Ireland: a major faux pas and other matters

I am still in Dublin, recovering from a very enjoyable dinner with friends and colleagues last night.

Unfortunately I began the evening with a major faux pas when I referred to Britain as "the mainland". The words were barely out of my mouth when they were seized upon by another guest.

"What did you say?"

"Er, nothing."

"You said 'mainland', didn't you?"

I did. There were witnesses. I couldn't deny it. I don't know why I said it, it just slipped out. Unlike John Terry, however, I have an excuse. It happened because I was struggling to remember what you can call Britain in Ireland.

Forest Eireann's John Mallon told me once. It's either Britain or the United Kingdom but last night I couldn't remember which and in my confusion I blurted out the worst possible option, "the mainland".

Confusingly, the word 'England' may be even worse. According to a book I am reading (Easter 1916: The Irish Rebellion by Charles Townshend), it is England not Britain that is associated with "800 years of oppression".

(John, if you read this please correct me before I put my foot in it again!)

Talking of John Mallon, hats off to the Forest Eireann spokesman for a highly productive couple of weeks during which he has appeared on many radio talk shows, including all the major stations - RTE Radio 1, Newstalk and Today FM - and TV3.

The stories that prompted John's appearance in the media spotlight were a call by Senator John Crown to ban smoking in cars with children and an out-of-the-blue exhortation by health minister James Reilly to ban smoking in open air parks and beaches.

Thankfully the latter in particular hasn't gone down well with listeners to Ireland's radio stations. John reports that callers have been overwhelmingly opposed to such measures. Let's hope that politicians have been listening.

John's interview on RTE's Morning Ireland this week was picked up by the BBC (Irish parks and beaches smoking ban plan condemned) and he has been quoted by several national newspapers.

Meanwhile the Examiner, our former bête noir, actually commissioned John to write an article (This creeping puritanism can be applied to anything) in a head-to-head style debate with John Crown who wrote 'We need to take a legislative stand on behalf of the voiceless'.

Comments

[john Mallon]

There was a time when this was a sensitive issue, but since the visit of Queen Elizibeth, all but the few extreme fanatics are kindly disposed to the British/English/Dem over Dere.

The moment the good Lady bowed her head to Ireland's dead, 800 years of resentful memories evaporated - in that one moment.

The mainland thing do, is a joke, when you consider that slightly larger island behind you (as we look at it), called Europe.

[ann]

I can see how saying the mainland could raise hackels, however this will all be a matter of timing, because in the future when, say 10 years from now, black, brazilian and polish paddies wont know what the hell your're talking about or even care.
John's coverage of major media statations re banning smoking in parks and beaches last week was brilliant and phone ins after the shows mostly agreed with him and a well known journalist wrote an article last Sunday saying that it reflects the mood of the time by removing the last pleasure left in this life to those at whom it is aimed and will bring very little benefit to anyone else.
On the whole, our Health Minister Reilly who thought this one up to divert us from the shambles he's made of the health service, was laughed at by everyone for the clown he's become.