeline perspective. Note: Please be aware that most place names will be used in their most popular current Anglicised form as this conversation is in English. Way back in the midst of time when political turmoil was about which neighbouring village was the latest “enemy of the month” the inhabitants of these islands and isles along with traders from the continent referred to this area of Europe as the Prettania. In fact even as far away as Greece and long before that Jesus dude was walking across the earth they knew of their existence.

They even knew that they were made up of lots of islands that included two very large islands (the largest known islands to most Europeans at the time) called Albion and Iwernia. All of these names were what the local inhabitants referred to these islands as to the Greek traders and explorers as long ago as 300 B.C. Greece (which included much of Sicily, that big island at the foot of Italy) began to wane and the Rome started along the long road to becoming an Empire. After much fighting they had gained control of much of the Mediterranean area and Western Europe. This included the conquest of Gaul (I’ll reference this area later) which gave the Romans access to Pretannia. They weren’t very successful at first, then that Julius chap came along and started winning against these Bretons. This is when Pretannia changed to Bretannia. This is also where Great Britain enters history. Great Britain refers to only the main island of the British Isles. It does not include any of the surrounding isles. These were conquered along the way and were anything but great. The inhabitants of the largest island knew just how vast it was the Romans only knew from the reports of their sources.

They did know that it was the largest by far and referred to it as Great. The conquered area of the main island and all the lesser ones was referred to politically as Bretania by the Romans. Their conquest of Bretania eventually extended to the Scottish Lowlands. North of that were the lands of the Picts (painted people) to the west was the second largest Bretania island, Hibernia. The Scotti tribe resided on this island around the area that is modern day Belfast. Hadrian’s Wall was built to protect these Bretons from the Picts. Antonine’s Wall was built to protect the Bretania lands from raids from the Picts and Scotti who were working together. Faroe Islands – These islands are not part of the British Isles because they were so remote that neither the Greeks, Romans or Germanic tribes knew of their existence at the time. Brittany (modern day France) – This region was a part of Gaul (Asterix and Obelix?) and known as Amorica to the Romans. It is known as Brittany only after the Roman Empire started to collapse.

As the Romans started to withdraw they were defeated, at first, by the Scotti and the Picts and then joined by some of the formerly defeated Breton tribes. They crossed the Channel and set up colonies in Brittany (Little Britain) and Galicia (mostly Northern Spain but spread sporadically along the coast to Southern France). All these Bretons and Galicians spoke a mixture of British Celtic languages (all of which were similar to Gaelic). Channel Islands – these are in fact not part of the British Isles. They also are part of the British Isles. The confusion surrounding them stems from the Roman withdrawal from Bretania. They were effectively taken over by the advancing Breton tribes (remember this included a lot of tribes from modern day Ireland) and subsequently became part of Bretania along with Brittany. Eventually, after many other invaders assumed control of Eastern and Southern Bretania, the Germanic tribes of the Angles and Saxons arrived. England arose from this and until Joan D’Arc arrived this consisted of the whole of Northern France from Brittany to Flanders and the West of France around Bordeaux. Ultimately this led to the loss of continental England of which only the Channel Islands remain.

Upon the Acts of Union (there are two Acts as they had to be passed in both parliaments) between England and Scotland these islands remained outside the political union of Great Britain. So although they are not technically a part of the British Isles, as a dependency of the English Crown (and now the British Crown) they often (wrongly) get classed as such. This is because “the Crown” is not in fact the physical crown itself but is in fact Her Majesty the Queen of (this bit goes on forever, trust me.) or whomever happens to be the reigning monarch. Crown Dependencies belong exclusively to the reigning monarch and are separate from the sovereign state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Great Britain (political context) – This entity includes all the lands of Scotland and England. I don’t want to upset the Welsh but Wales has actually been a region of England since Edward I defeated ALL the Welsh principalities. This includes the island of Great Britain and all other Scottish and English (including Welsh) islands. This is the area depicted in the first map and which Ordnance Survey maps on behalf of Her Majesty through Her Majesty’s Government in accordance with the Acts of Union between Scotland and England.

I know a lot of Irish people (some, as stated, are glad to be British)may be upset at being referred to as British and classified as part of the British Isles but the reality is that you ancestors were the ones who classed their territory as being in the British Isles. The fact is that for over 2000 years, long before these islands were ruled by one monarch, Bretannia and Hibernia were the two largest islands in the British Isles. Their inhabitants were numerous tribes who classified these islands as Pretannia. I’m one of the 62% of Scots who are “Scottish, not British” by the way. Summary Map One is correct in a political sense but incorrect in a geographical sense as only the main island is Great Britain. Map Two is correct only in a political sense as it includes the countries of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland. Yes, Norther Ireland is a country and is represented in the Union Flag by the St. Patrick’s Cross. Scotland is represented as a member of this union by the St. Andrew’s Cross. England is, the only country not represented by a saltire, is represented by St George’s Cross.

