Survey finds Irish have most in common with UK

Ireland and the UK have more in common than we think and relations between the two countries are getting better, according to a survey of Irish attitudes towards its nearest neighbour.

Almost 60 per cent of Irish people identify the UK as the country we have most in common with, the survey - carried out for the British Council - has found.

This was well ahead of the US (21 per cent), Australia (4 per cent), France (3 per cent) and Spain (3 per cent). Italy and Canada, each selected by 1 per cent of respondents, ranked at the bottom of the list.

However, Irish ambivalence about our neighbours is evident in a question about support for sports teams.

One-third of Irish people say that they would be most likely to support Scotland in a tournament in which Ireland was not playing.

This compares to 24 per cent support for England, 15 per cent for Wales and France, and 4 per cent for Germany. But when asked which team they were least likely to support, 32 per cent said England, the same score as for Germany. In contrast, only 3 per cent said that they would be least likely to support Scotland.

However, further analysis shows that sporting rivalries are not indicative of a more significant divide, according to the survey. Two-thirds of Irish people believe that the two countries have more in common than we think, but the survey shows differences in the regard held for different regions of the UK.

The greatest affinity is for Scotland, followed by the north-west of England and London.

Only 1 per cent said they felt Ireland had most in common with the south-east of England.

Just over half of those questioned felt that Irish people's attitudes towards the UK had improved over the past decade, although this trend was less marked among young people and Dubliners.

The US is perceived as having integrated migrant communities better than other countries; 16 per cent said that Ireland was the least successful country in this regard. The survey also shows that Irish people are strongly convinced of their country's commitment to the EU.

In contrast, the UK is viewed as the least constructive participant.

Some 1,200 adults were questioned for the survey, which was carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes.