Question from an Ignorant American.

[Phrebert]

Forgive me for theis foolish question but Is Ireland considered part of the UK?

 

[UKDEB]

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) and Northern Ireland. Southern Ireland (Eire) is not part of the UK.

 

[Phrebert]

Thank you DEB

 

[UKDEB]

Having read my reply again, I bet you're more confused than ever. Perhaps I should try to explain it a bit better. The full name of the UK is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'. Eire (Southern Ireland) is not part of the UK. Not sure if that's any clearer, or not!

 

[daipp]

However, geographically speaking, it is part of the British Isles.

David

 

[Night-train]

That'll really confuse 'em now!! I've lived in Northern Ireland all my life and I'm STILL trying to figure it out! Guess we just don't believe in doing things the easy way!

 

[carl_w]

(Southern) Ireland used to be part of Great Britain.

If you go on the bus tours of Dublin, they'll tell you about the 1916 uprising. The Republic of Ireland finally gained independence in 1949.

 

[Night-train]

The Act Of Partition, which created the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland, came about in 1920-21. The Free State officially declared itself a Republic in 1947, ten years after the constitution had been rewritten for the purpose of severing all remaining ties with Britain.