Éire is one of those countries that doesn't take the definite article. Unlike "An Fhrainc" and "An Spáinn" we never say "An Éire." We just say "Éire."

So why does it take the definite article in the genitive? "Muintir na hÉireann," "Uachtarán na hÉireann," "Banc na hÉireann" etc. Why not "An Banc Éireann"?

_________________
Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

The definite article in those cases refers to the first noun, not to Ireland. "THE People of Ireland," "THE President of Ireland," "THE Bank of Ireland," etc.

As far as why we don't put the article in front of the first nouns...that I'm not sure how to explain. Perhaps one of our more learned grammar folks can clear it up for us. All I can say for certain is, if I saw "An Banc Éireann," I'd translated it as "The Irish Bank" rather than "The Bank of Ireland," but that doesn't really explain much, I'm afraid!

Redwolf

I would have thought that "The Irish Bank" would be "An Banc Éireannach."

_________________
Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

Either would work, actually...at least technically. One of the functions of the genitive case is to establish an adjectival relationship between two nouns.

I suspect that countries and nationalities are a special case.

Redwolf

Well, in this case, it means "The Irish Bank" which can potentially mean something different, but yes, it can work. Being an adjective, Éireannach describes "An Banc".

Whereas in "Banc na hÉireann" we are dealing with the dealing with genitive case, possession.

Please correct me if I have something wrong, somebody

Well, the genitive case isn't just about possession...it's also about creating adjectives out of nouns. Mick's question has to do with why we use the definite article in these genitive constructions when the nominative Éire doesn't take the definite article.

Redwolf

It might have something to do with Éire being a given name/ first name. Old Irish Ériu. There's an old dindshenchas story as to how Ireland was given her name. Supposedly, there was a race between 3 sisters (Ériu, Banba, Fódla) of the Tuath Dé. The winner would receive the honour of having the country named after her. Ériu won the race, however, Banb(h)a Fó/odhla (modern Irish) are sometimes also used in literature.

_________________

Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Using Éireann without "na h-" isn't something new nor an abbreviation (you find it in traditional songs etc). Well, at least in the older texts it wasn't an abbreviation Maybe it is in modern stuff like "Banc Éireann"...
I don't know why both do exist, because it looks like there's no difference in meaning.

Btw, you also don't use the article before "Albain" in the nominative, but in the genitive you do say "na hAlban(a)"... In Scottish Gaelic they also say "Alba" in the nominative and "na h-Alba" in the genitive.

_________________
Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

You'll definitely see both in songs. I was just typing out the words to "Dóchas Linn Naomh Pádraig" today and noticed that in the first verse we have "Aspal mór na hÉireann" and in the second verse we have Pádraig aspal Éireann." In translating the song, I've always rendered the first as "The great apostle of Ireland" and the second as "Patrick Ireland's apostle," but I'm thinking there's really not that much difference between the two in Irish.

Redwolf

Nor does Sasana take the definite article.