Irish politics are usually complicated enough if you know your Taoiseach from your Tanaiste. Understanding the news can become a nightmare if you don't know the language - so let us brush up a bit on this.
26 + 6 = 1 - quasi-mathematical fomula denoting that the the 26 counties in the Republic and the 6 in Northern Ireland should be regarded as 1 nation.
26 Counties - the Republic in Nationalist spech, pointing out that Ireland has 32 counties in total.
Amrhann na Fiann - popular rebel song that became national anthem by default; originally written in English as "The Soldiers' Song".
Ceann Comhairle - "chief of the council", chairperson of the Dail Eireann, named by the largest party and automatically re-elected.
Dail Eireann - "assembly of Ireland", the elected Irish parliament.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - largest party in Northern Ireland, sworn to defend the union with Great Britain; most prominent member is the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley.
EEA - European Economic Area, the EU plus Switzerland, Norway and other non-member states.
EU - European Union.
Eurozone - countries in which the Euro is used as a currency; the Republic is in the Eurozone, Northern Ireland is not and uses the Pound Sterling.
Fianna Fail (FF) - "warriors of destiny", party founded by Eamon de Valera in a split from Sinn Fein; currently fielding the Taoiseach in a coalition government.
Fine Gael (FG) - "the Irish race", slightly liberal party, almost permanently losing out to the larger Fianna Fail in elections. The main opposition party.
First Minister - head of the Northern Irish government.
Green Party - party based on an ecological and social platform, entered a coalition government with up-to-then vilified Fianna Fail in 2007.
Junior Minister - see Secretary of State below.
Labour - left(ish) party in almost permanent opposition.
Loyalists - those loyal to the British crown.
MEP - Member of the European Parliament.
MLA - Member of the Legislative Assembly (Northern Irish parliament).
MP - Member of Parliament; the elected delegates from Northern Ireland to the UK parliament in Westminster.
Nationalists - those in favor of an independent, united Ireland.
North, the - generic term often denoting Northern Ireland, even though Donegal extends even further northwards.
Northern Assembly - elected parliament of of Northern Ireland.
Progressive Democrats (PD) - quasi-liberal party formed by disgruntled FF- and FG-members and the biggest losers in the 2007 election; still part of the coalition government with just two TDs.
Republicans - those in favor of an independent, united Ireland with a republican (and possible socialist) constitution.
Seanad Eireann - the Irish senate, some members are elected by specific groups (like universities), others are simply nominated by the political parties and the Taoiseach.
Secretary of State - Irish government official now often described as a "Junior Minister"; secretaries of state are generally not members of the core cabinet and hold minor portfolios.
Sinn Fein (SF) - "We Ourselves", Ireland's oldest political party with a strictly republican agenda. The second-largest party in Northern Ireland, far less significant in the Republic.
Social-Democratic Labour Party (SDLP) - Northern Irish variation on the Labour theme, losing in popular support due to the DUP and Sinn Fein.
South or Southern Ireland - the Republic, a term commonly used in Northern Ireland.
Super Junior Minister - a Junior Minister with more responsibility and clout, yet not holding a full ministerial portfolio (... this happens when you run out of titles).
Tanaiste - "heir presumptive" or "crown prince", Ireland's deputy prime minister.
Taoiseach - "the leader" or "the chieftain", a 1930s term for the prime minister in line with contemporary Italian and German terms.
TD - teachtai Dala ("representative in the assembly"), elected member of the Dail Eireann.
Uachtaran na hEireann - "superior of Ireland", the president of Ireland (a non-political role).
Unionists - those in favor of the continued union between Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom).
