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

“Sakura I'm Irish. I know what the GFA entails but Northern Ireland is part of the UK, not Ireland”

Ha ha. It literally is part of Ireland.

Is it time to bring out my map again?

We'd lose the NHS, which I'd feel aggrieved about having paid into it for so long.

Don't blame anyone who balks at the idea of losing the NHS and instead having Ireland's (crap) health service in its place. But I wonder how much longer the NHS will even exist. It's really struggling at the moment (as per Tory design) and will more than likely be stripped and sold for parts when Brexit hits. Maybe not immediately, but sooner or later.

“Is it time to bring out my map again?“

I think you’re getting the Ireland and the Republic of Ireland mixed up.

Northern Ireland is clearly on the island of Ireland. Just as Scotland is on the island of Britain and will continue to be so even in the event of independence.

@Fromtheinside80

Try verse 6 of the so called British National Anthem in terms of its appeal to many Scots.............

"Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!*

@Fromtheinside80 - I feel the same way as you & come from similar circumstances. Have even spent today on Portstewart strand!

I just hate seeing people who have probably never experienced NI dismiss it so - as though it's of no importance. I happen to think it's the absolute best of the UK. I'd rather holiday here too, so much beach per person, few traffic jams, not mad busy-the tourist trade has taken off so much in the last 10-15 years & it's great - concerns over civil unrest could jeopardise so much that has been built up. The NHS is also what I'd miss most if we left the union & I know so many people employed in it that it would be total chaos.

I don't know what the answer is. There are many people I know that have moved to Dublin & come back & forth all the time, it's so easy & the roads are better, (since ROI joined the EU!). I remember crossing the border through the troubles & it was grim., though can't see DUP agreeing to sea border.

I think you’re getting the Ireland and the Republic of Ireland mixed up.
Really?

I agree but it's like that with all the countries in union and life in general...most people don't care about things unless it directly affects them.

@buckeejit 100% agree with you all you said! I've memories of crossing the border years ago but after checkpoints stopped and the only way you knew you were over the border was because the roads were worse, how times have changed!

@StoneofDestiny not a massive fan of GSTQ either!

In an ideal world I'd love an independent NI but it will never happen sadly.

Jane, NI is quite clearly on the island of Ireland. It's literally in the name. We were all one country historically and the fact that our island was partitioned less than 100 years ago doesn't change that.

“Really?”

Yes, really. That’s hilarious.

The name of it is literally Northern Ireland. Because it’s on the island of Ireland.

Being from NI this thread has actually made me nauseous. A backward, hostile people?! Wtf? I'm from a nationalist background. Until recently i have identified as Northern Irish. I was happy enough with status quo and so thankful I could bring my children up in peacetime. My parents protected us from the worst horrors of the troubles until they couldn't any longer. I rarely heard them make a comment on a news feature about a bombing or a murder except to say it was all madness and a tragedy, and as a consuqence we grew up sympathetic to all sides. Some parts of our society are divided, but many were gradually coming closer together. Most of my close friends are from the unionist community. Following the Brexit referendum and seeing the complete disregard the government and the DUP have for us I now identify as Irish. And would love to see the unification of Ireland in my lifetime. I would have voted not to unite in a border poll 3 years ago, I hope i get a chance someday to put my x beside a yes vote. I know theres little appetite for it in ROI at present, but the hatred on this thread from both Irish and British people towards has truly shocked me.

Chocolate I could have written your post. My mind changed the day of the brexit vote. I consider Arlene to be worse than Farage with the way she has totally betrayed everyone in NI, especially her grass root farmer supporters.

I see a United Ireland as inevitable now. Probably within 10 years. A nationalist majority is expected within 2 years or so too. Arlene won't be loving that, now will she.?

In response to the several commenters who have said that the majority of people in NI want to remain in the UK, I genuinely don't know if that's still true. And if it is, it's certainly a lot lower a percentage than it was 3 years ago.

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/poll-northern-ireland-voters-will-back-united-ireland-after-brexit-37275256.html

Never I think what has also swayed me has been the steadfast approach of Leo Varadkar and Simon Covney. It feels like they are the only ones who "have our backs" and come across as intelligent men not like the shower in Stormont and Westminster. I visit the bbc news website daily but also make a point of visiting the rte news. Enlightening the difference.

Varadkar has been very impressive throughout, not least because of his restraint when faced with belligerent nonsense from Brexiteers.

Reading the pages since I last posted, it occurs to me that what all parts of the UK have in common is their dysfunctional politics.

Please don't listen to the posters from ROI saying they don't want NI. Some might think that way but far more people would love to see the country reunited. Obviously it can't be forced and can only happen when NI wants it, but the polls in ROI show it would be supported down here.

Just to join my voice with ChocolatePeanuts and NevertalktoStrangers - I live in a border county in NI, from a Catholic moderate background yet would never have foreseen myself voting for a United Ireland should a border poll been on the cards pre-Brexit.

NI is a fantastic place to live post GFA and I've read several Brexit/NI threads on MN in horrified fascination on how we are perceived by some in the rest of the UK.

My eldest son (9) was stopped in his tracks when he saw the BBC Newline report on the recent car bomb and it brought it right home to me how lucky I've been never have to explain away all the horrible tragedies my parents had to with me, which were nightly occurrences after watching the local news.
It made me realise what a precious peace we've enjoyed and how we can never stop being thankful for it and never stop working to maintain it.

Also a big well done to TreacleSoda, ChocolatePeanuts, NevertalktoStangers, and all the other NI/Irish posters who take the time to try and give background and explanations to the complicated history and day to day life of NI. I read some of the replies on this and other threads and I just wouldn't know where to start in a response that wouldn't be offensive to many!

I wouldn't trust Leo Varadkar with a pair of my shoes. It might seem he "has our backs" but he doesn't give a fuck about anyone below him.

I'd like to see the polls on ROI being in favour of a United Ireland.

Some polling data here

news.sky.com/story/sky-data-poll-irish-overwhelmingly-back-governments-pressure-on-backstop-11629673

'the majority of people in the Republic of Ireland would back Irish unity - 64% support (34% strongly), 16% oppose (6% strongly), with 18% answering neither and 4% don't know.'

(Sky Data interviewed a nationally representative sample of 1,611 Sky customers in the Republic of Ireland online from 1-4 February 2019.)

I can never get my head around surveys that only ask a very small sample of people. 1611 is a very small amount of people and funnily enough we don't all have the same opinion..
What's a "nationally representative sample"?
I personally don't believe a majority in the Republic support a United Ireland. We struggle enough with our health and public services. Now add NI to the mix? No, there are many who have a romanticised vision of us "getting back together" the reality though?

How exactly do you think surveys work?

Lucy that's actually a strong sample size as polling goes.

I understand how surveys work but I don't think they can ever be accurate with such a small sample size.

You really think its a strong sample size sakura7? I think the surveys done as people were voting in the repeal referendum was strong as it asked people as they left the polling stations. Sky asking over 1000 of their Irish customers about a United Ireland? Not so much IMO

An exit poll is a different kettle of fish. Most political polls are done in or around this kind of sample size.