Take it up with the Irish, dearest NP. The pale of settlement has specific meaning in Irish history regarding Dublin and the mountains beyond, that even has religious connotation that I thought rather ironic given the circumstance. Oh well, blast away. It’s amusing.
What I posted is the fact of that phrased and IF the Irish are THAT dumb, t'ain't my fault nor problem.
And FWITW...I had a Great Aunt, by marriage, who was born in Ireland and SHE know what that phrase meant and where it came from.