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More of us are describing ourselves as Northern Irish

By Noel McAdam
Tuesday, 2 December 2008

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Growing numbers of people in Northern Ireland are electing to describe themselves as ‘equally Irish and British’, according to a survey published today.

The report from the University of Limerick also showed an increasing number who, from a range of options, self-identify as and are prepared to accept the label of ‘Northern Irish’.

From a sample of 1,179 people, around a quarter opted for the ‘Northern Irish’ label, compared to around about a fifth in previous surveys. And within that group of some 25%, about a third agreed they were ‘equally British and Irish’.

The research is based on information from the 2007 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey which was conducted by ARK, a joint research initiative by Queen’s University and the University of Ulster.

Ten years after the Good Friday Agreement, with the issue of identity remaining central, with political and religious elements inter-linked, the study is evidence of some change in perceptions and moving away from traditional labels.

Author professor Orla Muldoon said: “As you might expect, Catholics in Northern Ireland are more likely to describe themselves as being Irish, while Protestants are more likely to describe themselves as British. Almost two thirds (59%) of those who responded to the survey identified themselves as British Protestants or Irish Catholics.

“There was, however, an increase in the number of people who identified themselves as being ‘Northern Irish’, with around one in four (25%) opting for this label, compared to around one fifth (20%) in previous surveys.

“Within this group, around one third described themselves as being equally British and Irish. They did not see Britishness or Irishness as being mutually exclusive and rejected the notion that these identities are ‘opposites’. This indicates a shift away from the traditional national and religious identities that underpinned the Troubles.”

The project also involved presenting all 1,179 people who took part with emblems or historical images that might be viewed differently by people with different identities, and gauged their responses to these images.

“Emotional responses to iconic images, such as flags and emblems, were stronger among respondents with traditional identities. Those who described themselves as Irish Catholic said they were more likely to feel uneasy or annoyed when presented with an image of a Union Jack or a photo of a news presenter wearing a poppy. British Protestants, however, were more uneasy or annoyed when presented with an Irish Tricolour or an Irish language letterhead,” Prof Muldoon added.

“While this research has confirmed that national and religious identity in Northern Ireland are often interlinked, it has also highlighted that an increasing number of people are moving away from the traditional labels.”

Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the report is available online at www.ark.ac.uk .

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55 Comments

Linda "Southern Ireland is in Europe" and what? ... NI is not??!!!! with individuals like you running around up there is it any wonder the place is a basket case! There is a bigger world out there than all this constantly claiming and proclaiming how British you all are.

Posted by Jake M | 04.12.08, 00:58 GMT

Linda : so Northern Ireland is not in Europe as opposed to the South, which is in Europe, is that it? Well I never...

Thank you for sharing that truly enormous part of your intelligence with us. Yes indeed you are right, people with very small brains would be utterly confused by that fact, so it is very important to clarify you are from Northern Ireland.

Richie, Dublin, Europe

Posted by Richie | 03.12.08, 14:50 GMT

Southern Ireland is in Europe. So why would people from Northern Ireland claim they are europeans. They are British. People from Northern Ireland call themselves Northern Irish to avoid this confusion.

Posted by Linda | 03.12.08, 10:49 GMT

Great Britian is defined as England, Scotland and Wales. NOT N.Ireland. N.Ireland is however part of the UK. Thats why it states on British passports, The United Kingdom Of Great Britian And Northern Ireland. So, should people of N.Ireland call themselevs british when we're not part of Britian??

Posted by Confused!!! | 03.12.08, 08:50 GMT

JR - the point is there is actually a country called Northern Ireland - there isnt one called Western Ireland - not officially! These comments are just getting ridiculous!!

And No Chellydog - there is no such place as "Brittan" !!!

Posted by Wotsit | 03.12.08, 08:46 GMT

I have always held a British passport, but I regard myself as Northern Irish.

Posted by MARC | 03.12.08, 05:12 GMT

I have lived in Australia since I was twelve, am now sixty six, I still
refer to myself as Irish, when asked which part of Ireland do I come from I answer, the North,never Northern Irish,Ed

Posted by Ed McMurtry | 03.12.08, 03:09 GMT

I call myself Northern Irish because I am from Northern Ireland and this is usually for the benefit of the rest of the world because they don't know that Ireland (ie. all Ireland that isn't Northern Ireland) and Northern Ireland are two different countries and that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, collectively England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which peoples are referred to collectively as British.

Posted by JB | 02.12.08, 22:56 GMT

I live in Australia and when people from the North and South Of Ireland come here they are all just Irish. As the Northern Irish protestant head of our local Irish association said" The shamrock grows on both sides of the border"

Posted by john | 02.12.08, 22:31 GMT

Actually John the Irish/Celtic culture you identify with were not always here either. They arrived in Ireland c. 500BC, ironically from Great Britain as well. These new arrivals either killed off the original neolithic inhabitants (who built Newgrange) or forced them into Scotland, where they became known as Picts.

