----- Original Message -----
From: "Geraldine Reinhardt" <waluk@...>
To: <Nostratica@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 8:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Nostratica] Re: Gerry!


> Am I misreading something?

Yes. I have been explaining the status of the _Southern_ part, i.e. Eire, i.e. the Republic of Ireland.

If you say "Ireland" without an adjective, then you mean either the whole island or the Irish state alone, i.e. the Republic, _excluding the Northern part_. Informally, all the world calls the independent state "Ireland" ignoring the political overtones of such usage (the Irish Constitution also says "The name of the State is Eire, or in the English language, Ireland", but this is a political statement, the North being regarded as Irish national territory currently under British occupation).

If you ever go to Dublin, Ireland, try stepping into a pub and loudly asking the folks inside if they're British subjects.

Piotr