Why do English people call it Southern Ireland?

I didn't know this was a thing until I got here, why don't you call it the republic, it's actual name, is it like an ex empire thing?

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Reply 1

Plain1

Because there's a Northern Ireland I guess. I just say Ireland and Northern Ireland though

This is a thing?

Does anyone actually call it southern Ireland? I've never heard that, just Ireland and the republic if they're discussing the difference between it and the six counties

Reply 4

Bang Outta Order

Original post by EllieBubbles9001

I didn't know this was a thing until I got here, why don't you call it the republic, it's actual name, is it like an ex empire thing?

Original post by Obolinda

This is a thing?

Original post by Stiff Little Fingers

Does anyone actually call it southern Ireland? I've never heard that, just Ireland and the republic if they're discussing the difference between it and the six counties

yh exactly haha. dunno just how i have heard it..i have heard "northern ireland", though. like ulster.

Reply 5

username1539513

I’ve never heard anyone refer to ROI as Southern Ireland

Reply 6

DrawTheLine

Original post by EllieBubbles9001

I didn't know this was a thing until I got here, why don't you call it the republic, it's actual name, is it like an ex empire thing?

I've never head it called Southern Ireland. It's just Ireland normally.

Reply 7

Obolinda

Volunteer Team

Original post by Bang Outta Order

yea. there's a southern ireland, and it's called the republic though lol...there's northern IE and their counties, and The republic of Ireland and their counties..lol only wikipedia specifies that there's a north and south haha.

yh exactly haha. dunno just how i have heard it..i have heard "northern ireland", though. like ulster.

Yes, I know S Ireland exists I just didn't realize anybody called it South Ireland

Reply 8

username3028808

The only people who I've known to say 'Southern Ireland' are hardcore unionists who want to undermine the sovereignty of Ireland.

Reply 9

Sinnoh

Never heard anyone call it that

Reply 10

username4889668

Name 3 people who call it that

Reply 11

Retired_Messiah

I've heard people call it that if they've somehow accidentally made it unclear which bit of the Island they're on about, but it defo ain't all that common

Reply 12

999tigger

Original post by EllieBubbles9001

I didn't know this was a thing until I got here, why don't you call it the republic, it's actual name, is it like an ex empire thing?

Most people do not, so it isnt really a thing.
Maybe its an easy differentiation fro Northern Ireland?
Is it really an issue?

Reply 13

EllieBubbles9001

Original post by Aaryra

Name 3 people who call it that

I now live in the midlands and well at least 90% of English people I've met have said Southern Ireland

Reply 14

username4889668

Original post by EllieBubbles9001

I now live in the midlands and well at least 90% of English people I've met have said Southern Ireland

Troll?

Reply 15

EllieBubbles9001

Original post by 999tigger

Most people do not, so it isnt really a thing.
Maybe its an easy differentiation fro Northern Ireland?
Is it really an issue?

Oh, seems everyone in the area I've moved to does though, it's not the biggest thing in the world I'm aware but it gets annoying when the Republic does include the Northernmost areas in Donegal

Reply 16

999tigger

Original post by EllieBubbles9001

Oh, seems everyone in the area I've moved to does though, it's not the biggest thing in the world I'm aware but it gets annoying when the Republic does include the Northernmost areas in Donegal

Except there is a defined territory of N Ireland and they simply mean the other one. Enjoy being annoyed. Cant say I have ever heard it called that officially.

Reply 17

Joinedup

Original post by EllieBubbles9001

I now live in the midlands and well at least 90% of English people I've met have said Southern Ireland

Only heard it used by old people tbh... by which I mean born in the 50's or earlier - I thought it was archaic and on the way out.

When the troubles were on you'd hear either 'Irish republic' or 'Republic of Ireland' on the news pretty often and I suppose everyone fell in with that.

Reply 18

nutz99

I've always just called it Ireland. When anyone says they are going there they don't say "I'm going to Republic of Ireland" or "I'm going to Southern Ireland" they just say "I'm going to Ireland".