A United Ireland

[poppiesallykatie]

Not a goady thread or to stir, but how many are against it or for it? Obviously many in NI want to part of the Republic, many in NI want to part of Great Britain, how do the British people feel about it?

Northern Ireland might be very different now but I think a lot of feeling and sentiments are bubbling under the surface waiting to resurface. I mean just look at the atmosphere during the July parades, also there was a lot of uproar at the idea of having an Irish flag displayed during the St. Patrick's day parade in Tyrone. It wasn't allowed. Honestly do people think that ardent unionists will just lie back and allow a United Ireland. The backstop is a step too far for them, they would rather have a hard border then to let anyone believe they are less English. In fact recent debates must be making them so angry, I have heard time and time again the Dup been called Irish by English posters. It must be given them the rage. It is a disgrace that the history of Northern Ireland, England and Ireland has not been taught in English schools. Is Scottish history taught ? My son recently has done a lot on English history and not just the parts that impacted Ireland, he has King Henry to Martin Luther and the reformation.

The British HAVE to honour the GFA - it's a legally binding international treaty. It isn't optional.

Yes, absolutely - but that 'honouring' can't just be, 'ok, bye, get on with it'. 'the British and Irish governments are under "a binding obligation" to implement that choice.' ... it's the implementation part that requires full support, and it's inconceivable that won't be costly. Any British person who talks as if Irish unification is an easy solution to anything is ignorant and/or delusional.

Aloethere - yes, there is already lots of goodwill towards Ireland, and I think that would continue but would more likely increase in the event of a united nation.

The point being that (imho) if a united Ireland were to be a success it would have to be a New Ireland, not simply the North joining the Republic.

If the will was there, the economics and practicalities could all be dealt with. And the UK govt could offer a £XX billion for a few years to soften the blow.

for the love of god can we get some parties strong enough to give Protestants and alternative vote - those who could NEVER bring themselves to vote for SF regardless of how much they agree with their standing on social issues

I'm Catholic and will never vote for SF, no matter how good a candidate they put forward - ever.

I live in the ROI. We cant afford to take on NI. As another poster mentioned NI has a the highest proportion of public sector workers of anywhere in the UK. We just couldn't support them.

Someone mentioned the terrible roads - tosh. Come to Ireland if you want to see terrible roads. We went on holiday to NI a couple of years back and were blown away by how well it looked and how much money was spent on roads.

Calling it a ghetto (same poster who had a problem with their roads). Don't be so insulting. Belfast has a booming tourist industry. Its turned it self around so much in recent years.

We arrived in Derry sometime after the July loyalist marches. I have to say I found the Union Jack flags quite intimidating. And the bonfires still smouldering outside the walls of Derry. These unionists will never ever want to become a part of a United Ireland, even if we could afford to go down that path.

Auniepatricia your comparison to Dublin houses would be like comparing London prices to houses in places like Newcastle. Yes Dublin is very expensive but houses in other parts of the country like the west would be far cheaper.

LaurieMarlow Sorry I meant to say the cost of living not the standard of living!!

The cost of living is lower in NI as you know a lot of people in the North work in Dublin so can avail of higher salaries and enjoy the lower cost of housing etc even if it does mean a commute.

The cost of living is lower in NI as you know a lot of people in the North work in Dublin so can avail of higher salaries and enjoy the lower cost of housing etc even if it does mean a commute.

And there, in one small post, the reason a border isn't ever going to work.

So a new Ireland, where the Irish will not be able to honour those who died to give us independence. Where street names will have to be changed because they are named after men who died in the 1916 rising. Where the national anthem is changed because unionist find it insulting. Irish history is important to us are we to erase it and forget it to accommodate people who don't want to be part of us or doing it because it's a better solution then brexit. It hasn't been a hundred years since we got our independence, many people are still alive who were involved or had relatives who were involved in the war of independence and the civil war.

