Sir, – Joe Coy writes that he will not tolerate any geographical reference to describe the state that lies predominantly to the south of Northern Ireland, including the term “Southern Ireland” (October 29th). He insists that the 26 counties will instead be simply referred to as “Ireland”.
This monopoly on the use of Ireland is both ugly and divisive. It tries to reduce Ireland and an Irish identity to an adherence to a state that is made up of only one part of the country. The former unionist leader, Terence O’Neill, was always offended by the idea that he did not live in Ireland. He saw state and country as not enjoying absolute equivalence. One could be loyal to the United Kingdom and still be a proud Irishman. Ironically it is the attitude of people like Mr Coy, who evidently dislikes Ireland’s political division, that digs a trench across this island, making it easier for some in Northern Ireland today to deny any trace of a common Irish identity with those living south of the border.
Perhaps it is better to use “Southern Ireland” than continuing to make the preposterous claims that a 26-county state constitutes “Ireland”. The country is far greater than that. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD BURKE,
The Centre for the Study of
Terrorism and
Political Violence,
St Andrews University,
Fife, Scotland.
Sir, – We are back to the perennial difficulty that gets an airing in your columns: the respective names of the two jurisdictions that between them rule what can unequivocally and without contradiction be called Ireland.
I agree with Joe Coy (October 29th) that there is no country called “Southern Ireland”. I automatically think of Cork and Kerry whenever I hear these words being voiced. Neither are there countries called “The North”, “The South”, or “The Republic”. Yet in everyday conversation these terms are commonly used and understood as referring to either of the two political regimes that hold sway over us.
To add to the confusion, both our postage stamps and our money declare our name as being Éire. – Yours, etc,
JAMES CARROLL,
Ballymany, Newbridge,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – While Colm Kelly’s response (November 1st) to Paul O’Neill (October 31st) regarding the status of the two states in Ireland is no doubt accurate from a technical point of view, it does demonstrate a rather disappointing attitude regarding what “Ireland” actually is. He seems indifferent and lacking in knowledge that northern nationalists would refer to Ireland to include all 32 counties, which of course in our complex history should not come as a surprise to him or anyone.
While he quotes articles within the Irish Constitution, it is also worthy of note that in sporting terms the 26-county soccer team is referred to as the Republic of Ireland and the six-county team as Northern Ireland. In rugby terms the team comprising all 32 counties is simply referred to as Ireland, perhaps a term I would suggest everyone is comfortable with.
I also noted that in his reference to “our state” as Ireland he too displays an equally confusing version of geography as the last time I looked Cambridge, where Mr Kelly resides, was in England, United Kingdom! – Yours, etc,
BARRY DOWLING,
Sharman Road,
Belfast 9.