If Cavan and Monaghan are the north of Ireland...?

Question

then is Armagh the south of Northern Ireland?

When someone asks me where I live (say whilst im out of the country) I reply with Ireland, and if they ask where abouts I say in the north. I am from northern Ireland.

But someone on here said that when people think about the north of Ireland they think of the counties Cavan and Mongahan which are in the republic.

If someone said to you they were from Ireland but in the north would you assume they are talking about the north of the republic or northern Ireland?

Answer 1

If they say "Ireland", then say the northern part I would assume the Republic. If they say "Northern Ireland" right from the start, I would assume the North. But there is no straight forward way to explain when you're abroad. Without getting into the whole history of everything, I don't think there is a simple clear way to distinguish unless you say the county, but most people aren't going to know what county is from where.

Best of luck, if you come up with a good way to say this in one sentence, please share with the rest of us.

Answer 2

I know how you feel, I showed someone in England where I’m from on a map and they said, “Oh, you’re from southern Ireland”, although I’m from Athlone, the centre-point of the island.

I think that a lot of people are afraid of the word Republic. Feckem!

Anyhoo - you'd be Ulster!

Answer 3

If people just say Ireland then it's fair to assume that they are talking about the island. Cavan and Monaghan aren't in the north of the island. If someone said to me that they are from Ireland and from the north then I assume county derry , donegal, antrim, and at a push Armagh, tyrone.

Answer 4

yep-

its not the same- the north of ireland than northern ireland

however, 'the north of ireland' can b misleading.

if u want no confusions just say ulster nd everyone will know what ur talking about.

if i ask u 'where u from?'- 'ireland' (i think, republic, although its just a big island---)

                                         - 'northern ireland' (id never think ur from donegal, but from ulster)----

Answer 5

As a Dub if someone said to me they were from Northern Ireland I would assume they were from the UK part.  If you said the North I would probably say which county as I would also think of Donegal as the north, let alone Cavan and Monaghan.  

There is no easy answer.  I have travelled extensively and people generally have great ignorance of how Ireland is formed and set out.  (Look at all the questions here about southern Ireland!).  If I was talking to people abroad I would just say I was from Ireland and if they ask further, why not say I'm from Cavan or whereever which is in the north of the Republic.  It is probably just easier to say you are from Ireland and from Cavan without going any further!  People abroad always think of Northern Ireland as the UK bit.

Answer 6

If someone said they were from the North of Ireland, they (and I) would assume Cavan/Monaghan etc.

When I'm out of the country (by this I mean away from Ireland and the UK completely) I say I am from Ireland too, I don't say any particular area unless I'm asked.

When I am in Ireland or the UK I say Northern Ireland.

Answer 7

When you say north of Ireland do you mean British Ulster UK Scots Northern Ireland Ireland or just Ireland

Answer 8

Irish affairs are always complicated.    Technically Cavan and Monaghan are in the North of the Irish Republic.   Armagh covers from Mid-Ulster (Lough Neagh) to the border so if you live in the south of that county you would be from the south of Northern Ireland.

Another way round it is to say you come from the Irish Province of  Ulster.  That does include Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal although is often wrongly used to just refer to post 1922 Northern Ireland.

The official name of Northern Ireland is just that.   some people will deliberately try to confuse you because their political sympathies may not agree with partition.   You'll have to learn to live with it like the rest of us.