can you see ireland from the UK?

Answer 1

A better question would have been "Is is possible to see the island of Ireland from Great Britain?"

Quick History Lesson

1. Ireland became part of the UK in 1801, having previously had a status similar to that of a Crown dependency, such as the Isle of Man (but without any real independence).

2. Twenty-six counties of Ireland left the UK in 1922, to form the Irish Free State. It became a de facto republic in 1937, being known in Britain as "Eire", and, after 1949, was officially called "The Republic of Ireland", in Commonwealth countries.

3. The main basis for Irish separatism was Roman Catholicism, which was the only thing that really made Ireland different from other parts of the UK. Compare Welsh language and culture, which were much less "English" than Ireland's in the early 20th Cent. Wales, however, was nonconformist, not Roman Catholic, and was keen to be part of the UK. Similarly, the Scottish Highlands had been badly treated by British Governments but, outside Roman Catholic parts of Glasgow and its hinterland, Scotland remained solidly Unionist/ Conservative, until the late 1960s. Even in the late 1970s, support for devolution was only half-hearted and concentrated in the central belt.

4. Six counties of Ireland have remained part of the UK, under the name "Northern Ireland". Between 1921 and 1972, the "Province" had its own Parliament and Government, dominated by Ulster Unionists. At the time of the "statelet's" creation, approx 70% of the population (mostly Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists etc) wanted to remain part of the UK, while the rest (almost all Roman Catholics) wanted to join the Irish Free State, which was about 93% Roman Catholic, at the time of its first census, in 1926. [This figure eventaully rose to almost 98%.]

5. There were also strong economic reasons for Northern Ireland remaining part of the UK. It formerly had a large manufacturing sector, which received many of its raw materials from the North of England and West of Scotland. [About 45% of the workforce in Belfast worked in factories, engineering works etc.] In contrast, the Irish Free State still relied heavily on agriculture. As late as 1990, almost 20% of the Republic of Ireland's workforce were employed in agriculture.

The answer to your original question is as follows.

From the Mull of Kintyre Lighthouse, one can see Rathlin Island and Fair Head, both parts of Northern Ireland. Rathlin is famous as the spider-infested hide-out of Robert de Bruce, before his triumphant return to Scotland. If the weather is really good, some buildings in Ballycastle can be made out from the high ground to the west of Cambelltown. Some have claimed to be able to see the coast of County Down from Portpatrick, in Wigtownshire, but I' not sure whether this is possible.

As the Republic of Ireland has a land border with the UK (running from Carlingford Lough, west and north, to Lough Foyle), it is possible to stand with a foot in each jurisdiction.

I have also heard rumours, from my relatives in that part of the World, that one can see Ireland from the tower of Liverpool Cathedral (the Anglican one) but I've never been able to prove or disprove this claim because the tower is closed for part of the year and I don't get the chance to visit the North West, very often. Similar claims have been made for Mount Snowdon and Scaefell Pike.

I do know that you can see Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland from the Isle of Man. I went up Snaefell on that funny, little railway and even though it was misty, we could still see the four countries.

Answer 2

Ireland is the UK so the answer is yes! Unless you are in the republic of ireland which is not in the UK, only northern ireland is! But no you can not see the rest of the UK from Ireland! The Irish sea is too wide

Answer 3

Ireland is not the UK. Northern Ireland is temporarily part of the UK but the UK has made it pretty clear that they don't want NI any more.

It depends on what part of the UK you are asking about. On a rare clear day you can see Ireland from England.

Answer 4

On a clear day, I can see Wales from the east coast of Ireland, so I presume someone looking the other way could see the Irish coast.

Of course you can step into the UK at the border, but I presume you meant across the sea.

Answer 5

According to a very old saying, from the summit of Snaefell, on the Isle of Mann in the Irish Sea (with a height of 621 metres - 2,036 ft) one can see six kingdoms: those of Mann, Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and Heaven (or Northern Ireland and the Republic of Eire).

Answer 6

Like others said political union will be a disaster I mean just look at the EU!! There is already a union in most the countries you mentioned its called the common wealth. Some minority parties in the UK think we should leave the EU and create a trading block with the common wealth. I don't think we would have to have a political union for it but would have to have standards agreements or something.

Answer 7

Who would want to see Ireland


Me I think it is a beautiful Country.

Answer 8

You can put one foot in Ireland (Eire) and your other foot in part of the UK(Northern Ireland.)

UK is England, N.Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Answer 9

Only 17 miles from Mull of Galloway to Co. Down coast and about 12 miles from Mull of Kintyre to Co. Antrim-so yes it is clearly visible But N.Ireland is part of U.K.

Answer 10

I'm from Isan, near the Meekong river, but i think you can see the mountains of Morn from Anglesea In north Wales. And from other peninsulas in mid Wales. Tony in remotest Isan