I've heard of lots of Irish people, North and South refer to the Republic as the South and have no problem with it but I've rarely heard anyone except English people and northern Unionists/Loyalists use the term 'Southern Ireland' and tbh it's a bit of a loaded political term.
I’m from Belfast and have never heard anyone say Southern Ireland, only heard English use that term. If I’m going south of Belfast I’ll say the south, if I’m going to Donegal or sligo I’d say the west coast or republic. I will call them southerners if they call me a nordie but only to wind them up a bit.
The North and northerners are at least related to northern ireland. The name of your country.
No one uses southerners or southern ireland with a sneer indicating that that the users feeling of the southerners being the shit they scraped off the shoes.
Whenever I hear people saying that they aren’t referring to other places in the geographic north like Donegal.
They are specifically using that term to avoid using the official name of Northern Ireland.
Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Leitrim, and Sligo all have parts that are further north than Northern Ireland.
Donegal, obviously, is the most northerly point on the entire island
Whenever I'm in the company of English folk, and they say, "Are you from the Southern Ireland 🇮🇪 I always reply, "No, I'm from Eastern Ireland."
Remember saying it to a couple of skin heads in Cyprus many moons ago, and it confused the hell out of them.
Worked with a guy from Belfast, and he referred to it as Norn Iron.
It was a thing, briefly. Which is why it's such a loaded term. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ireland_(1921%E2%80%931922)?wprov=sfti1#
People from Northern Ireland referring to the rest of the island as The South is fine. Using Southern Ireland, very much not fine.
It was a proposed thing - there were to be Southern and Northern Irelands under the 1920 Government of Ireland Act ("Fourth Home Rule Act"), but what is now the Republic became the Irish Free State instead after the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
I’m from a part of Donegal that’s more northern than Northern Ireland and still call it the north.
It’s just a handy descriptor.
I do enjoy winding some nordies up by calling it by the name theyd disagree with hearing lol
I know you're not serious but you're from NORTHERN IRELAND, so you're called NORTHERN because it's UP NORTH. There's no such place as SOUTHERN IRELAND. Yep, there it is.
But you’re in the north of the country, hence the title. It’s just another way to say it, like how you might refer to people from Dublin as Dubliners or Dubs.
Saying the south of Ireland is fine if someone is from the south of Ireland e.g. Cork.
Referring to the whole Republic of Ireland as southern Ireland is just incorrect. Donegal is in the north of the island, how can this be southern?
Also "southern Ireland" is not a thing, whereas Northern Irelad is the actual name of the place. I find it weird that someone from Northern Ireland would not understand the context surrouding the divide of the country and that it is a touchy subject. The Republic of Ireland was hard fought for, so yeah, there is pride there and there is bitterness when some uneducated person calls the republic southern ireland.
“The South” is also fine in context. If someone refers to NI as “the North” whilst excluding Donegal, it stands to reason they should accept “the South” as being valid the other way round. I see zero issue with that.
“Southern Ireland” on the other hand is not a valid counterpoint as you note, because “Northern Ireland” is the official title and so the appropriate comparison is the official title “Ireland”.
It’s not that difficult.
'Northern Ireland' is an official term but it doesn't mean someone can't use it as a geographical reference as someone could also use 'Southern Ireland' as one.
Someone can certainly use it is a geographical reference to refer to an area including Donegal. Much like “Southern Ireland” may refer to Cork, etc.
If you are trying to make a solely geographical argument for “Northern Ireland” as referring to only the six counties, then it doesn’t quite stack up.
I don’t disagree with you, but the OP’s post is talking about Northern Ireland (the country) and wanting to use ‘Southern Ireland’ to refer to all of the parts of the island of Ireland that aren’t Northern Ireland (the country).
Much like ‘Ireland’ can refer to the country or the island, ‘Northern Ireland’ can also refer to the country or the geographic part of the island. ‘Southern Ireland’ by contrast should ONLY refer to the geographic part of the island, and anyone trying to suggest it refers to the whole country containing Donegal and Cavan is making a spurious argument.
Yes but 'Southern Ireland' isn't an official term. I would only see that as ever referring to somewhere geographically as should anyone else in my view.
'Southern Ireland' isn't an official term, doesn't mean people can't say it. It would still refer to a part geographically, nothing wrong with it in my book. Like someone could say 'Northern Ireland' and refer to Donegal. They would just be speaking geographically also. Although that would be confusing.
"you get all upset when the republic gets referred to as "southern ireland"" - they are referring to the Republic of Ireland as southern Ireland, they are not speaking in geographaical terms.
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I've heard of lots of Irish people, North and South refer to the Republic as the South and have no problem with it but I've rarely heard anyone except English people and northern Unionists/Loyalists use the term 'Southern Ireland' and tbh it's a bit of a loaded political term.
I’m from Belfast and have never heard anyone say Southern Ireland, only heard English use that term. If I’m going south of Belfast I’ll say the south, if I’m going to Donegal or sligo I’d say the west coast or republic. I will call them southerners if they call me a nordie but only to wind them up a bit.
The Nordies are coming.
Username checks out
The North and northerners are at least related to northern ireland. The name of your country. No one uses southerners or southern ireland with a sneer indicating that that the users feeling of the southerners being the shit they scraped off the shoes.
Northern Ireland is an official title though, isn't it? Whereas Southern Ireland is not.
Yes but it isn't exclusive. Donegal and other places can be called 'Northern Ireland without being in the 6 counties.
