I don’t know whether this is pure coincidence, or geography, but I live in [name]Britain[/name] and reading this thread is the the first time I’ve heard the ‘Eye-ree-nee’ pronunciation. It’s not through lack of Irenes, I’ve known plenty, and they’ve all been of the Eye-reen variety. If my stupid computer would let me vote, I would vote ‘nay’. It sounds too much like irony to me.