To think most people in the UK don't really care about NI

[Tooldemont]

Just that really, we don't seem to be a together nation and many people I know would just prefer Ireland to become one country on that landmass.

Maybe it's just my circles, but rings true here

The sdlp have definitely suffered from a lack of decent leadership in recent years and a rumoured superinjuction.

The leadership thing has also hindered the UUP but I think they have suffered largely from a resentment that the nationalists have gained more since the GFA, hence the holding on to the past and the more extreme DUP. If that makes sense?

Thanks Never, that makes sense. It just seems that the DUP and SF would never be able to work together so essentially devolved government is a dead duck. They don't even seem to want to revive Stormont, but surely ordinary people must be fed up with the situation, being governed from London by people who haven't got a clue what it's like in NI.

On a positive note, the town where I live and work is very mixed (predominantly catholic, but not massively so).

There are lots of young people in my company, mostly male, not from privileged backgrounds and they are all like one big family. Quite a few of them have partners from the other background. It's great. They are great.

Sf and DUP worked better when paisley was around actually. He got on very well with Martin McGuiness, surprisingly.

Peter Robinson was bad. His wife didn't help. Irene is probably worse.

I'd forgotten about Iris. What an awful old sleaze she is!

Actually leadership all round, Tories, Labour, as well as in NI is woefully inadequate, there is no one who has the ability to bring people together, and encourage compromise.

It's good to know that young people in your community are living happily alongside each other. Maybe DS' experience is not quite as it seemed. That said he'll be much more careful about where he stays when he goes back this summer. Although that may involve taking his passport and having travel insurance this year. How depressing.

The whole Brecht situation is just so awful from an Irish point of view.

I'd forgotten about Iris. What an awful old sleaze she is!

Gays are an abomination, but adultery with a much younger man is juuuust fiiiiine.

They love an oul scandal do the DUP.

We've had boilers heating empty sheds, affairs, dodgy £££ holidays, racism, homophobia, domestic abuse, perverts. Any more?

The whole Brecht situation is just so awful from an Irish point of view.

Hibernian Chalk Circle.

I think the problem for the SDLP and UUP is that once one community goes extreme, the other has to reflect it. Unionists are horrified by the idea of SF being the largest party and having the First Minister post, so they vote DUP as the best chance of keeping them out. At least that's my guess.

It's a shame that the UUP-SDLP transfer pact in the last election was a bit of a disaster. It was a brave move from Mike Nesbitt but sadly the public wasn't on board.

The rise in SF votes had more to do with a growing respect for Martin McGuiness post GFA than a fear of the DUP imo.

I agree Never but I think the rise of support for the DUP was a reaction to that.

Definitely.

My comment was tongue in cheek, based on the fact that historically Britain consisted of England and Wales,

WHEN? Please cite your sources.

If you're harking back to Roman times, the province of Britannia also included a large part of Scotland, all the way up through Perthshire and Angus, and they made a damned good attempt at including the rest. The Antonine Wall still exists in several places and there are various Roman ruins about the place. Britain has always been the islands and at times Brittany, or lesser Britain, was included culturally.

Well, the Brecht jokes are cheering me up.

“My comment was tongue in cheek, based on the fact that historically Britain consisted of England and Wales,”

What the actual?

@Donmesswime ironic that you think all Irish people are nice when you aren't coming across as a nice person yourself.

Wowsers, this thread is depressing.

I'm in NI, County Antrim, it's beautiful & the people are generally amazing, there's a terrific sense of community in the area. I was raised in a staunch Presbyterian family. I would say I'm equal parts Irish, British & Northern Irish- I don't feel the need to pick one side, though many people do. I'm so disgusted with the DUP & SF & ashamed of our politicians right now.

I voted for the GFA during a 12 year residence in England. Since returning home a few years ago, I wouldn't want to raise my children anywhere else. It's not perfect, but I would say the people are hard working, caring & grateful. As a country we have very high percentage of charitable giving. Did none of you see all the lovely stories from NI fans at the football World Cup? It was heartwarming. I have some hardcore republican friends who are bitter and that's understandable but we can still get along while having differing opinions.

It's sad. Tis awful sad.

Why is anyone paying attention to donmess you are literally feeding a troll. I doubt he/she is Irish. Anyone who spouts shite that "all Irish are nice" is talking out of their arse.

I wish they would just put the border down the Irish Sea. Leave us in the eu but still part of the uk, let us have the best of both worlds. It is the only feasible option the alternative a hard border and that will be catastrophic.

The DUP are fighting for something the people of NI didn't and don't want. How is that working for your constituents? How is this even allowed?!!

Best of both worlds? NI is part of the uk, the uk are leaving the eu.. you can't pick and choose the rules

Actually I would tend to agree with you, you can't pick and choose. However, NI does we aren't allowed the same laws the rest of the UK have, we aren't allowed abortion, same sex marriage, same opening hours on a Sunday.

So if we can't pick and choose and if the rest of the UK are leaving the EU so must NI can we then please have the same laws?

Lol at wanting the best of both worlds. Is that you Theresa May?

So you want to be part of the UK, who is leaving the EU, but part of the EU and still part of the UK?
And people wonder about NI people lol.

LOL. The sheer arrogance.