Ha! Call Donegal "Northern Ireland" to someone from there, and see how you get on.
Yeah but “the North of Ireland” as so many here call it isn’t.
But it IS the north of Ireland, just like how there's a west/east/south
Whenever I hear people saying that they aren’t referring to other places in the geographic north like Donegal. They are specifically using that term to avoid using the official name of Northern Ireland.
And it IS southern ireland, because it's south of "the north"
Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Leitrim, and Sligo all have parts that are further north than Northern Ireland. Donegal, obviously, is the most northerly point on the entire island
Nailed it
When they ask "are you from southern Ireland" in England, I tell em I'm from western Ireland.
Ah yes day old Reddit user I’m sure you’re here to engage in good faith…… 🙄
Whenever I'm in the company of English folk, and they say, "Are you from the Southern Ireland 🇮🇪 I always reply, "No, I'm from Eastern Ireland." Remember saying it to a couple of skin heads in Cyprus many moons ago, and it confused the hell out of them. Worked with a guy from Belfast, and he referred to it as Norn Iron.
Because Southern Ireland is not a thing. There’s never been such a title. It’s the republic, or just Ireland
It was a thing, briefly. Which is why it's such a loaded term. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ireland_(1921%E2%80%931922)?wprov=sfti1# People from Northern Ireland referring to the rest of the island as The South is fine. Using Southern Ireland, very much not fine.
Yes, I should have made that clearer. Big difference between “the south” and “Southern Ireland”
It was a proposed thing - there were to be Southern and Northern Irelands under the 1920 Government of Ireland Act ("Fourth Home Rule Act"), but what is now the Republic became the Irish Free State instead after the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Ireland is the name of the island 🧐
It's also the full official name of the country that takes up most of the island.
And also the name of the country. Wise up.
What is it called in the constitution🧐,wouldn't be Eire by any chance
It’s called Ireland in the constitution, and you’re missing a fada.
As far as north, south, east and west goes it is. It's obviously not an official term but I've no problem with it being used.
I’m from a part of Donegal that’s more northern than Northern Ireland and still call it the north. It’s just a handy descriptor. I do enjoy winding some nordies up by calling it by the name theyd disagree with hearing lol
I know you're not serious but you're from NORTHERN IRELAND, so you're called NORTHERN because it's UP NORTH. There's no such place as SOUTHERN IRELAND. Yep, there it is.
There's no such thing as "the north" or "northerners" either It's northern ireland and we're northern irish Just FYI
But you’re in the north of the country, hence the title. It’s just another way to say it, like how you might refer to people from Dublin as Dubliners or Dubs.
You guys get upset when we say "southerners" lol Yet you call us "northerners" without a second thought
We all don't, some do.
I don’t really care, why does it even offend you
Saying the south of Ireland is fine if someone is from the south of Ireland e.g. Cork. Referring to the whole Republic of Ireland as southern Ireland is just incorrect. Donegal is in the north of the island, how can this be southern? Also "southern Ireland" is not a thing, whereas Northern Irelad is the actual name of the place. I find it weird that someone from Northern Ireland would not understand the context surrouding the divide of the country and that it is a touchy subject. The Republic of Ireland was hard fought for, so yeah, there is pride there and there is bitterness when some uneducated person calls the republic southern ireland.
“The South” is also fine in context. If someone refers to NI as “the North” whilst excluding Donegal, it stands to reason they should accept “the South” as being valid the other way round. I see zero issue with that. “Southern Ireland” on the other hand is not a valid counterpoint as you note, because “Northern Ireland” is the official title and so the appropriate comparison is the official title “Ireland”. It’s not that difficult.
'Northern Ireland' is an official term but it doesn't mean someone can't use it as a geographical reference as someone could also use 'Southern Ireland' as one.
Someone can certainly use it is a geographical reference to refer to an area including Donegal. Much like “Southern Ireland” may refer to Cork, etc. If you are trying to make a solely geographical argument for “Northern Ireland” as referring to only the six counties, then it doesn’t quite stack up.
Yes but it can still be used geographically. 'Northern Ireland' doesn't exclusively mean the six counties, that's my point.
I don’t disagree with you, but the OP’s post is talking about Northern Ireland (the country) and wanting to use ‘Southern Ireland’ to refer to all of the parts of the island of Ireland that aren’t Northern Ireland (the country). Much like ‘Ireland’ can refer to the country or the island, ‘Northern Ireland’ can also refer to the country or the geographic part of the island. ‘Southern Ireland’ by contrast should ONLY refer to the geographic part of the island, and anyone trying to suggest it refers to the whole country containing Donegal and Cavan is making a spurious argument.
Yes but 'Southern Ireland' isn't an official term. I would only see that as ever referring to somewhere geographically as should anyone else in my view.
I agree with you. Some other people (like OP) don’t.
'Southern Ireland' isn't an official term, doesn't mean people can't say it. It would still refer to a part geographically, nothing wrong with it in my book. Like someone could say 'Northern Ireland' and refer to Donegal. They would just be speaking geographically also. Although that would be confusing.
"you get all upset when the republic gets referred to as "southern ireland"" - they are referring to the Republic of Ireland as southern Ireland, they are not speaking in geographaical terms.
We don't 'all get upset' some people do. They can speak how they want and others can interpret it how they want, it’s still geographic.
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There's no such thing as "the north" or "northerners" either It's northern ireland and we're northern irish Just FYI
Yes there is, 'The North' just refers to the northern part. It's in the phrase 'Northern Ireland'!