Sir, The term "British Isles" is not merely a geographic term. It is a geo political term, and one that I personally take offence to when used in relation to Ireland. I am not sure when this term was coined but I suspect it was done so by the British themselves at the time of the Act of Union. This "union" is now disbanded and as in the case of divorce, the surname can be dropped. Lithuania for instance, is no longer referred to as being Soviet or Russian. Neither should Ireland be referred to by any intelligent person as being either British or English. The Swedish don't refer to the peninsula they share with the Norwegians as "the Swedish peninsula". There is enough respect for the Portuguese identity and presence on the Iberian peninsula not to refer to it as "the Spanish peninsula". Why should the archipelago comprising the islands of Britain and Ireland be referred to as "the British Isles"?
There is a basic lack of respect for our Irish identity at the heart of this issue. Whether the term is used innocently or arrogantly is irrelevant it is a matter of impropriety and the argument "ah sure, it's only a name. . . is not good enough. Surely a better name e.g., "the Euro Isles" could be found. While the peoples of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland do have a great deal in common, a shared British identity is not one of them. The ideals of mutual respect and friendly, charitable relations between neighbours could be greatly advanced if all traces of past domination were consigned to history. Yours, etc. Oslo, Norway.