Liam Neeson is Irish and proudly considers himself irish, so why do the british continue to call him british?

Question

Hes a catholic from Nothern IRELAND and doesn't consider himself British. And Northern Ireland isn't part of Britain it's part of the UK( as in The United Kingdom of Britain AND Northern Ireland).

Answer 1

Firstly, Northern Ireland is indeed part of Britain. "Britain" is short for "the United Kingdom of GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland", also known as "the UK". "British" is the word for a citizen from the United Kingdom. You are thinking of the island of Great Britain: Northern Ireland is indeed not part of Great Britain, as it is on the island Ireland.



Secondly, Northern Irish citizens are citizens of both the UK and of the Republic of Ireland. They are both British and Irish: they have dual citizenship.



Third: I've never actually heard anyone call Liam Neeson "British", in Britain. I have heard people call him "Irish".

Answer 2

Why do people think Sam Neill is an Aussie when he's a Kiwi? It's because some countries are considered to be bigger and more important than others. Perhaps Ireland and England have a bit of sibling rivalry that is similar to that between Australia and New Zealand?

Answer 3

Old British policy. If your Irish and good at something, your British. If your Irish and bad at something, your Irish.

Answer 4

I don't think I've ever heard anyone call Neeson British, only ever heard him called Irish.