Some very stranger notions are floated on this forum, not the least of which is that "Northern Ireland" is a country with its own written Constitution and National Anthem.
I spend a good deal of my time in and around the seat of government at Stormont and I've never heard either claim made.
Having said that, it is very interesteing that certain words and phrases are gaining increasing currency here. No longer is it politically correct to refer to Ireland. One must say "The island of Ireland". The word "country" is eschewed, again when referring to Ireland. "Island" is once more pressed into service. Reference to "Northern Ireland" even is frequently avoided (the dreaded " I " word)euphemisms such as "the Province" being used instead. When talking about the early years of Christianity, one must not talk of "Early Irish Church" but rather about the "Early Celtic Church". Ogham inscriptions are no longer considered to have been inscribed in an early form of Irish, but in Celtic. Our ancient ancestors in "The Island of Ireland" were. apparently, not Irish, they were Celtic.
So, insidiously, a gap is manufactured to separate us from our roots. Any reference to "Ireland" (unqualified) Irish, Early Irish, Old Irish etc. is not acceptable in "enlightened and liberal" circles. Anyone failing to fall into line is in danger of being branded as divisive.
Where will it all end? Will we be reassimilated into "the Mainland", which, for those unenlightened enough to use terms like "Ireland" and "Irish" etc., is England.
Annraoi