Posted by andyb on January 03, 2007 at 10:32:49 from 194.80.183.1 user beardbiter.
In Reply to: Re: Britain was Re: Grammar posted by PeterH on January 02, 2007 at 21:03:06:
Sorry Peter but I can hit this one out of the ground. I think he (Ian P) would, or at least did, call himself British. I remember hearing him ranting on about the "British people of Northern Ireland". My parents in law who were Protestant atheists from Belfast (they detested Paisley, liked Catholics but 'couldn't stand the Pope')considered themselves to be British and or Irish depending on the context.
I suspect that at some point in the recent troubles when their relations with the British government soured Loyalists started to refer to themselves as Ulstermen or women. Of course, it is also incorrect to call the 6 counties "Ulster" as 3 of the 9 counties of the province are in the Republic but that's another story.
I wasn't confusing ethnic identity with geography. I quite agree even if everybody on the island of Ireland considered themselves British it wouldn't make Ireland Britain. My comment that many NI people would consider themselves British was a simple comment on your assertion that they weren't. Ethnic identity has precious little to do with 'facts', which are usually pretty contentious, and much to do with having a good story, in this case the 'Scots Irish' (as the Americans call them) of Scottish ancestry, plantations and the defence of Londonderry.
Anyway this cricket match is all very interesting but I can't help thinking we are playing it on a football pitch, as I can't think of anyway of connecting it to AR (unless we somehow get back to Erskine Childers and the Riddle of the Sands.
I can be reached on aribloger@yahoo.com if anyone wants to prolong the match