[HPforGrownups] Re: Quidditch World Cup - Irish vs English

[Lita Beck]

No: HPFGUIDX 97065

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004, antoshachekhonte wrote:

> Antosha:
> Um, another point--Scotland, even though a member state
> of the UK (much to the
> disgruntlement of many Scots I know)--competes with it's
> own team at the football
> (soccer, that is) World Cup.

Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland each field
their own side in international football, despite being a
part of the United Kingdom. The Northern Ireland squad is
also an entirely separate team from the Irish (Republic of
Ireland) team.

If Ireland was a part of Wizarding Britain, it makes sense
that it would field its own team (as would Wales, Scotland,
etc.), especially since I seem to remember a mention (by
Fred or George?) of how the English team lost on its way to
the Quidditch World Cup. I seriously doubt that the English
team is the only team to come from Wizarding Britain. As a
soccer fan, it just wouldn't make sense to me. :)

Also, I doubt that the location of the Quidditch World Cup
has anything to do with where the teams involved come from.
Just like our World Cup, the host country of the GoF's
tournament was probably bid on and decided upon many years
beforehand. Logistically, it would almost have to
be--arranging a stadium, portkeys, etc. couldn't be done
right away.

But I do think that the British Ministry of Magic is
composed of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. For one,
there is the absence of an Irish Minister of Magic at the
World Cup. For another, it seems that Hogwarts is where
Irish wizards are educated.

But, what has convinced me is the professional Quidditch
league. That league is made up of teams from England,
Scotland, Wales, *and* Ireland. (Interestingly, this is
where the comparisons with soccer end. There are not
separate leagues for England, Scotland, Wales, etc. Maybe
JKR just didn't want to come up with that many teams. <g>)
This Quidditch league is governed by Britain's Ministry of
Magic, so it seems to me that the MoM would include Ireland.

Lita