This just proves how daft this arguement is. Like it or not we all have a bit of Irish/British or even French Hugennot/Norwegian Viking in us. The arguements that Mickey, Tom, Quagmire or Chellydog are putting forward just prove how blinkers, bigoted and racist some people on this part of the island still are.

Disturbing when you consider how many new nationalities live here among us today!

Posted by Dave | 02.12.08, 22:14 GMT

Interesting "survey".
I have lived outside Northern Ireland for about 18 years now, in Europe, Australasia and mainland UK. I am a protestant born and bred in Co. Down.

What I have increasingly noticed is that few people outside of ireland and maybe Scotland understand the term "Northern Irish" - or care about it - unless they have family or friends from NI.
In mainland Britain we are either called Ian Paisley or Gerry Adams, (usually dependant on whether we are shouting or not)

What I have come to terms with is that Northern ireland was a political entity created solely to further a particular agenda at the time of it's creation.
It's about time Ireland united again.
Is that a surprising view from a protestant born and bred in NI ? Probably.
Besides, Ireland is seen as a "fun" place to be from, whereas NI has negative connations.
Like it or lunp it, it's the truth as i have seen it.

Posted by FATHER tED | 02.12.08, 22:03 GMT

mickey you are a genuine Plato with the originality of your ideas

Anyway, here's an old idea for ye to put in your philosophical pipe for smoking, I'm from Ballymoney and I'm 100% Irish, from Ireland like we have been since millenia and always will be...and you can call yourself Chinese, British, Samoan northern Irish or whatever ye like, good on ye...that's respect

Jimmy, Eire

Posted by Jimmy | 02.12.08, 20:49 GMT

JR - your comments lack sense because we are talking about a country of Northern Ireland (yes it does exist) and not a regional description such as the North.
As for the Irish pride - why do so many of them live in the land of the hated English yet profess such passion for their homeland to which they never return?
Time to realise that we have been dealt a hand which aint gonna change in most of our lifetimes and we should try to get on with being the people of Northern Ireland regardless of religion, class or creed.

Posted by Paulo | 02.12.08, 20:16 GMT

Tom,

You may prefer a United Ireland all you want but I doubt it will happen. Simple fact is a united independent Ireland is pie in the sky... you gave away your precious independence to Brussels.
In the meantime, feel free to call yourself Irish. I will continue to call myself Northern Irish and British.

Posted by Jonathan Roy | 02.12.08, 18:57 GMT

This debate has always amused me and in particular how petty and political people are in this lovely country. I would have no problems whatsoever in calling myself Irish. I live in Northern Ireland and I am also part of Britain, which I have no probs with either. When I go on hols and foreign people ask what nationality I am, I say Irish...cause thats what I am. I may be Northern Irish, but, that effectivly makes me, well, Irish ! Im a protestant who has the right to say I am Irish. That is what I am and why should there be any problem with that ?? I am proud to be both Irish and also part of the British Isles and I have every right to be so. Does a Scottish man declare he is not Scottish, that he is only British, or a Welshman say that he is not Welsh, only British, and English and so on ??? Dont think so, get over it everyone !!! Regardless of the border that separates North and South, we are still Irish as the later states !

Posted by carla | 02.12.08, 18:36 GMT

I always find national identity a fascinating subject. I'd like to hear the opinions of someone not from a catholic or protestant heritage, but who still have a roots in Northern Ireland, such as the jewish population, 2nd or 3rd generation immigrants, members of the travelling community, etc. How do they define themselves in terms of national identity?

Posted by eg | 02.12.08, 17:59 GMT

Having lived in England for a number of years I can confirm that the english see both sides all as one - a bunch of 'paddies'!

Posted by Sean | 02.12.08, 17:30 GMT

Quite right Yip, this is simply a matter of personal choice. Sadly lots of people out there (as many comments have indicated) want to stick you (and me and everyone) in a box of their definition. I'm Human, European, short, young, tired, Irish, Scottish etc etc etc. What someone else calls me is irrelevant.

Personally I choose to refer to myself as Irish when confronted with the need to fill in a form here. Why? Because I'm from the island of Ireland and I don't agree with the N.I. state. When I was in France last year I used British because they wanted official/passport nationality and all I had with was my British passport. Next year when I visit Thailand I'll be on my Irish one. Confused?

Flags of convenience people!

Posted by White Star | 02.12.08, 17:09 GMT

J.R.
Western Ireland, Eastern Ireland, Northern Scotland or Northern Germany are not countries (check any atlas). Northern Ireland is a country in its own right (check any atlas).

We exist!

Posted by G Man | 02.12.08, 16:53 GMT

I'm an american and I'm always interested to hear how people identify. I think that this place has a lot going for it by keeping close ties to both british and irish because it's neither completely british nor irish here

Posted by Casey | 02.12.08, 16:37 GMT