Quidditch World Cup - Irish vs English

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 97028

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:

> bboy_mn:
> 
> Well, I was about to point out that there are no Wales or Scotland
> international teams, but decided to look it up first. According to 
GoF
>  all four counties that make up the UK+RoIreland have international
> Quidditch teams. So, that shoots down one of my theories.
> 
> So, on to another. It's possible that the wizard world government is
> organized along different lines than the Muggle government. North
> Ireland and Ireland are an invention of modern (somewhat) muggles. 
> 
> Also, the International Quidditch League does not necessarily have 
to
> be divided along the same political lines as the government. The
> Government could possibly make the distinction between Ireland and
> Northern Ireland, while the Quidditch league may not.
> 
> ---OotP - AM Ed HB pg 129---
> "Level seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating
> the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official
> Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."
> ---End Quote---

Geoff:
It is usual in the UK that, if Ireland is mentioned in a sporting 
sense - football, Rugby Union etc - it is usually the Republic being 
discussed. Ulster would normally be referred to as Northern Ireland.
 
bboy_mn:
> Another point of interest, England it hosting, the stadium appears 
to
> be in Scotland, but Ireland is playing. If Ireland were a completely
> unique entity of government, wouldn't they be hosting the World Cup
> themselves?

Geoff:
I can't see anything in canon to suggest that the stadium is in 
Scotland; can you point anything out?

Canon says that "Britain" is hosting the QWC (GOF "The Invitation" -  
Arthur Weasley's letter p.32 UK edition) which possibly implies GB 
plus Northern Ireland - or maybe just England/Scotland/Wales. There 
have been occasions when Britain as an entity has hosted something 
and the venues have been shared around the four nations. 

Why should the Republic of Ireland be hosting anyway? They and 
Bulgaria are just the finalists in the same way that England was a 
finalist in the Rugy Union World Cup in Australia last November.