Map Three is only correct in a political sense (as the Crown Dependencies belong to the English Crown) but for the purist it is incorrect in a geographical sense as the Channel Islands are actually a part of the continent of Europe. Oh… the pedantic part of my nature has to point out that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland isn’t in fact the union’s full title. Lawyers are pedantic at the best of time, lawyers working for the Crown take their pedanticism to levels that would destroy your will to live. Just be thankful that you don’t have to repeat the union’s full royal title even once. 13 August, 2014 at 22:24 Richard of Oz Bloody hell! Can we please have another war just to settle this once and for all? Thank goodness that here in Oz we have no such confusion. 18 August, 2014 at 00:10 Anthony In Ireland we use the term ( The British and Irish Isles) as Ireland is an island in its own right, regardless of politics. The political and out dated colonial term The British Isles is not used in anyway by the Government or people of Ireland.

Even the Ordnance Survey of Ireland use the term the British and Irish Isles, is it not about time the British OS done the same and respect the people of Ireland who refuse to be british!! 18 August, 2014 at 03:47 Mike I always thought (a) that Great Britain consisted of England, Scotland and Wales INCLUDING their respective islands but excluding The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands as they are politically distinct; that (b) that the United Kingdom consisted of Great Britain plus Northern Ireland and its islands, plus the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands; and (c) The British Isles is a defunct political term, now used as a geographical term to describe the United Kingdom plus the Republic of Ireland and its islands, collectively. As someone else has said, this last term is a remnant of the erstwhile colonial relationship between Great Britain and Ireland, and perhaps it would be a good idea to replace it with the term ‘The British and Irish Islands’. But to me it’s not a big deal.

After all, we don’t have a clamour to rename the ‘Irish Sea’ as the ‘Irish & British Sea’ …… 🙂 Mike Of course, all of these definitions may need to be revised if Alex Salmond has his way … 🙂 Mal The term ‘British Isles’ is NOT deprecated. It is, however, historical. To wit: the people of the British Isles are, in fact, British. Oppenheimer et al have proven that the people of the British Isles are basically the same peoples, with very little genetic difference between them. That is because most of the people there are of the same groups that settled thousands of years ago. The differences come from the smaller numbers of invaders over the thousands of years – the Gaels, Normans, Romans, Angles, Jutes, Saxons, Vikings etc. The idea that the British Isles are not British is a modern one, brought about after the rise of the Nation State, when populist separatism became en vogue. There is a difference between ‘British’ as a nationality, and the British peoples – the peoples of the Isles of the Pretani (British). Further, let’s not have hypocrites: stop pretending that the Republic of Ireland is ‘Ireland’.

It isn’t, no matter what that specific country decided to (politically astutely) call it. I find it to be an insult to those of us Irish who elect not to become part of a separatist Irish statelet. If you’re going to call it the ridiculous-sounding ‘British and Irish Isles’, you should really consider something more catchy instead: ‘British and Irish and Scottish and Welsh and Cornish… Isles’. In fact, we could drop the despised ‘British’ epithet altogether! Get over the label-hating people, and enjoy actual history, instead of attempting to rewrite it! William The rugby union team comprising the best of the four home nations (there’s another term for you) – formerly known as the British Lions – has called itself the British and Irish Lions for some time now to the satisfaction of all. I suggest the ‘Isles’ should follow suit. Great Britain =England & Wales & Scotland, UK = England & Wales & Scotland & Northern Ireland, British Isles =England & Wales & Scotland & Ireland & Northern Ireland, Then why does the term ‘British’ refer to the inhabitants of the UK rather than Britain. David Dance The Act of Union, 1707.

Article 1: “THAT the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England shall upon the first day of May next ensuing the date hereof, and for ever after, be united into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN” Britain is the name of the island and The united kingdom is the political system we have. 19 September, 2014 at 00:07 Bunty Inhabitants of the Isle of Wight call the bit above them the North Island (they are the South Island) – just to throw that into the mix lol! History! lol you mean stories that you select that match your simplistic bias. Like the way you accept without question the supposed pretani islands LOL what the island of Ireland as described that if you had ACTUALLY studied the original documents and not some little Britain supposed translation! Had this supposed other Island placed between what is now Britain and Spain! Ptolemys map examined. Of course british isles is political. British is not a ancient word or some natural organic form, it is a invented word and one of the 17th century at earliest and then in basic form and not in the form you and people like you want to, and clearly need to imagine.

Get over the label-hating people, and enjoy actual history, instead of attempting to rewrite it! Ireland is a island off the coast of Europe. We live in the 21st century. Not that one would ever know it was the 21st century what with this ordnance survey website quoting colonial cliché. The ordnance survey of another small island off the coast of Europe that claims to be United even if the need for a prefix LOL and around half of Scots ! suggests otherwise. British is a colonial term, having no credible ore remotely distinct ancient term of reference. Ireland suffices the world over for this Island. 4 October, 2014 at 07:06 jerry O'Neil I am from Northern Ireland and I consider my self as neither british or Irish, I am Northern Irish. Just thought i would like to confuse the issue a bit more ;p So proud of our little country and its people Liam Neeson, Kenneth Branagh,C. S. Lewis,Van Morrison,Sam neill,James nesbitt,Joey Dunlop,Rory McIlroy,Darren Clarke,Christine Bleakley and the list goes on……..

