British claim the Irish...again!!!!

Well, if you want to get picky, Ireland is technically part of the British Isles, therefore you could class every Irish person to be “British”.

It is like in the USA, they refer to the citizens as Americans, but in theory every single country in South America and North America, could be classed “American”.

And as someone who doesn’t follow Super Bikes, I presume Tony Carter is the commentator, but I have no idea which rider you’re talking about.

Firstly I wasn’t getting picky I just think that if Eugene Laverty decides to race under the Irish flag that he should be shown some common courtesy and be referred to as being Irish.And secondly, your reference to the British Isles is typical ignorance of some English people and indeed broadcasters.I cant see how a geographical reference to a group of islands can make every Irish person British, but there you go again claiming every one to be British….. It is a common theme with English broadcasters to claim any sports star who is doing well to all of a sudden become British. Indeed our very own Katie Taylor who won gold at the Olympics in womens boxing, also became British for a while, much to her amusement.

Who says I’m English (FYI I was born in Australia, moved to Europe to “travel” a couple of years ago).

If you don’t like the British Isles argument, go as Google, this is the top hit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_the_British_Isles Ireland is listed.

This again brings up the whole question of the definition of our Nationality.
Elsehere I have made the point that our participation in the Olympics should have been as “UK” – not “GB”.
For those still in doubt – Great Britain is the single discrete piece of land encompassing Scotland, Wales and England.
Anything not directly part of that piece of land above the
he high-tide water-line is not part of Great Britain. Not a matter of opinion, nor interpretation, but pure geographical fact.
So anyone from Northertn Ireland cannot logially be part of a GB re-resentation because he isn’t geographically eligeable.
The United Kingdom encompasses Scotland, Wales, Endland, Northern Ireland and all the other islands in the British Isles – except the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
And then we get on to flags, number plates – and being “in Europe”!

If you are from Northern Ireland you can represent either Great Britain OR Ireland at the Olympics. That’s why we don’t have a Team UK at the Olympics!

If you are from Northern Ireland you cannot logically represent Great Britain because you are not an inhabitant of that land mass.
If you are from Northern Ireland you cannot logically represent the Republic of Ireland because you live in a different state.
Northern Ireland is part of the UK – it is not part of Great Britain (physically) and it is not part of the Republic of Ireland (politically).
The reason why we don’t have a “Team” UK at the Olympics is that people either don’t understand the difference – or don’t want to.

Irish history and politics are governed by more powerful forces than logic! :)

I’m sure they are Michael – but we’re just looking at simple fact here – which is unaffected by politics.

But the fact is, the decision of how to and name the Olympic teams in Britain and Ireland – along with many other decisions concerning the island of Ireland – are completely affected by politics.

And some of your logic is misinformed, I’m afraid. If you are from Northern Ireland, the law says you can choose to have dual nationality, UK nationality or Irish nationality. And, of course, “where you live” is not the criterion that determines where you represent, anyway (Novak Djokovic represents Serbia, but lives in Monaco, for example). So, if you legally have Irish nationality, but live in Northern Ireland, then there’s no logical reason not to represent the Republic of Ireland.