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?

backstop is a step too far for them, they would rather have a hard border then to let anyone believe they are less English.

British, not English

NI is part of the Republic in geography only.

This is what the UK wanted. They wanted to hang on to NI. They can't just pawn it off because it's putting a dampner on their brexit plans.

And don't forget that Ireland took in refugees fleeing violence in the UK. I think its a bit rich that Brexiteers want to turn their nose up at other people fleeing from other countries.

you see that what really bugs me, I could be called English, Scottish, Italian and so on. It wouldn't bother me in the least. I would just smile and may or may not correct the person. Honestly how do northern Ireland people feel about been called northern irish or is that an insult too?

Oh the racism card. I should have known you would throw it.
I am making a point there is many draining society as people have described NI as been a drain on society. I meant if we can handle and afford the huge increase in population and support it, then financial we could support NI.
Look it is never going to happen, it would be nice if it could and we could all live happily ever after. NI looks like it will abandoned and they haven't a fair government to save them.
The joys of Brexit.

A diminishing number of Eastern Europeans, with many of those not contributing having returned to their home countries, is hardly the same as taking on a whole six counties the economy of which is supported by a high proportion of public sector jobs, together with having high levels of unemployment. The fact that we already have people dependent on benefits, a housing and healthcare crisis in roi, would be a good reason not to take on more costs.

I didn’t report your racist post, EmeraldShamrock, I’m clearly not the only one who found it unacceptable, seeing as MNHQ have deleted it.

I sincerely apologies. I never intended my post to be racist. I am sorry if it came out that way.

"Would it ever be the case that the UK offered the Unionists to come to the mainland UK as residents and hand back the north? Or would that not be a possibility?"
I would politely answer that with no fucking way. I would also refer you to partition in India and suggest you see how that went.
My mum was Irish, btw.

I actually got your post Emerald and didn't see it as racist. However I agree with Kenandbarbie we are not talking about people coming to Ireland, we are talking about 6 counties and all that entails as well as dealing with half the population who see themselves as British( I stand corrected Ginandsonic) and don't want the unification. It is very complex and the mentality of some English people to just give NI back to Ireland would be laughable if it wasn't so serious. We are talking about people's lives and their livelihoods.

As a (n English) Brit I would be very sorry if Northern Ireland left the UK to re-join the Republic of Ireland. Even though circumstances mean that I've never yet visited Northern Ireland it does feel to me very much part of the UK. But then, I'm from the North of England, so we understand how it feels to be ignored by Westminster!

Another reason not want to lose Northern Ireland is because if we did we'd then only be Great Britain, the UK would cease to exist. However, I'm not Irish or Northern Irish, and if that is what those two countries someday want then I would support them.

This is a really interesting thread. I am trying to learn more about Irish history and politics as I have no flipping clue and have Irish grandparents (I’m prepared for eye rolls) my Irish grandma wants a united Ireland but at the same time she has lived in England for over 40 years, so it’s interesting to consider this is a bit of a rosy view than consideration of the practicalities).

Can I ask in what way the Catholic identity/culture in NI differs from the cultural identity of people of the ROI?

Several posters have said 'The culture of NI is very different to that of the ROI'. Do they mean the Protestant identity?

I would like to see a United Ireland. I'm not British or Irish.

Do you not think that threads like this one show how ill informed (at least a section of) the British public are. Therefore how could they have had any comprehensive idea of what they were voting for when they voted on Brexit, when they don't even know the politics and recent history of the United Kingdom.

Do they mean the Protestant identity?
I think so.
I visit NI lots, the people are really friendly from both sides. It is mainly around events that differences appear. The 12th of July.
Mostly people just get on with life.

Can I ask in what way the Catholic identity/culture in NI differs from the cultural identity of people of the ROI?
Several posters have said 'The culture of NI is very different to that of the ROI'. Do they mean the Protestant identity?

I don't see it as being anything to do with religion. I don't consider Ireland as having a 'Catholic' identity. Modern Ireland is moving further and further away from the Church thankfully, it is a thing of the past to me and the people I know anyway.

I couldn't give a shite about what religion anyone is, I don't have a religion. I just don't consider NI to be part of ROI(because it isn't), I think it's like asking what is different between the English culture and Welsh or Scottish. Why don't England want to be part of Wales?

Miljah - Catholics in Northern Ireland are in the minority, whereas in the Republic they are the (vast) majority. That alone produces a cultural difference.

Irish here - cannot stress how little I would like Northern Ireland to be unified with us in Ireland.

It's pre-GFA, but if anyone can get their hands on "Holidays in Hell" by P.J. O'Rourke (an American with - as the Dublin boys told him - "a kings name) there's a chapter where he visits Ireland (alongside Palestine ...).

He interviews all sides, and comes away having learned that in the mid 80s - there is an acceptable level of violence was official policy on all sides.

(Interestingly enough, I see that the Amazon link I gave is for an "updated" version with the Belfast bit missing. You may need to go to your library or charity shop. Or see if anyone has c'n'p it online ?)

alec but in what was does that 'cultural difference' manifest itself in a day to day way?