GREAT BRITAIN THE BRITISH ISLES THE UNITED KINGDOM BRITISH ISLANDS GREAT BRITAIN, THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE BRITISH ISLES, BRITISH ISLANDS Many are not aware of the precise meaning of the term "Great Britain". Even many British are unaware of the precise reality that the term expresses. Try asking a person living in the United Kingdom the exact meaning of the expression they have on their passports: "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Many will not be able to provide an adequate answer. No wonder, therefore, that confusion also exists outside the United Kingdom and that in other European countries people erroneously group together the English, Scottish and Welsh under the word in their own language meaning "English". Hence, for example, the French commonly group them together in the term "anglais" and the Italians "inglesi"). This can be a cause of offence for the Scottish and the Welsh. Here we shall try to explain the meaning of the terms "Great Britain", "United Kingdom", "British Islands" and "British Isles" as wells as the political and geographical realities that they express. Great Britain Great Britain is the largest island in Europe.

"Great Britain" is the collective name for the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales. It also includes the small adjacent islands but it does not include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The term "Great Britain" came into being when England and Scotland became a single kingdom under King James VI of Scotland who also became King James I of England, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. It must be remembered, however, that this was not a political union but merely the union of the crowns of the two countries. Politically they were still two states, each with its own Parliament. 1 Political union came about only during the reign of Queen Anne, in 1707. It was in this year that the Scottish Parliament assembled for the last time and the formal union of Parliaments was effected. It was on 1 May of that same year that the "United Kingdom of Great Britain" came into existence. Under Edward I the conquest of Wales was completed and Wales was united to England under Henry VIII, the second monarch descended from the Welsh House of Tudor. 2 This union was ratified by two Acts of Parliament in 1536 and again in 1543.

The adjective "British" The adjective "British" is, of course, used in relation to Great Britain but there is also a common tendency to use it when referring to issues relating to both Great Britain and the United Kingdom. This is inaccurate and from a legal point of view erroneous. Sometimes, however, in legislation the term "British" is used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole, especially in matters relating to the question of nationality. 3 The United Kingdom The United Kingdom is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The official name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" came into use in 1922 after the constitution of the Irish Free State (1922-1937), the former name of the Republic of Ireland. The whole of Ireland had been united to Great Britain by an Act of Parliament in 1800 and which took effect in January 1801. 4 However, this union had never been popular in Ireland and became the target of Irish Nationalist leaders ever since. The union of the whole of Ireland with Great Britain lasted until the constitution of the Irish Free State.

The Treaty that sanctioned the separation laid down that the six counties in the north should remain united to Great Britain hence constituting Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom but not part of Great Britain. Therefore, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, used to indicate the political union of England, Scotland and Wales, was expanded, in the 20th century, to include Northern Ireland: the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" as it now appears on passports. When speaking of the United Kingdom and its constituent parts it is important to use the correct terminology. In 1969 the Royal Commission on the Constitution was set up with the aim of examining the relation between central legislature and government on one hand and the "several countries, nations and regions of the United Kingdom" on the other. The words "countries", "nations" and "regions" reveal a certain vagueness which was eventually resolved by the Report of the Commission. 5 The Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey are not part of Great Britain, they are not part of the United Kingdom and neither are they part of the European Union. They are self-governing British Crown dependencies.

The British Islands The expression "British Islands" has been defined in the Interpretation Act 1978 as meaning the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The Republic of Ireland is not included in this definition. The British Isles The expression "British Isles" is geographical and not political. They are a group of islands off the northwest coast of Europe consisting of Great Britain, the whole of Ireland, the Orkney and Shetland Islands, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Wight, the Scilly Islands, Lundy Island, the Channel Islands and many other smaller islands. A list of the main islands of Great Britain is to be found on another page on this site. Notes 1 Art. 1 of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland in 1707. 2 The Tudor dynasty was descended from the Welsh adventurer Owen Tudor (c. 1400-1461). Wales had already been conquered by Edward I and the conquest was sealed with the Statute of Rhuddlan, also known as the Statute of Wales, in 1284.

In the first half of the sixteenth century, under the reign of Henry VIII, acts of union were passed and Wales sent representatives to the English Parliament. After the union of the two countries Wales had no effective government and Welsh laws and administration were replaced by the English. The Welsh saw this as an annexation of their country. 3 Cfr. Interpretation Act 1978, Sched. 1. By the British Nationality Act 1981, s. 50 (1), the United Kingdom includes the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for the purposes of nationality law. 4 Art. 1 of the Act of Union created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Since medieval times Ireland had had its own Parliament. By the end of the 18th century this Parliament had enjoyed only limited power due to political pressure from England. After the break with Rome during the reign of Henry VIII and particularly after Cromwell, the Irish Parliament effectively became the voice of the Protestant minority in Ireland as all members of Parliament had to take the Oath of Supremacy recognising the monarch as head of the Church. This was obviously incompatible with the Roman Catholic religion of the vast majority of Irishmen.

