I just love it when Americans post authoriatively in GD-P about Ulster.

[Padraig18]

The rule of thumb seems to be that the less you know about the subject, the more authoritative you must make your bullshit post sound.

:argh::grr::nuke:

[RPM]

1. any link to the conversation?

would love to hear the 'arguments'

[Padraig18]

2. Link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1596550&mesg_id=1596550

[sui generis]

3. well pull rank then

some of us are here to listen to qualified reason. Throwing nukes educates nobody.

[Padraig18]

4. I have.

So far, nothing but *crickets*.

[fit4life]

5. I had an ulster once.

I had to drink this chalky crap all the time to keep my stomach from hurting.

[CubsFan1982]

6. I have a question.

Is Ulster the name that the Irish use, or is it the name the British use? I knew once upon a time ago, but I can't remember now.

[Padraig18]

7. Virtually no one in the ROI uses 'Northern Ireland'

'Ulster' is how the Irish people refer to the northern counties.

[CubsFan1982]

10. OK, that's what I thought.

But I remember reading something about the Ulster Unionist Party and I was confused who they wanted union with! Thanks for the clarification!

[Bridget Burke]

12. The Unionists want to continue Union with the UK.

Ireland had a separate parliament from Medieval times until 1800. Composed of propertied Protestants, it voted itself out of existence in that year--the Act of Union.

One reason was a failed rebellion started by the United Irishmen. They were a group founded by Belfast Protestants which wanted equality for all Irish--Established Church, non-Conformist & even Catholics. Of course, that sort of thing had to be suppressed.

Here's a good source for Irish history; for such a small place, there's been a lot of it: http://larkspirit.com/history/

[Bridget Burke]

11. But Ulster & Northern Ireland are not exactly synonymous.

Three Ulster counties went to the Free State because of their Catholic majorities. (Donegal, Cavan & Monaghan?)

In fact, parts of (modern) Northern Ireland had Catholic majorities at the time of partition. A Border Commission was going to straighten out the details. Somehow, England never got around to it....

[bettyellen]

14. My family from Armagh and Donegal always say the "North of"

in lieu of "Northern" Ireland. Or for short, just the North.

[bettyellen]

15. and they often refer to the remainder as "Free Ireland"

which would include Donegal, which is in Ulster. That is how they would make the distinction.
But hey, they are old school. My mom knows where her Granny buried the Empire's tax collectors.

[RagingInMiami]

8. The Irish always told me in Dublin that Irish-Americans are more Irish

than the Irish

[Wat_Tyler]

9. That's true of many ex-pats.

It's a trap to avoid, but it's more difficult to avoid than you think. That's what I find, anyway as a Scottish ex-pat.

[Susang]

16. "Luke, it's a trap!"

[MrModerate]

13. I've never been there. Ask me anything! n/t