Continuing the technicality debate:
The Romans called the islands to the north and west of Gaul (now France) the
Pretannic islands, of which the two largest were Eire (the modern day
Rupublic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) and Albion (modern day England,
Wales and Scotland). The word Britain derives from Prettanic and so in many
senses the British Isles covers all of the Republic of Ireland, Northern
Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. In anybody's definition Scotland and
Wales will always be in Britain, whether or not they achieve independence
from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in much the
same way the Croatia and Bosnia will always be in the Balkans even though
they are now independant of Yugoslavia. Using the Roman definition of
Prettanic then Eddie Irvine is as British as James Joyce, Robert the Bruce,
Dylan Thomas or Winston Churchill.
Cheers,
Paul
> Hi John...
> > I trust you will maintain that devil-may-care sentiment if ever you
> > are on the wrong side of the Falls Road and the subject comes up in a
> > pub discussion? You might want to check your health insurance - and
> > your life insurance.
> Hah! There were some pubs when I lived in Boston that I wouldn't have
> raised that topic! I may *believe* Irvine is Irish and has an *Irish*
> accent, but I'm not stupid enough to do something THAT life threatening!
> :-)
> > Whatever anyone would LIKE their nationality to be, it is what it is
> > until legally changed - Daly et al are therefore wrong, which was the
> > original point.
> Again... technicality... yes, you're right. But... ah, what the hell.
> Just pour me a pint of Beamish!! :-) (and one for yourself, while you're
> at it)
> Prost!
> --Dave
> --
> Dave Schwabe
> The Aussie Toad -- Grand Prix Legends & Brabham site
> http://users.wi.net/~schwabe
