The Ulster Identity
A lot of blogs this week have featured varied tones on a site called "Love Ulster", e.g. this excellent write-up on Everything Ulster. I agree - the last thing we want is another website promoting division.
Why should Loyalists corner the copyright on "Ulster"? Ask your average Loyalist to name Ulster's counties and he'll probably leave out Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan (and Louth for rugby men).
Let's remember: Ulster is more than the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland which has existed a mere 80 years. It's one of the four ancient provinces of Ireland and is populated by two cultures which, arguably, have more in common with each other than with their neighbours.
Today's Big Thing is: Remember Ulster belongs to us all. Be proud of it for that reason.
posted by B.U. @ 8:28 a.m.
5 comments
5 Comments:
Welcome back John.
Thanks. BU.
Good to see you back again BU ;)
I do have to pick at your assumption though that those who neglect to mention Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan are in the wrong.
It's true that they were part of Ulster prior to partition, but if you go back further we only had 8 counties (no Cavan, which was given to Ulster during the reign of Elizabeth I).
You're right on one thing, Ulster is more than the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland. It's our history, formerly a proud kingdom that once (may have) stretched as far south as the north shore of the Boyne.
But times change, and to many, Ulster's present day boundary ends at Fermanagh. The 9 county body, as far as I know, isn't legally recognised anywhere and is used mostly just for sport.
Beano
In every European election from 1979 to 1999, there was a constituency of Connacht-Ulster, comprising of the five counties of Connacht and the three free ;-) counties of Ulster
Bah - a discrepancy :P The Irish have never been very good at accurate names. Sure the southern state thinks it's Ireland :\
Isn't the constituency now Ireland North-West or something anyway?
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