An interesting allegorical account of the English treatment of Ireland inspired by the planned union of England and Scotland can be found in Jonathan Swift's The Story of the Injured Lady. To complement the ideas contained in this tract, written from the point of view of a member of the Anglo-Irish community, one might also read one or two Irish ballads in which the indigenous Irish abhorred their increasing dependence on England. Swift's The Story of the Injured Lady and the Irish ballads are available on the site "Irish Literary Texts". 5 The report of the commission does much to clarify the question of terminology. It speaks of the four "countries" that make up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. RJW Facts about Jersey Facts about Jersey ​45.5 sq miles / 120 sq km ​Capital ​British pound sterling / Jersey currency of same value ​Government ​Parliamentary democracy Where is Jersey? Jersey sits in the Bay of St Malo - just 19 miles (or 30.5 km) from the French coast and 85 miles (137 km) south of the English coast. Jersey is the biggest of the Channel Islands.

Jersey is only 5 miles (8 km) long and 9 miles (14.5 km) wide and is made up of 12 parishes. Languages English is the main language spoken in Jersey. Other languages include Portuguese, Polish and Jèrriais (the Jersey language). Jèrriais: Jersey's traditional language​ Climate Jersey’s southerly location and sheltered position in the Bay of St Malo mean that we have a generally temperate climate that is often warmer, with more sunshine hours, than you might experience in the other British Isles. ​ Jersey weather​ forecast Is Jersey tax free? Jersey is not tax-free. The public revenues of the Island are raised by income tax, by duties paid on certain goods (5% goods and services tax (GST)) and by other taxes and revenues. However, value added tax (VAT) is not charged in Jersey or the other Channel Islands. Government Jersey is self-governing and has it own financial and legal systems and its own courts of law. The States Assembly is made up of 49 elected members. Jersey is a British Crown Dependency, and is defended and internationally represented by the UK government.

Today, the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey is the personal representative of Her Majesty the Queen here in the Island. Jersey’s government also issues its own internationally-recognised driving licences and is responsible for its own vehicle registration. Jersey has its own unique number plate sequence - number plates all start with the letter J. The Island also has its own postal and telecommunications services. Is Jersey part of Great Britain, the United Kingdom or the British Isles? Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man are part of the British Isles. England, Scotland and Wales make up Great Britain, while the United Kingdom includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Jersey is a British Crown Dependency. Jersey's history Does Jersey have the same legal system as the UK? Jersey has a Royal Court, which is equal to the UK's Crown Court for criminal matters, and the UK's High Court for civil matters. It also runs an administrative jurisdiction similar to that in the Divisional Court and receives statutory appeals from executive committees of the States. It exercises a supervisory and an appellate jurisdiction over the Island’s lower criminal and civil courts. Jersey in figures You can find out about the States of Jersey Statistics Unit and statistical information about Jersey and our Jersey in figures pages.

British Isles - encyclopedia article - Citizendium This editable Main Article is under development and not meant to be cited; by editing it you can help to improve it towards a future approved , citable version. These unapproved articles are subject to a disclaimer . [ edit intro ] Location of the British Isles The British Isles is a geographical term for a group of islands off the north-west coast of continental Europe . This north-east Atlantic archipelago comprises the very large islands of Great Britain and Ireland , together with more than 6,000 smaller islands . The term has been considered at least mildly offensive by those with strong Irish nationalist views. [1] Other descriptions are also used, including "Great Britain and Ireland", "The British Isles and Ireland", "Britain and Ireland", and the deliberately vague "these isles", as well as other less common designations like "IONA" (Islands of the North Atlantic), "The Anglo-Celtic Isles", etc. The isles extend from Pednathise Head , Isles of Scilly , in the south, to Out Stack , Shetland , in the north; and from Tearaght Island , Ireland, in the west, to Lowestoft Ness , England , in the east.

There are more than 6,000 isles, amounting to a total land area of 121,674 square miles (315,134km²). The British Isles are largely low-lying and fertile, though with significant mountainous areas in Ireland, Scotland , Wales , and the north of England . The regional geology is complex, formed by the drifting together of separate regions and subsequent orogenic , glacial and weathering activities. Two sovereign states are located on the isles: the United Kingdom and Ireland . [2] The archipelago undoubtedly includes the Isle of Man , a British crown dependency ; and some sources [1] [2] include the Channel Isles in the British Isles, although historically they are a Norman archipelago. Iceland and the Faeroe Isles were sometimes geographically associated, but have never been under British, Irish or Roman rule and are not today normally regarded as part of the British Isles.

