Who knows Northern Ireland is a country?

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

Ok so as I have made friends over the internet it seems that a large amount of my foreign friends (Mainly Americans) Have no clue that Northern Ireland is a country. They think Ireland is just one big country and they are surprised to hear that Northern Ireland is in fact an actual country. Northern Ireland is part of the UK but Ireland is not. There was the troubles in Northern Ireland which was a time of fighting between mainly Catholics who wanted Ireland and Northern Ireland to be one country and the Protestants wanted to stay part of the UK. So there was a lot of fighting, riots, bombings and different terrorist attacks. Though most of this is unheard of now, Northern Ireland stays part of the UK. Bill Clinton has always been involved in Northern Irish affairs, Not sure why but he played a big role during the troubles. He even visited not long ago. I am surprised not many people know of this fact that Northern Ireland is indeed a country haha.

[Betez 1,734]

I didn't even know Northern Ireland existed. -_-

 

Is there any reason why Northern Ireland is a country? Do you think they'll ever move?

[hailPhantom 34]

I'm studying Northern Ireland's recent history at school and, whilst I knew it was separate from the Republic Of Ireland, I had no idea about the troubles apart from a news article here and there about the IRA.

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

I'm American and I must have got it backwards because I thought normal Ireland was it's own country and that Northern Ireland was part of the UK. I was aware they were seperate though.

Edited November 18, 2012 by Suprememessage

[~Asuka <3~ 867]

I've known its existence for quite a while. I know that the UK encompasses them, as well as Scotland, Wales, and England. It's confusing as to why part of Ireland stayed behind.

 

Northern Ireland isn't really a country though.

Edited November 18, 2012 by Dash Is Best Pony

[Guest]

I know americans that think that too. One of my american friends even told me about her teacher that didn't even know Northern Ireland is seperate from the rest of Ireland.

[Evilshy 5,090]

I knew Northern Ireland was separate from Ireland, but I can see why a lot of people don't. It's not talked about a lot, at least not over here. The only reason I know about it is because we learned a bit about it in history class, and watched Michael Collins in History of War.

[hailPhantom 34]

I'm definitely no teacher, but from what I gathered in History, the main reason for the partition is that:

 

At one point when Britain was mostly Protestant and Ireland was mostly Catholic, the king/queen was worried about their enemies using Ireland as a base to attack Britain. So s/he sent Protestants over to Ireland to form settlements called "plantations", to keep an eye on the country.

 

This caused violence and hatred between the two communities. The conflicts worsened and the situation grew worse over time with inequality, discrimination and segregation becoming more common.

 

Two parties formed:

One wanting all of Ireland to be united and independent (Nationalists - majority Catholic)

One wanting Ireland to be united with the UK. (Unionists - mainly Protestant)

 

Talks began and as the majority of the north of the country was Protestant, partition was eventually declared and the two parts of the country were split.

 

 

 

Sorry if I got any of that wrong, I just tried to summarise it in as little detail as possible. The situation is way more complicated than that, and I didn't even mention the 1900's - present day violence. Feel free to correct me.

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

I've known its existence for quite a while. I know that the UK encompasses them, as well as Scotland, Wales, and England. It's confusing as to why part of Ireland stayed behind.

 

Northern Ireland isn't really a country though.

 

Yes Northern Ireland is a country... I live there :/ I find it offensive to hear that, I'm not annoyed or pissed off its just not a very good thing to hear. Yes it is a country though.

 

I'm definitely no teacher, but from what I gathered in History, the main reason for the partition is that:

 

At one point when Britain was mostly Protestant and Ireland was mostly Catholic, the king/queen was worried about their enemies using Ireland as a base to attack Britain. So s/he sent Protestants over to Ireland to form settlements called "plantations", to keep an eye on the country.

 

This caused violence and hatred between the two communities. The conflicts worsened and the situation grew worse over time with inequality, discrimination and segregation becoming more common.

 

Two parties formed:

One wanting all of Ireland to be united and independent (Nationalists - majority Catholic)

One wanting Ireland to be united with the UK. (Unionists - mainly Protestant)

 

Talks began and as the majority of the north of the country was Protestant, partition was eventually declared and the two parts of the country were split.

 

 

 

Sorry if I got any of that wrong, I just tried to summarise it in as little detail as possible. The situation is way more complicated than that, and I didn't even mention the 1900's - present day violence. Feel free to correct me.

 

No. no that's pretty accurate. You obviously know a bit about the history. That is correct what you say how the settlers were mainly Protestant .

[~Asuka <3~ 867]

Yes Northern Ireland is a country... I live there :/ I find it offensive to hear that, I'm not annoyed or pissed off its just not a very good thing to hear. Yes it is a country though.

 

Oh, I just thought it was a part of the UK.

 

Sorry. Really, I didn't mean to offend you.

 

Oh shoot, I've made a mistake. Oh god, that's not what I meant.

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

Oh, I just thought it was a part of the UK.

 

Sorry. Really, I didn't mean to offend you.

 

Oh shoot, I've made a mistake. Oh god, that's not what I meant.

 

No I said it's ok I have no hard feelings Yes Northern Ireland is a country it is a part of the UK, as is England Scotland and Wales. I honestly have no hard feelings towards you!

 

I'm American and I must have got it backwards because I thought normal Ireland was it's own country and that Northern Ireland was part of the UK. I was aware they were seperate though.

 

Hehe maybe you miss-read Northern Ireland is a part of the UK unlike Southern Ireland Is it's own country, it even has a president

[~Asuka <3~ 867]

No I said it's ok I have no hard feelings Yes Northern Ireland is a country it is a part of the UK, as is England Scotland and Wales. I honestly have no hard feelings towards you!

