What is Northern Ireland's problem?

There was a highland dance competition in Northern Ireland today. Afterwards I texted the winner to congratulate her and I her some Irish flag icons. She texted me back that she wasn't from the Republic of Ireland so I texted her back that there is no Northern Irish flag. She then told me that she's British even though she lives in Ireland and was born there and she was very rude about it. What is her problem why can't she just be Irish?

This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »

SW-User

Because she's British and apparently proud of her roots. It's like saying "Why can't Americans that live in Canada just be Canadian?"
Just because someone lives in another country different from their birth country, doesn't make them one a person of their current country. She wasn't born in Ireland, so she isn't Irish (unless she has traceable roots to family born in Ireland.) That's just how it works.

Soph03 · 18-21, F

@SW-User but she can't compete in Northern Ireland unless she was a citizen there

SW-User

@Soph03 Just because she is a citizen doesn't make her Irish. I could live in Japan, but that doesn't make me Japanese.

Soph03 · 18-21, F

@SW-User ...or a citizen

SW-User

@Soph03 Once again, just because someone lives in another country different from their birth country, doesn't make them one of their people. She may be an [i]Irish citizen[/i], but [i][b]she is not Irish by birth or genetics.[/b][/i]

Soph03 · 18-21, F

@SW-User she could have just said

bijouxbroussard · F

@SW-User Not ethnically Japanese, but if you’re a Japanese citizen competing in a sport, representing Japan, why wouldn’t someone cheering you on send a Japanese flag ?

SW-User

@bijouxbroussard And that makes sense. I would be a Japanese citizen, but I am not Japanese by birth.

Soph03 · 18-21, F

@SW-User I think you are missing the point. Thank you for commenting but no thank you for your advice