Footnotes ↑ An Irishman's Diary Myers, Kevin; The Irish Times (subscription needed) 09/03/2000, Accessed July 2006 'millions of people from these islands — 'oh how angry we get when people call them the British Isles' " Written Answers - Official Terms" , Dáil Éireann - Volume 606 - 28 September, 2005. In his response, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs stated, "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. These include the name of the State, the President, Taoiseach and others." " New atlas lets Ireland slip shackles of Britain" . A spokesman for the Irish Embassy in London said: “The British Isles has a dated ring to it, as if we are still part of the Empire.

We are independent, we are not part of Britain [sic], not even in geographical terms. We would discourage its usage [sic].” * "...I have called the Atlantic archipelago – since the term ‘British Isles’ is one which Irishmen reject and Englishmen decline to take quite seriously." Pocock, J.G.A. (2005). The Discovery of Islands. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 29. "...what used to be called the "British Isles," although that is now a politically incorrect term." Finnegan, Richard B.; Edward T. McCarron (2000). Ireland: Historical Echoes, Contemporary Politics. Boulder: Westview Press, p. 358. "In an attempt to coin a term that avoided the 'British Isles' - a term often offensive to Irish sensibilities - Pocock suggested a neutral geographical term for the collection of islands located off the northwest coast of continental Europe which included Britain and Ireland: the Atlantic archipelago..." Lambert, Peter; Phillipp Schofield (2004). Making History: An Introduction to the History and Practices of a Discipline. New York: Routledge, p. 217.

"..the term is increasingly unacceptable to Irish historians in particular, for whom the Irish sea is or ought to be a separating rather than a linking element. Sensitive to such susceptibilities, proponents of the idea of a genuine British history, a theme which has come to the fore during the last couple of decades, are plumping for a more neutral term to label the scattered islands peripheral to the two major ones of Great Britain and Ireland." Roots, Ivan (1997). "Union or Devolution in Cromwell's Britain". History Review. Diarmaid MacCulloch, The Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490-1700. (London: Penguin/Allen Lane, 2003): “the collection of islands which embraces England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales has commonly been known as the British Isles. This title no longer pleases all the inhabitants of the islands, and a more neutral description is ‘the Atlantic Isles’” (p.

xxvi) On 18 July 2004 The Sunday Business Post questioned the use of British Isles as a purely geographic expression, noting: [The] "Last Post has redoubled its efforts to re-educate those labouring under the misconception that Ireland is really just British. When British Retail Week magazine last week reported that a retailer was to make its British Isles debut in Dublin, we were puzzled. Is not Dublin the capital of the Republic of Ireland?...Archipelago of islands lying off the north-western coast of Europe?" ↑ The diplomatic and constitutional name of the Irish state is simply Ireland. For disambiguation purposes "Republic of Ireland" is often used though technically that is not the name of the state but, according to the Republic of Ireland Act 1948, its "description". Article 4, Bunreacht na hÉireann. Section 2, Republic of Ireland Act, 1948. Britain and Ireland travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] Britain and Ireland is one of the most visited regions on the planet. It contains some of the world's most recognisable landmarks, historical sites dating back thousands of years, and unique natural environments.

World cities, quaint towns, beautiful countryside and remote and isolated areas and islands. Every part is accessible to the visitor to explore, with trains, ferries, planes and roads connecting the region together. English speaking visitors are guaranteed of being able to communicate everywhere within the region, read all the signs and maps, and get to know the people. Talk[ edit ] Most people speak English as their first language, however, it may surprise some visitors that in some geographical pockets English is not the first language used for local communication, and the indigenous languages survive. These indigenous languages are generally of Celtic and Germanic origin. Welsh is the most widely spoken of these and in some north-western parts of Wales it remains the majority language. Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic are closely related Gaelic languages sharing much of the same base vocabulary. Across Lowland Scotland and Northern Ireland, Scots and Ulster Scots are spoken, respectively. In the Channel Islands there are small numbers of Norman French speakers. Even in those areas, however, nearly everyone speaks some English and most speak it fluently.

There are considerable variations in accent and dialect, although this should provide no major obstacle to visitors with reasonable fluency in English however, it is incredibly common for an English native to not understand another from a seperate region - for example a Westcountry native in Yorkshire - do not be afraid to ask someone to repeat themselves. All official signs are in English (except entering from a ferry terminal where French is mandatory on certain signs), and where it is multi-lingual, they will have an additional language as well. In recent decades, immigration has seen other linguistic communities establish themselves throughout the region, mainly in urban England. Get in[ edit ] Visitors may find more useful information in the "Get in" sections of the specific part of the region they wish to enter. Immigration and visa requirements[ edit ] There are five separate jurisdictions with their own immigration rules in this region. Therefore, travellers may wish to check the requirments for the territories in which they wish to travel on the appropriate pages. The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have their own immigration rules, which are not exactly the same as the United Kingdom itself. Those concern mainly of long-term residency and are probably not important for the average tourist.

