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Unread 02-10-2006, 07:23   #1
Navan Junction
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Default [article] Folens to wipe 'British Isles' off the map in new atlas

Irish Times, 02/10/2006

Folens publishers has said it plans to produce a "more correct" version of its widely-used school atlas from January which will omit all references to the "British Isles", writes Áine Kerr.


The glossy world atlas has a section of 31 pages with maps and information, all of which show Ireland under the heading of the British Isles.

Following a recent complaint by a parent to the Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, her private secretary issued a letter on her behalf recommending that the aggrieved parent raise the matter directly with the teacher who was using the atlas or the school's board of management.

"She also advises you to bring the matter to the attention of Folens, the publishing company concerned," the letter states, adding that the Department does not have a role in vetting the content of publications, including textbooks, produced by commercial companies.

The introduction of the Folens atlas follows a recent entry on the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia on the term "British Isles" which stated that the phrase could be "confusing and objectionable to some people, particularly in Ireland".

The term has in the past been used in a purely geographical sense, to make clear Ireland's proximity to Britain.

However, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has ruled that the term is not used by the Government and is without any official status.

It was made clear by him that the term is not recognised in any legal or inter-governmental sense.

It has been suggested in education circles that the Folens atlas highlights the need to have a checking system whereby all textbooks are checked to ensure they conform with the curriculum as outlined by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment.

The Irish Embassy in London has also been urged to monitor the media in Britain for "any abuse of the official terms as set out in the Constitution of Ireland and in legislation".

John O'Connor of Folens insisted he had received no complaints from parents regarding the new atlas. The issue had, however, been brought to his attention by a geography teacher.

"I have a policy that if I see a potential problem I'll act on it immediately instead of waiting to see if a problem arises. So from January 2007 the reference will be removed."

© The Irish Times
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Unread 02-10-2006, 10:42   #2
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Geographicly we are in the British Isles. Are you mixing up the Island of Britan, the political entity of the United Kingdon of Great Britan and Northern Ireland? What else do you call the collection of islands off the north-west of Europe?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Isles

We are all one race under the one true Catholic God, let's put aside all our differances, like the Jews and Arabs in the middle east, why cant cant they get along like good Christians?
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Unread 02-10-2006, 11:10   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp
What else do you call the collection of islands off the north-west of Europe?
The Irish Isles?
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Unread 02-10-2006, 11:55   #4
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Quote:
The Irish Isles?
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Unread 02-10-2006, 12:38   #5
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<philip steers well clear of this thread>
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Unread 02-10-2006, 14:26   #6
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Glad to see a concerned parent with a lot of time on their hands
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Unread 09-10-2006, 11:56   #7
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western isles?
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Unread 09-10-2006, 16:02   #8
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For some reason this is the hottest topic on boards commuting/transport board.

AND no mention of zonal/integrated ticketing!!!!
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Unread 09-10-2006, 17:22   #9
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Em, why do the Islands need a name?
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Unread 09-10-2006, 18:48   #10
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Thank you. A voice of sanity.
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Unread 09-10-2006, 18:49   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp
For some reason this is the hottest topic on boards commuting/transport board.

AND no mention of zonal/integrated ticketing!!!!
Good point. Any time I get the train ferry train to Glasgow (ok only twice) there was no integration.......... Not even from the mainland into the Irish sea
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Unread 09-10-2006, 21:08   #12
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WE could always try....."Standing in the Isles"......Coming soon to an offshore island like YOURS !!
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Unread 09-10-2006, 21:09   #13
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You can get a through ticket from London to Dublin that is valid on the DART
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Unread 10-10-2006, 05:24   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alek smart
WE could always try....."Standing in the Isles"......Coming soon to an offshore island like YOURS !!
Nah, I was born in the sea in between the british isles apparently. Explains the webbed feet..!

Are you serious about the Dart ticket Mark? That is incredible. I've no problem with that if it is true (as long as it doesn't say 'valid throughout the British isles!)...
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Unread 10-10-2006, 08:11   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Navan Junction
Are you serious about the Dart ticket Mark? That is incredible. I've no problem with that if it is true (as long as it doesn't say 'valid throughout the British isles!)...
Always serious
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/stena_lin...b/by_rail.html
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Unread 10-10-2006, 13:16   #16
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Quote:
Em, why do the Islands need a name?
The same way Greenland (which isnt actually one island, its several, just covered with ice) will become the Greenland Isles when the ice melts.

The name sadly comes from the Romans (damn them) who gaxed forth from Gaul and said:

"Er, Erasmus, what's that over there?"

"Well, Marcus, that there's your actual British Isles" "

How's that then Erasmus?"

"Because that's where the Britons live and theres, like, loads of islands"

"That'll create no end of petty political confusoin in about two thousand years time I'll bet"

"Absolutly. Let's go and kill some more ancestors of the Platform11 Publicity officer"

"You mean the one who runs this internet forum about the adventures of an alien in time and space?"

"Do you mean this:
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=850 ?"

"That's a very good linlk, for a Roman"

"Why thank you"
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Unread 10-10-2006, 21:23   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson
Good. Somebody should tell the RPA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Thomas J Stamp
"Because that's where the Britons live and theres, like, loads of islands"
Nope. We weren't ancient britons

Last edited by Navan Junction : 10-10-2006 at 21:26.
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Unread 11-10-2006, 09:43   #18
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Quote:
Nope. We weren't ancient britons
Go tell the Romans that, so.

And a couple of thousand years of history.

Pity we lost Liam Lawlor, he could have sorted out our postal address problems.
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Unread 11-10-2006, 10:09   #19
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Why do two islands need a name?

Whats the name for the Sardinia/ Corsica pairing?

I don't think anyone says Corsica is part of the "Sardinian Islands"
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Unread 12-10-2006, 08:57   #20
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Right, from now on New Zealand shall be known as "North island & South island".

Japan shall only be known by each islands name, same goes for the carribeann and any other island groups I can think of. Ireland and Britain shall no longer be included in Europe, canaries will all be known singularily and will not be part of Europe.

I hope I haven't forgotten any.

Here's a better idea, get over the anti-British sentiment and except that it is just a name for a group of islands. Thread locked.
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