I didn't know

[stewey]

.....until I was reading the answers to a quiz I was doing yesterday, that the "official" name, according to the UN, of where you blokes and blokettes live is 'The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". I had always thought that it was 'The United Kingdom'. Why does Northern Ireland get a separate mention?

[anneasquith]

scotland , wales northern ireland england.........................united kingdom

[craft1948]

Maybe it's because Ireland joined about 100 years after Wales and Scotland...

[stewey]

Yes, anne, I realize that; however, that does not answer my question: why does Northern Ireland get a separate mention?

[craft1948]

The United Kingdom of Great Britain was formed in 1707, so when Ireland joined the already united kingdom it was added on.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Because Great Britain is the three physically connected countries of England, Scotland and Wales.
Nothern Ireland is a seperate land mass and is not part of Great Britain. Add NI and you get the UK.

[scotman]

Stewey
It doesn't get a 'special mention' it has been there for a while. Most people leave it out through ignorance.
At one time all of the island called Ireland was ruled from London. After the south part achieved independence and became The Republic of Ireland the Northern part remained and hence the full title.

As an aside the three designations

Great Britain
The British Isles
The United Kingdom of etc

are all valid but each refer to entirely different things.

[askyourgran]

It is all to do with the Troubles and the Treaties that were signed between the Uk and Ireland. In 1922 the Anglo/Irish treaty was signed between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Irish. The Irish seceded from Great Britain forming the Irish Free State, but Northern Ireland exercised its right to leave Irish Free State to join with Great Britain. And so named in the 1927 Parliamentary Titles Act in 1927 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

[stewey]

Interesting historical answers. Thank you.

[craft1948]

On 1 May 1707, the United Kingdom of Great Britain was created by the political union of the Kingdom of England (which included Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland. This event was the result of the Treaty of Union that was agreed on 22 July 1706, and then ratified by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland each passing an Act of Union in 1707.

Almost a century later, the Kingdom of Ireland, merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with the passing of the Act of Union 1800. Disputes within Ireland over the terms of Irish Home Rule led eventually to the partition of the island in 1921, with Dominion status for the Irish Free State in 1922 and Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK. As a result, in 1927, the formal title of the UK was changed to its current form, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

[scotman]

Gran
Thanks for the dates. I couldn't be elbowed to look them up.

[askyourgran]

No prob Scotman.

[stewey]

"Where were you born?"
"I was born in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
I bet not too many people give that answer:)

[boxtops]

Because Great Britain was England Scotland and Wales from 1603, Ireland incorporated in the early 1700s, then divided in about 1921 into Eire (independent) and Northern Ireland, which elected to remain part of the UK. That's why it's shown separately, NI was the last to join.

[boxtops]

(^everyone else posted while I was typing!)

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Probably not Stewey. I always say Leicester when anyone asks me.

[scotman]

Stewey

For me the answer is Scotland

[askyourgran]

I always say Cookridge and area of Leeds.

[askyourgran]

*an* ^^

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

Where the lovely hospital was Gran till they moved it to Jimmy's.
Had the best hospital food ever from what I hear.

[craft1948]

Mojo nobody wanted to go to Cookridge.....