Firstly Ulster is 9 counties not 6, and the reason why Tourism Ireland don't differentiate 'Ulster' from the rest of Ireland is because there is no difference and it's not run by a shower of partitionist neo-unionists like yourself.

John, please keep discussion civil.

Firstly, for a discussion of the term Ulster see this blog entry.

Secondly, I must not be as up on the lingo with you kids these days, but what is the difference between a Unionist and a neo-Unionist and why have you decided I am the latter?

PS - You may not have realised but I do not take the term partitionist to be in and of itself a bad thing. It's called pragmatism.

Now if I can address the small point you made that was relevant to the topic, if you believe Ulster is no different to any other part of Ireland you're seriously deluded. Even most nationalists aren't that brainwashed, someone's done a good job on you. For Christ's sake I can't even find good soda bread over the border - and don't get me started on gravy chips!

I don't need to view a blog entry to know the definition of Ulster, I know what it is, it is a province in the North of Ireland consisting of 9 counties, but which is separated by 2 different jurisdictions. You can't just distort the truth and make up that Ulster is now all of a sudden only 6 counties, it doesn't work like that, get over it.
As for the term partitionist, its not surprising you wouldn't take that as offending but I suppose you'd also ignore the fact that over 80% of people on this island are against the partition of Ireland.
Also regarding Ulster being different from the rest of Ireland, obviously it has it's differences in the same way Cork is different from Dublin, theres no question there, but your idea of Ulster being different isn't to do with this, you clearly consider Ulster to be so different from the rest of Ireland, it should be deemed 'foreign' and advertised as such, obviously you feel threatened of a United Ireland that you think such actions should be taken to 'keep Ulster British'. Again the reason Tourism Ireland aren't doing this is because no such difference exists and if they were to do this they would get a lot of criticism by the MAJORITY on this island.

"I don't need to view a blog entry to know the definition of Ulster"

If you're not prepared to listen to the opinions of others you're not qualified to speak on it. I was merely providing the link to the other post. If you want to discuss "correct" my definition of Ulster do it there, after reading what I've already posted, if not, your comments will be deleted.

Likewise the merits (or otherwise) of partition is not the topic here.

"obviously you feel threatened of a United Ireland that you think such actions should be taken to 'keep Ulster British'."

What is it they say you do when you assume? Something about making an ASS out of U and ME? You're certainly managing the former. I never once mentioned anything about keeping Ulster British here.

"Again the reason Tourism Ireland aren't doing this is because no such difference exists and if they were to do this they would get a lot of criticism by the MAJORITY on this island."

Where do Tourism Ireland come into it? I probably shouldn't presume you'd do me the courtesy of reading the stories I linked to, but if you did, "the tourist board" referred to is the NITB, not Tourism Ireland.

Try again?

Regardless of political aspirations, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board is not doing all it could to make people visit and remember Northern Ireland (which is obviously it's remit). Discuss...

Feel free to substitute "The Occupied Six Counties" for Northern Ireland if you must

Beano are you ever on calton media by any chance.

[Edit: I warned you, if you want to discuss terminology do it in the appropriate place - Beano]

"What is it they say you do when you assume? Something about making an ASS out of U and ME? You're certainly managing the former. I never once mentioned anything about keeping Ulster British here."

Its the only reason I can think of as to why you'd want 'Ulster' advertised in such a different way to the rest of Ireland, maybe you'd care to give a sufficient reason why it should or what such huge differences are.

Where do Tourism Ireland come into it? I probably shouldn't presume you'd do me the courtesy of reading the stories I linked to, but if you did, "the tourist board" referred to is the NITB, not Tourism Ireland.

Tourism Ireland are the tourist board for the whole island so its got everything to do with them.

IR: Tourism Ireland is not a Tourist Board but a body to facilitate co-operation between the NITB and the Republic's tourist board, for the sole purpose of external (ie outside Ireland) marketing of the whole island of Ireland as a tourist destination (the fact that they are under-selling Northern Ireland is a whole other issue which I'm not going into right now). The NITB are responsible for internal matters like approving accommodation etc.

Michael - not any more.

Tiocfaidh Ár Lá!!!

My opinion of you was right .Why would any person who was not a bigot spend anytime on calton ever.Huh

Michael, I find it better to experience something before I judge it. I experienced it, found it (and too many of its members) somewhat lacking, and deserted it.

There are a few decent admins, but at the time I was there they were either unwilling or unable to stem the flow of mindless vitriol spouted by idiots who would dismiss other people's points of view based only on prejudice (the number of times I was branded a "self-hating prod" or a republican!). In fact a lot of behaviour was quite similar to someone who would decry a person they don't know as a bigot for having read a web site, I suppose. Anyway, Calton's not really the issue here.

I very much doubt any impression of me you have is right.

Gentlemen, this is an interesting debate. In my view, Ulster in its entiriety (all 9 counties) is a very distinctive place compared with the other provinces of Ireland.

Yes, Gregory could have a been a bit more eloquent with his words, but all the same he raises a valid point. I am not from Northern Ireland, however I consider myself to be a proud son of Ulster, & an Irishman of course. I'm from Donegal.

From my experience of visiting Northern Ireland, & from encountering Northern Irish people I feel I have a great deal more in common with them than I have with the average "Southerner". Especially in terms of our shared experiences, culture, traditions, heritage, even our accents(!)...the list goes on.

Yes, Ulster is a great place. There is no reason why Tourism Ireland should not brand Ulster as a defined destination on our island......provided it promotes counties on both sides of the border. I know the argument is about the NITB's role, but am I not correct in saying that they can only market in the South? I know once Tourism Ireland gets the tourists there, they can turn on brand Ulster but in terms of NITB marketing, it's limited to the Southern market, I think?

'80% of people on this Island are against the partition of Ireland'

Where does such a figure come from?

Has there been a referendum (on both sides of the border) and i've missed it?

IP - as I mentioned in a previous comment, NITB has responsibility for managing things within NI (like awarding ratings to accommodation providers, managing sites, co-ordinating events etc) as well as marketing of NI in the RoI.

Well said Gregory there is far to much Paddywhackery around.......

Gregory Campbell is correct Ulster ( 9 counties ) has a rich cultural heritage so why all the Paddywhackery ;leprechauns, and so called jokes ect..

Paddywhackery in the North , in the South. all over Ireland.....Gregory is right..Paddywhacks are letting Ireland down........

Loath as I am to agree with you, Beano, but having distinctive Ulster tack as well would do no harm.

As for "the borders of Ulster have ebbed and flowed like the tide" stuff! In fairness, the Cooley peninsula was part of historic Ulster whereas Cavan was part of the mini-province of Breffni as opposed to Ulster proper.

Still though, the generally accepted boundaries of Ulster are the 9 counties not the "NI 6" with their now-dwindling colonial majority.

"generally accepted"

I would dispute the use of that particular term in this context but this thread is supposed to be about tourism. Speaking of the 3 counties though, Donegal used to market itself with the slogan "Up here it's different". If it's good enough for Donegal...