Despite there being different rules in the different territories, there is considerable co-operation and co-ordination among the various authorities in this region which means that the British Isles comprise a Common Travel Area, which helps the vast majority of travelers enjoy hassle free travel when crossing borders within the Region. By plane[ edit ] There are external direct flights to every constituent part of this region except to the Isle of Man. The largest port of entry to this region is London Heathrow Airport . Situated 15 miles west of Central London, Heathrow offers a large choice of international destinations, with direct flights to most countries in the world. Many onward air connections within the region are possible. Coach connections to other places in mainland Great Britain are generally good. Rail connections from Heathrow to London are good; however, there being no direct services to other parts of Great Britain, a change of train will be necessary in London or possibly at Reading Station, which is served by a regular shuttle coach. Heathrow's location in the far South East of the region means that many travellers to many other parts of these islands may be better off getting a direct flight to the specific part of the Region in which they are interested.

However, from some parts of the world Heathrow, may be the only realistic option, to get into the region, and then further arrangements for onward travel would then be required. Other airports such as Birmingham, Dublin, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle and Shannon are served by a number of long haul as well as European cities. There are many other airports where a traveller can enter this region: from some longhaul cities and many European cities; further information is available on the pages about the specific country, or part of the country. Get around[ edit ] The Common Travel Area[ edit ] The United Kingdom , Ireland , the Isle of Man , and the Channel Islands maintain a common travel area, somewhat akin to the Schengen Area on continental Europe. Broadly speaking. Crossing the borders is very simple compared with most other international borders. Ireland and the United Kingdom have been separate countries for many decades. but for the most part both have found it beneficial to maintain relatively open borders. However, because of the way it has developed over the years, the Common Travel Area arrangment is not as formalised as other similar arrangments (such as the Schengen Area), and so the exact rules can be quite complex for some third country nationals.

Nationals of a "Common Travel Area" country can travel to any of the others without a passport but can be asked to provide identity documents. Citizens of the European Economic Area have the right to travel between the two countries and they require a national ID card or a passport. Visitors from other countries that do not require a visa and have been checked through immigration in one part of the area (e.g. England ) would not normally have to go through immigration procedures when continuing a journey to another part of the Area (e.g. Ireland ) but must carry a valid passport. Visitors from a country needing a Visa to enter one Common Travel Area Country will need to apply for a Visa to enter the other. Whilst both countries have very similar Visa rules, it is important to remember that unlike the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom and Ireland maintain separate Visa systems. In general, if you have a passport or EU national identification card, you can avoid any hassles by carrying it, and using it for identification. Also check the identification requirements of any airline or ferry you may be taking. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] The Pound Sterling is the currency of the United Kingdom and its Crown Dependencies. The Euro is the currency of the Republic of Ireland.

With very limited exceptions, neither currency is accepted outside their territories within this region. Travellers should therefore be aware to have Sterling and or Euro as appropriate to their travel plans. United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies[ edit ] Sterling is the local currency. Euro is accepted in certain border areas; for example, near the land border with the Republic of Ireland or in certain businesses near ferry terminals serving Ireland. Banknotes[ edit ] In the United Kingdom, the vast majority of banknotes are issued by the Bank of England. Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies each also have local banknotes. All are in pounds sterling. Bank of England notes will always be accepted without problems throughout all the areas that use pounds sterling. The minority notes are also generally easy to spend, though may not always be accepted outside their own region. Any bank will exchange minority banknotes for either Bank of England or the local regional notes (e.g. in Scotland, Scottish notes) free of charge. Minority pounds sterling notes should be changed into Bank of England notes before a traveller leaves the UK or Crown Dependencies as they may be difficult to change in other countries. The obvious exception is that Northern Ireland sterling notes can be easily changed to euro in the republic.

Coins[ edit ] Coins in the United Kingdom follow standard designs, so England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have no regional variations. The Crown Dependencies and other Overseas territories (e.g. Falkland Islands and Gibraltar) issue local designs that generally circulate only in their respecitve territory. These coins conform to the same weight, size, thickness and alloy of the mainland UK coins making them in effect just quirky versions of the regular coins. While not strictly legal tender only the most hidebound retailer will refuse them. Banks will exchange them if need be but this is likely unnecessary given their general acceptance, particularly by vending machines! Republic of Ireland[ edit ] Only the Euro is legal tender. Sterling may be accepted in certain border locations, for example in ferry ports or near the Northern Ireland land border. Both currencies are usually accepted on board the train (eg in the dining car) throughout its journey between Dublin and Belfast. Euro banknotes have no regional variations. Euro coins' reverse sides (tails) are unvarying by region. Their obverse sides (heads) carry a member state's national symbol. This does not affect their validity throughout the eurozone.

