EU to call country 'Éire Ireland'

[holdini]

Ireland is to be known as “Éire Ireland” at official European Union meetings in the future, it emerged tonight.

The move follows last year’s EU decision to designate Irish as its 21st official and working language from 2007.

Member states like Finland and Belgium already have dual-language status at official EU meetings.

Fair plé d'Eamonn O Cuiv!!!

(Yes, I was trying to be ironic...)

http://www.breakingnews.ie/2006/06/27/story265243.html

[Dee Four]

But why?

[bobbysands81]

But why?

Is it cos English and Irish are our joint official languages?

[sean1]

Great to hear, but of course it was mainly down to Brian Cowen in govt. that Irish became official (damn dithering unsure civil servants!!!) Then Dermot Ahern and Bertie Ahern played a big part.

The Govt. weren't even going to apply for it, were it not for the pressure on them.

I know Shane that you have tried to claim that FF were responsible for stádas in the EU, and contrary to what some people believe they will trump this card over the next year. However, there are enough gaelgóirí (particularly in the opposition) to ensure that most of the public aren't fooled.

[Gael]

It should have happened in 1972 when we first joined(when FF were in government) and a huge public and cross-party campaign recently was needed to make the goverment even do anything this time around. Don't expect too much kudos for this boys. People like Pádraig Ó Laighin etc. are due more credit for this than the entire FF party.

"FF The Republican Party: Only doing now what we should have done decades ago"

[holdini]

Eh, Im not trying to claim that, thats why I mentioned O'Cuiv as he has been a very vocal supporter of this cause for years.

[Gary]

But why?

How could someone possibly have a problem with that?

Fair plé d'Eamonn O Cuiv!!!

See, that's why I think we should let Irish go quietly into that good night.

[krayZpaving]

Fair plé d'Eamonn O Cuiv!!!

For the love of God, please tell me this is supposed to be irony.

[hiding behind a poster]

Am I the only person who thinks this sounds ridiculous? We're known the world over as Ireland - if we want to start calling ourselves Eire all the time, and live with the consequent confusion and loss of recognition, then so be it. Or else keep calling ourselves Ireland (or my favourite, the Republic of Ireland). But this just sounds silly.