Facebook group explains just where Wales is

Mar 28 2008 by Rin Simpson, Western Mail

IT’S a situation many of us have faced on trips abroad – you say you’re from Wales only for someone to respond, “That’s in England, right?”

In fact, it’s such a bugbear a group has been set up on social networking website Facebook to tackle such infuriating ignorance.

And it’s obviously touched a nerve – the club called ‘Wales is a country... it is NOT in England’ has racked up more than 25,000 members in just 18 months.

Its online description reads, “This group is for the appreciation and recognition that Wales is a country and NOT a county in England, or a part of England.”

It is the idea of 20-year-old Megan Davies, who lives in Cardiff.

Growing up in Germany – her father is Welsh, her mother German – she was astounded by the number of people who had no idea where Wales is.

She told the Western Mail yesterday, “It just started because so many people made the same mistake, thinking Wales was part of England.

“I didn’t think it would get 25,000 members but I’m very pleased that it has. The feedback is amazing and people often say it’s a great group because it’s exactly what everyone is thinking.”

However not everyone who has joined the group has been supportive.

Megan said, “Many English people would also join and tell us how wrong we were, so it started a lot of discussions.

“They were saying Wales was a county, not a country – they were getting geographic and political facts wrong.

“Then some really patriotic Welsh people would come along and give historic facts and prove that the English people were wrong.”

The debate became so fierce that at one point Megan was forced to make the group a private one, with potential members applying to join rather than being able to simply sign up.

She added, “Many times people would just join the group to racially attack people and it would get out of hand.

“I didn’t always have time to monitor the group and delete things.

“I had to close the group at the beginning of 2007 for about six months to prevent people getting upset.

“But I got about 5,000 requests and I realised I couldn’t do it because it took so long to let them all into the group, so I had to open it again.”

One of the group’s newest members is Hazel Cushion, owner of Accent Press in Bedlinog, who joined the group last month.

She said, “Although I’m English, I live in Wales and I feel very much part of the Welsh culture.

“I think it’s important we do fly the Welsh flag and that people do see us as a separate country, within the UK but with its own separate culture.”

Hazel, in her 40s, has herself experienced ignorance abroad from people who think Wales is a part of England.

She added, “When I was in New York in January people were like ‘Wales... oh, that’s England isn’t it?’ so yes, it does happen a lot.

“It does irritate me because people have all heard of Scotland.”

As well as its evident online support, the group has had positive feedback from the non-cyber nation.

Bethan Jenkins, a Plaid Cymru AM, said, “I very much support this group’s attempts to raise awareness of Welsh nationhood.

“The fact that the group has over 25,000 members is a testament to the increasing pride felt by the people of Wales and further reflects the mood of confidence that is present in Wales today.

“I can fully relate to the frustration felt by compatriots who go abroad and meet people who believe Wales is a part of England.

“Online groups such as this, I believe, have a valuable role in raising awareness overseas of the existence of a distinct, proud Welsh nation.”