Basically,the rest of the world,just read the appropriate Wikipedia pages.

I agree.

When I say Ireland I mean the Republic of Ireland and so do must people who say the word Ireland.

Either that or they're talking about the whole Island.

But nobody would ever say Ireland and mean Northern Ireland exclusively as it's part of the UK.

Why do I confuse things further by bringing football, and religion into it? My team (Glasgow Celtic) is related to the Irish part, while rivals Rangers are related to Scotland (& now the Northern Irish part). Celtic's manager is Northern Irish, & quite successful with Celtic (thus explaining the barrage of hate from some towards him). Celtic = Catholic team, Rangers = Protestant team (Thats the religion bit). I would say Northern Ireland & Rep. Ireland don't get on all too great, but its better now than it has been. Its like when the guy was driving about Aberdeen wearing an England top with an England flag on his car. Some youth guys dragged him from his car & beat him. While I dont condone random violence, the driver brought it on himself. He should have known a minority would've seen the England gear, and hate the man himself for showing this. But I feel we're going off topic. I don't think the Japanese hear too much about these stories, but I may be wrong.

The biggest irony is that Ireland only has about 3 and half million peeps while there are 24 million Americans of Irish decent.Includeing the President.

The potato famine was a time of great emigration to America-- the land of Opportunity.

Americans helped the IRA in the days when the IRA was planting bombs and killing many innocent people in an effort to unite Norther Ireland with Southern Ireland.There were many attacks and car bombing in UK as well as in

parts of Ireland.

Old grudges against Britain and religion were two of the reasons.

Nah. Nah I disagree it doesn't specifications to possess a uniform at all.

I was trying to explain Wales in the Japanese forum last night! Maybe I am taking it to the extreme. ;)