IRISH state broadcaster RTÉ has come under fire for a map of Ireland that omitted the six counties of Northern Ireland.
The September 1 episode of The Late Late Show featured a segment on cancer prevalence in Ireland, with guest Dr Eva Orsmond saying people in more deprived areas of the country were at greater risk of the disease.
Host Ryan Tubridy then referred viewers to a colour-coded map reflecting the findings.
“I was really taken by the map,” explained Tubridy, although he was referring to the disparity in cancer risk across the country, and not the absence of six counties.
@DrEvaOrsmond on why people in deprived areas are three times more likely to get cancer #latelate pic.twitter.com/kIprwUbuHo
— RTE One (@RTEOne) September 1, 2017
The broadcaster confirmed the map was based on 2016 census figures, which cover the 26 counties of the Republic of Ireland.
“This segment of The Late Late Show related to the upcoming documentary Ireland’s Health Divide, which includes new research data, based on the 2016 census,” a statement said.
“As such the map shown on The Late Late Show reflected the counties covered by the 2016 census.”
However the outcry was immediate, with Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald and Paul Maskey leading the condemnation.
Deputy party leader McDonald took to Twitter to ask: “Who took it upon themselves to mutilate the map of Ireland. And why?”
Meanwhile Maskey, MP for West Belfast, posted on Facebook, saying: “It's bad enough that RTE prevent Irish citizens in the North from tuning into cheer on our national soccer & rugby teams, but now they deny our existence entirely.”
Referring to the replacement of the six counties with water, author Anne Cadwallader claimed RTÉ had “just drowned Seamus Heaney, Mary McAleese, John Hume, Van Morrison, George Best, Liam Neeson, Rory McIlroy”.
Other users on social media however failed to see the issue, pointing out that the map was an accurate reflection of the data based on Ireland’s census.
Other reactions ranged from the light-hearted, to people complaining the argument over the map distracted from the serious issue at the heart of the discussion.
Reaction to RTÉ's map
What is this? @RTELateLateShow @rte What is this all about? Who took it upon themselves to mutilate the map of Ireland. And why? pic.twitter.com/DJNM56eeQx
— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) September 2, 2017
RTE just drowned Seamus Heaney, Mary McAleese, John Hume, Van Morrison, George Best, Liam Neeson, Rory McIlroy ... pic.twitter.com/OnLd0Qzc0O
— Anne Cadwallader (@AnneCadwallader) September 2, 2017
I see, according to RTE's cartographic infelicity, that we who live in Donegal now need a boat to cross the border pic.twitter.com/YSgDcZLsOi
— Roy Greenslade (@GreensladeR) September 3, 2017
Do I pay my license fee so our "national broadcaster" @rte can amputate my home county and 5 others from the map of Ireland? ??? pic.twitter.com/wAoU8irZjq
— Cathal Óg Donnelly (@cathalogd) September 2, 2017
Man born in the part of lreland not on RTE's map scores for Ireland. #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/9rVM4XVO6A
— Stephen Quigley (@StephenQuigley1) September 2, 2017
OMG the RTE map was based on census data for the Republic. No one has suddenly chopped off the six counties from the rest of Ireland.
— SearlSASS (@searlasodaire) September 3, 2017
Should RTE be handing the perpetually enraged such an obvious graphic to be offended by? If its census data then turn NI pink.
— Populistwatch2 (@WatchPopulistIr) September 2, 2017
Republic of Ireland world view ! Thank you RTE! pic.twitter.com/VknjYdp11Y
— Ian Paisley MP (@ianpaisleymp) September 2, 2017
Rte map highlights the bit of Ireland where politicians couldn't give a f**k about cancer rates & link with deprivation nor do owt about it.
— Nigel McKinney (@NigelMcKinney) September 3, 2017
