Here's a question for yee's...not wumming. Why did the British Government actually give a damn about keeping a hold of what is now called the republic of ireland? I can understand the Brit Government position on N Ireland due to its large Protestant population etc etc... but the Republic of Ireland? Canny understand why the British didnt just go....ok fair enough we ****ed up - here you go....
Now for a WUM...why dont you guys go out have some of your tradiotional Irish ale to celebrate? Here I'll even buy you one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tan
Tactical position of the country. a lot of people in the south of England don't like the north of England and vice versa. Should they be two separate states?
Update anyone? Ten years on... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-71549/School-protest-enters-second-week.html ...oh how proud they must be... http://vimeo.com/2541512
My guess is a combination of tactical factors, because they wanted to control the North Atlantic. And they especially didn't want Germany, France, Spain, or any of the others controlling the North Atlantic, and raising armies in Ireland. Another reason is the rest of the British Empire. Sure, Ireland's not that big, and we were very annoying, but if they gave us independence, the Indians, and Kenyans, and Australians would all have been after the same thing.
