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Re: English names in Ireland - related point?
in reply to a message by Pie
In one of Alexander Pope's poems (18th century therefore) he has a dig at one Lord Petre, who 'breaks the laws of God and man and metre'. Can't trace the reference, but I have read that Lord Petre was an Irish nobleman named Patrick who chose to go by Peter (surely Petre was Pope's personal variation?) because English society regarded Patrick as very down-market and far too Irish for comfort.And didn't that work for Bridget also? People preferring to be known as Bedelia if they wanted to rise in society?
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