myguideTravel Blog

You like tomato, I like tomahto

January 27th, 2008

The Irish National Caucus based in Washing ton DC in a post dated 11 Jan 2008 titled National Geographic Loses Its Way on Ireland has forced that fine organisation to change how it refers to the British Isles.

In its Travel Catalog 2008- 2009 National Geographic gets lost even before it embarks on its guided tour of Ireland, May 11-24.

“Who wants to go with a travel company that is so geographically
confused and disoriented?” asked Fr. Sean Mc Manus, president of the
Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus.

He said, ” National Geographic claims Ireland is in ” the British
isles”, and proceeds to list the places on its tour of Ireland: Skellig
Rocks/ Dingle Peninsula, Aran Islands? Cliffs of Moher, and county
Donegal. Northern Ireland is not even mentioned thereby making it
impossible for National Geographic to try make the argument (specious
though it would be) that the North ” is British”. Therefore,National
Geographic has simply no excuse for its absurd error.”

“And to make matters worse,” Fr. Mc Manus continued, ” the catalog is
introduced by National Geographic president, who bears the proud name
of John M. Fahey, Jr. Surely he should know that Ireland is not a
British isle but an Irish isle? If someone wants to give it a name, it
is usually called the Emerald Isle, Mr. Fahey”.

Geographical names are politically charged. Historically, places were named or renamed by winning armies. So if we look at the current day capitals of the “Home Nations” we will see that historically they were named

• Báile Átha Cliath
• Caerdydd
• Dùn Èideann
• Londinium

In all four cases the Etymologists still argue about their exact origins of the city name but that’s a topic for another day.

Regarding Britain, it’s a name that is relatively recent in it’s use. In pre-Roman times the Celtic tribes in current day England and Wales were Brythons and the Romans named the part of the island they conquered Britainna. Then the Romans left and for the next 1,500 years or so, the term was not really used.

However, with the act of Union between England and Scotland in 1707 the powers that be looked for a nice inclusive name. The word Britain was dusted off and brought back into use. However, as with all mergers there is all someone in charge and in this case, it was England. So for the next hundred years or so, England was the word that was used around the world. However, in 1801 England was up for another bit of M&A activity and Ireland joined the family. With a new member of the family - the term Britain really took off. We had the British empire and Britannia ruled the waves.

The 20th century saw a resurgence in nationalism in the UK but the nationalists had differing opinions. The Sottish and the Irish nationalists resented the term “British” but the Welsh nationalists considered themselves the original Brythons and saw the English as the invaders who adopted the term. In 1922 Irelend was to gain home rule and Wales and Scotland got devolved powers in 1997. Many within Ireland and Scotland still resent the words Britain and British.

Dermot Ahern, the Irish minister for foreign affairs recently said that term British Isles was not recognised “in any legal or inter-governmental sense”. It has also been reported that the Irish embassy in London has been urged to keep an eye out for any perceived abuse of the term in the British media.

John Swinney while defending a challenge to his leadership of the Scottish National Party in 2003 said “We need to get in the driving seat of Scottish politics and Scottish government, and put the big question - do you want independence, yes or no - and then tell the Brits to get off.”

So what are we to call these Isles? There are many suggestions but nothing has grabbed the public imagination. Terms used in the last few years include.

• Britain and Ireland
• UK and Ireland
• Islands on the North Atlantic (IONA)
• Western European Isles
• Pretanic Isles

At Sunday lunch this afternoon my 6 year old daughter asked me “Is Ireland on the right side of the world or the left side the world?” and before I could answer she followed up with “Is it at the top or the bottom of the world”.

I explained that it all depends where you are standing!

Entry Filed under: England, Ireland, Scotland, Travel, Wales