Oh dear, how wrong can you be.
This is the constitution in English.
The electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) comprises the Acts of the Oireachtas (Parliament), Statutory Instruments, Legislation Directory, Constitution and a limited number of pre-1922 Acts.
www.irishstatutebook.ie
ARTICLE 4
The name of the State is
Éire, or, in the English language,
Ireland.
And in case you're in any doubt. This from the actual constitution of ROI in IRISH.
AirteaGal 4
Éire is ainm don stát nó, sa sacs-Bhéarla, Ireland.
So the Irish constitution specifically states that the name for Ireland in Irish is Eire.
I would suggest that the drunken Irishmen who gave you a few licks were Irish nationalists who got upset by the term Eire as it refers only and specifically to the ROI and does not include NI.
I'll accept your apology that you were wrong. Unless of course you are going to dispute this source as well.