 

Thanks for understanding. . I just thought it was a region/province. Ah man, it's shit like this that gets me mad at myself. My stupidity is showing.

 

Well, anyway, thanks for clarifying.

[Fridge 382]

Ok so as I have made friends over the internet it seems that a large amount of my foreign friends (Mainly Americans) Have no clue that Northern Ireland is a country. They think Ireland is just one big country and they are surprised to hear that Northern Ireland is in fact an actual country. Northern Ireland is part of the UK but Ireland is not. There was the troubles in Northern Ireland which was a time of fighting between mainly Catholics who wanted Ireland and Northern Ireland to be one country and the Protestants wanted to stay part of the UK. So there was a lot of fighting, riots, bombings and different terrorist attacks. Though most of this is unheard of now, Northern Ireland stays part of the UK. Bill Clinton has always been involved in Northern Irish affairs, Not sure why but he played a big role during the troubles. He even visited not long ago. I am surprised not many ponies know of this fact that Northern Ireland is indeed a country haha.

 

Well being from the UK and all... I do. Kinda comes with the territory (no pun ment there by the by).

You shouldn't be overly surprised though.

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

Well being from the UK and all... I do. Kinda comes with the territory (no pun ment there by the by).

You shouldn't be overly surprised though.

 

Yeah, I guess your right. I probably shouldn't be overly surprised about it, it's not like our country is in the public eye much anyways xD

 

Oh goodness some people wont realize how funny this is to me! xD Such a stereotypical example of my country xD It is pretty funny though xD

[Party Cannon 876]

I knew.

 

Sadly your country's very existence in itself is a very touchy subject, as Ireland and England have had (violent) issues with each other for centuries, perhaps longer.

 

I am a history guy, but not a political one.

 

I am happy for you and your countrymen as to relations becoming seemingly better with the ROI.

 

Well a big hello to you from southern California!

[Descant 1,897]

I think I can explain this properly. I may be American, but I know a hay of a lot about geography and history and such. Northern Ireland is indeed a constituent country of the United Kingdom, along with Scotland, England and Wales, and as such, is semi-independant. It's a pretty binding union. Ireland is a nation largely composed of Catholics. As such, the Catholic Irish were often treated as second class citizens at best, animals at worst by the Protestant British. They had no right to own land at all under British rule. When the Irish Free State successfully rebelled and was freed from the British Crown, six counties in the northeastern part of the island elected to remain British, as they had become predominately Protestant by that point. There has been periodic violence and unrest in Northern Ireland, because of the minority Catholic population that wants to reunite with the rest of the island.

 

 

*EDIT* haha, I hadn't noticed that several other members had actually already given this history lesson. Well, here's a brohoof from North Carolina!

Edited November 19, 2012 by Descant

[Fizz. 1,078]

I knew Northern Ireland was separate from Ireland, but I can see why a lot of people don't. It's not talked about a lot, at least not over here. The only reason I know about it is because we learned a bit about it in history class, and watched Michael Collins in History of War.

 

And honestly, most kids and teens in America don't realize it because recent history is only taught at high school and above levels, and, at least at my school, there isn't really much at all about Ireland. It should be taught more.

[longgone 873]

I am proud to say that I am an American that DID know Northern Ireland was a country!

 

Yes, England and Ireland have a pretty nasty history: Rebellion in 1798, the famous Easter Rising of 1916. I did a project on the terrorism in Ireland, but atleast things are peaceful (at least more peaceful) there.

 

@Descant North Carolina History Buff Bronies UNITE!

 

Random Fact I put in here for no apparent reason: In my Reenacting unit (which is mostly Irish), one of our guy says if you ever go to Ireland and you get asked if you're a republican, choose your answer wisely!

[Guest]

im from northern Ireland and i was aware of this and it has caused so much crap to happen though but now most people don't really care whether we're part of Ireland or the UK now, also

anyone who lives/works/shops/gets education in Ballymena will get this

Edited November 19, 2012 by Guest

[AegisReflector 886]

I knew they are separate countries but like a few people, I always get them mixed up, like whose Protestant and Catholic and whose part of the UK and whose independent.

 

They didn't really talk about Ireland in any of my high school courses. They would always use the United Kingdom as a term for strictly England.

[khaine21x3 789]

The real IRA are still bombing UK troops to this day but the whole EU has more censorship than china and north korea when it comes to real news that involves them.

[Starswirl the Trixie 975]

I feel I should revive this thread because I noticed a lot of people being confused.

 

In the United States, we use the word "country" to mean "sovereign state". From what I understand, in the U.K. the word "country" simply means "a region considered a distinct political entity" or something like that.

 

That difference in definition makes things confusing. There are four "countries" in the United Kingdom: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. They are not sovereign states. I don't study British politics so I'm not entirely sure how power is distributed between the governments of the countries and the Kingdom's government. Ireland is a sovereign state.

 

If you're curious how the split came about, read up here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Ireland

[Jokuc 8,173]

lol.

Of course I knew Northern Ireland is a country, that is what you learn in School you know haha.

 

Kinda like some people in USA thinks Europe is one country.... -_-

[Vinyl Scratch (Filly)™ 936]

im from northern Ireland and i was aware of this and it has caused so much crap to happen though but now most people don't really care whether we're part of Ireland or the UK now, also

anyone who lives/works/shops/gets education in Ballymena will get this

Brilliant! Absaloutely brilliant haha, I am not from Ballymena but I get it, I lol'd hard. I am from Carrickfergus haha  I will not say what position I stand with the flag problem xD

[Aaramus 449]

I live in England so I do know that that it exists. I've also been there a few times and I think its a great part of the world.

 

I've cycled twice through The Sperrins which was absolutely amazing and I really want to go again.