julian@deepthot.UUCP (Julian Davies) (04/19/84)
I believe the term "Ulster" is sometimes used of the political entity "Northern Ireland" -- more likely by Unionists I suspect. All terminalogy regarding the Irish connection is politically loaded, since some of the parties involved wish to "re"-unite the northern end with the republic, and others want to retain the British connection. citizens of Commonwealth contries are not generally speaking British citizens any more, so far as I know. The immigration rules were tightened up a decade or so ago, to the distress particularly (at the time) of asians in Uganda (I think it was) who were made unwelcome there and found they suddenly weren't welcomed into britain either. The description "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" leaves out explicit recognition of numerous islands, such as the Hebrides Orkeys and Shetlands (all part of Scotland nowadays), the Isle of Man, the Scilly Isles (far SW tip) etc etc, and the Channel Islands. I think the channel islands are 'British Protectorates' with semi-autonomous governments, rather like a host of little islands round the world. As far as passports are concerned, and immigration, EEC citizens can get into Britain much more easily than citizens of (other) commonwealth countries now, due to EEC laws of free movement. Perhaps I've gone on too long -- this isn't really "nlang" stuff. Julian Davies