The cost of living is lower in NI as you know a lot of people in the North work in Dublin so can avail of higher salaries and enjoy the lower cost of housing etc even if it does mean a commute.

This is what DH and I do at the moment- it’s the best of both worlds.

We can live well on one wage up here while I’m on maternity leave, whereas if we were still living in Dublin I would have been back to work when DD was 3 months old just to pay the rent.

Long term, this is where we plan to settle. We could never ever afford a house in a village like where we live in RoI, despite both being on decent wages.

I (admittedly naively - don't flame me for it) wonder if there are any lessons to be learned from the German reunification from 1991 (i.e. before the GFA) ????????

The point being that (imho) if a united Ireland were to be a success it would have to be a New Ireland, not simply the North joining the Republic.

So not only would be taking on a financial liability but we would have to lose our identity to do that?

I'm grand with the Ireland we have thanks, we've taken huge strides in recent years, apart from the cost of living, which certainly would not improve if we became a 'new Ireland', Ireland is a pretty decent place to live.

I haven't really seen anyone from NI say 'Yeah Ireland is pretty great, merging with them would be pretty great'. It's more well they are better than the part of the UK who don't want us. For many years most people in NI have been more than happy with the benefits that being part of the UK has brought them, now though Ireland would be fine as some kind of back up plan

So a new Ireland, where the Irish will not be able to honour those who died to give us independence. Where street names will have to be changed because they are named after men who died in the 1916 rising.

Where are you getting this from? Who is suggesting that? I think the recent centenary commemorations (of the 3rd Home Rule Crisis, the Rising and the Great War) have shown how Irish people can celebrate and acknowledge their history in all its complexity. I have no doubt that we’d be able to find a way to honour our past while building a shared future together.

I agree with Sakura above - for all the correct reservations and fears about economic cost, standard of living, potential for return to violence, I think if there was a strong majority in NI for reunifcation and a clear plan for economic support from GB and the EU, the electorate in the Republic would vote for reunification - a once in a lifetime opportunity would be difficult to reject.

Look at the work that's been done on the decade of centenaries and see how we can move forward together with a mutual respect. FFS

No not as a back up plan. A dream to many. Many Irish are still patriotic.
So we will agree to take 1000s of eastern European. Romania Poland Croatia and happily except them here. Imho it has been the biggest pull on health and education resources. Yet you would begrudge our neighbours in the North a chance to join.
I know it would probably never happen as the DUP have to much power and would never agree to it. It would cause civil war in the North again. I don't think it will be an option.

What English word has six silent letters? Londonderry.

Its not just about uniting Ireland, its about marrying many different cultures. Culture is extremely important and whilst it might not be who you are its about where you come from and change. Can anyone honestly see Arlene nodding and agreeing to gay marriage? Our Taoiseach is gay. Irish language is taught in schools. Only those who know will get the above joke.

Emerald Polish, Croatians etc coming to Ireland are going there to work and integrate with the countries culture.

I don't think so, I think if the Irish government were in favour of a United Ireland they would do anything to appease the unionist in the north even at the expense of our Irish customs, anthem and history. There has been talk about changing the anthem in the past. Do you honestly think that if the Unionist if ever saw the benefits of a United Ireland that they wouldn't demand changes of things that they find insulting in their eyes, things that are too national!

Emerald if people from NI want to move here they are more than welcome to. If you asked Ireland to merge with Croatia or Poland I'd be against that too.

But Croatia and Poland were not a part of Ireland NI is.
We basically have merged with lots of EU countries.

I see people of every nationality,colour and creed claiming benefits when I go home to Ireland. Nothing to stop people from NI moving to the Republic and doing the same.

Oh take your racism elsewhere EmeraldShamrock

Emerald if you can get 100% of Northern Ireland population to be happy to unite. If you they are happy to ditch their nhs and pay for doctors,school book etc. If they are happy to join the republic and have the same taxes, expenses as well as benefits that we have then I wouldn't have a problem but do you honestly see that happening.

Can Scotland join?