Coin spotters may be interested to know that Ireland's relative isolation from the rest of the eurozone makes it likely to have less diversity among its coins' obverse symbols than, for example, Luxembourg . See[ edit ][ add listing ] Although most visitors will probably visit London at some point, it is well worth getting out of the capital to get a real taste of the region and important to not forget the diversity one can find in barely 50 miles. Whether it's countryside, coastal, historic towns or vibrant cities you are after, there's something for everyone. For the best countryside head for the National Parks such as the Yorkshire Dales or Dartmoor , perhaps on a day trip or a longer stay. For coastal there are either pretty beaches such as St Ives , traditional fishing towns like Whitby or seaside resorts such as Blackpool and Bournemouth For historic towns there are a wide range from Edinburgh and Cardiff and their castles, to Bath and York and their Roman history. For vibrant cities why not head to Leeds in the North for shopping, museums, theatre and day trips to the Yorkshire Dales , Bristol and Exeter in the West or Glasgow in Scotland and Dublin in Ireland .

Golf[ edit ] The game of golf as we understand it developed here, specifically in Scotland . Despite a strong challenge from Iberia in recent decades, Britain and Ireland remain Europe's most important locations for the sport. Indeed, they can make a strong argument to be the world's main golfing destinations. Whilst Scotland is considered the home of golf and remains a major worldwide golfing destination in its own right, the Scots' Celtic cousins, in Ireland and more recently Wales , are clearly challenging for pre-eminence as premier golfing destinations, both having well established courses and having invested heavily in new courses too. Indeed, both Ireland and Wales have recently hosted the Ryder Cup. England has the largest number of courses, and so clearly should not be overlooked as a golfing destination either even if its Celtic neighbours hit above their weight. There are unsurprisingly many top class golf courses in all areas as well as good quality courses to suit more modest pockets. The Pub[ edit ] The "Pub" concept has its origins here. They are premises licenced for the sale of alcoholic drinks for consumption on and off the premises. The pub concept is distinct from the broader concept of a "bar".

There are similarities shared by "pubs" throughout Britain and Ireland not shared with other sorts of drinking establishments elsewhere, though the Irish Pub experience can be very distinct from the pub experience of elsewhere in these Islands. Whisky (Whiskey)[ edit ] Distilled spirits have been drunk on these islands for millennia. Whisky (or Whiskey in Ireland) is produced predominantly in Ireland and Scotland. There are, however, also Welsh and English Whiskies, too. Stay safe[ edit ] In both the UK and Ireland, traffic drives on the left. In the United Kingdom, and its Crown Dependencies, speed limits are expressed in miles per hour. In the Republic of Ireland speed limits are expressed in kilometres per hour. BBC - Jersey - People - Is Jersey a Country? You are in: Jersey > People > Your island > Is Jersey a Country? Flying the Jersey and Union flags Is Jersey a Country? By Will Austin-Vautier Jersey isn’t part of the UK, Great Britain or Europe – but is it a country in its own right? How much do you think these definitions apply to Jersey?

AND, or maybe BUT - does the uniqueness of Jersey's history and the way that it's constitution has evolved over the centuries mean dictionary definitions such as these are too simple to accommodate our textured past? So where does Jersey sit in relation to its neighbours and I'm not talking about the length of the ferry journey to Poole! Visualise, if you would, a map of Northern Europe As far to the left as Ireland, As high as Norway, as far right as the middle of the North Sea, skirting round and down to St Malo at the bottom. We know many things about the relationships that are between these large and small lumps of rock that sit within this area of the map. Wearing a Union Flag hat Jersey is NOT part of Great Britain. The term Great Britain is the collective name for England Scotland and Wales. It is NOT part of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom means 'Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. This is why its official name - which came into use in 1922 - is the United Kingdom.....of Great Britain....and Northern Ireland. Without wanting to confuse matters, there are many other islands on this area of the map - so why don't they have similarly complex arrangements with their neighbours?

Take out the Isle of Man, take out the Channel Islands (and a small isle of the coast of Ireland) and you are left with many, many landlocked communities which all belong to the Great British countries. For example, the Shetlands and Orkneys are Scottish, Anglesey is Welsh ad the Isle of Wight which belongs to England. Liberation of Jersey re-enactment Essentially, the common bond we share with the Isle of Man and the Bailiwick of Guernsey is that we are self-governing, British Crown dependencies - a derivative of this being the term peculiars. So, bearing this in mind - along with our culture, history, traditions and practices - it is not surprising Jersey is regarded by many as their nation, and their country. A place all of its own. Basic Facts: Explains the political administration of United Kingdom, Great Bri Basic Facts about the British Isles and the relationship between them. Basic Facts: Introduction United Kingdom, Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, British Isles. Everyone has heard these terms, but few outsiders know exactly what each is. Basic Facts: Introduction United Kingdom, Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, British Isles.

Everyone has heard these terms, but few outsiders know exactly what each is. The relationship between different territories within the United Kingdom is probably more complicated than is the case in any other country, so take a few moments the basic facts so that you know exactly what the national geography of the British Isles is all about. Basic Facts: what countries make up the British Isles? The term “British Isles” refers to two isles situated close to each other, Ireland and Britain, plus the dozens of smaller ones that geographically belong to these two. The British Isles are made up of two countries: the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Basic Facts: what countries make up the United Kingdom? Did you know there is no such thing as a country called Great Britain? The country is actually called United Kingdom or UK for short. The UK is made of two sub-entities, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is why the official name is, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Which means Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom but not part of Great Britain. Most non-British don't know this. Even some Brits don't. I recall a time when I went to the Greek Embassy in London to get a passport for my child.

The passport officer who was processing the application and knew we came from Northern Ireland was about to enter “Great Britain” as our country of residence. I pointed out to him that technically, Northern Ireland was not part of Great Britain but the UK. He looked at me in disbelief. “I have been here for so many years,” he said, “and this is the first time I hear this”. Basic Facts: What countries are part of Great Britain? Great Britain is made up of England, Scotland and Wales (plus adjacent islands), i.e. it is the name of the bigger of the two islands. Basic Facts: What is Northern Ireland? By contrast, Northern Ireland, is a piece of land across the sea on the second of the two islands, Ireland. Though it is on the island of Ireland, it is not part of the country of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland. Complicated? Don't worry, things usually are on this part of the world. So, Northern Ireland is not part of the Republic of Ireland but rather, together with Great Britain forms the country called United Kingdom. It is part of the same country as England, Scotland and Wales.

Differences between Northern Ireland and Mainland UK Banknotes and money in Northern Ireland Though part of the same country the Northern Irish still want to be different from their brethren across the sea. Take money for example. Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales all have the same currency, Sterling, or the British Pound as it is also called. Yet, they all print their own bank notes and mint their own coins. And while you will get away with English banknotes in Scotland and Scottish ones in England, Northern Ireland ones are different. Every time I tried to pay with Northern Ireland banknotes in England or Scotland the reply invariably came: “What is this?” Eventually they always accept them because Northern Ireland banknotes are legal tender and of exactly the same value as their English and Scottish counterparts. After a while I started enjoying perplexing sales people with strange Northern Ireland banknotes and have them run to their manager for advice with the people queuing behind me thinking I was trying to pull one off! Just the look of disbelief when they first see the Northern. Irish notes is worth all the hassle.

Bringing a car over from UK mainland to Northern Ireland When we moved from England to Northern Ireland and I declared my address to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, they gave me a certificate of export for my car and I had to re-register it in Northern Ireland. Why in the world give me a certificate of export when I was only moving technically within the same country, within the UK? These Brits are strange! Mortgages and Insurance in Northern Ireland versus the UK When we started looking for a mortgage to buy a house we discovered that most mainland British banks did not give mortgages for Northern Ireland. “But it is the same country,” I tried in vain to explain. And when we tried to insure our car we likewise discovered that most mainland British insurance companies did not insure cars in Northern Ireland. Thankfully, things have improved recently both in terms of mortgages and insurance. So while Northern Ireland is technically part of the UK and therefore part of the same country as England, Scotland and Wales, there are differences. Basic Facts: The Island of Ireland Apart from the UK (N. Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales) the other country of the British Isles is the Republic of Ireland, usually called “Ireland” for short.

However, the country of Ireland does not coincide with the island of Ireland. Confused again? You ain't seen nothing yet. One island, Two Countries: about Ireland The Republic of Ireland covers about 80% of the area of the island of Ireland. The remaining 20% is Northern Ireland, a different country. When did Ireland separate from the UK? Once both parts belonged to the UK. But in 1921 the southern part opted to separate and eventually became independent while Northern Ireland opted to remain in the UK. So, one island, two countries. What is different and what is common between (the Republic of) Ireland and Northern Ireland In the South the currency is the Euro; in the North it is the British Pound. In the South they measure speed and distances in kilometers; in the North in miles. In the South it is kilograms; in the North kilograms and lbs. The good thing is that in both countries they speak English, though in the South Gaelic is also used, especially in road signs. They both have the same three-pin electric plugs. Believe me, it helps! Basic Facts: What is Ulster Another name you need to be aware of is Ulster.

The whole island of Ireland is made up of four provinces or geographical areas: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connaught. Each province is subdivided into nine counties. What are the counties of Ulster? Munster, Leinster and Connaught belong to the Republic of Ireland so no confusion there. However, Ulster is divided. Six counties make up Northern Ireland: Antrim Three counties are within the Republic of Ireland: Cavan Donegal Monaghan. Northern Islanders will often use the name Ulster to refer to their little part of the world. When you hear this be aware that technically Ulster covers counties in both North and South. You will need to know this when, for example, you read about the different flags, for there is one Ulster Flag for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland and another Ulster Flag for the nine counties. Basic Facts: Conclusion So there, I have spent one and a half hours trying to explain the "hows" of UK and Ireland political administration. And I haven't even mentioned the Isle of Man or the Channel islands or... Ok, ok, I will stop here. Bottom line?

To understand British political administration you need a degree in Political Science or, at least, the prerequisites for it! At any rate, do enjoy Northern Ireland and if you are lucky enough to visit the Republic of Ireland and cross over to Mainland UK, you won’t regret it. They are great countries to visit!

Question: A deemster is a legal official in which part of the British Isles?
Answer: Isle of Man