Do you think there will be a united Ireland before the end of the decade?

[KenDodd]

Yabu = no
Yanbu = yes

Has the attitude of the DUP and unionists changed at all over recent years? In that, it really couldn't have been clearer how little people and politicians in England care about them?

I’m sure that many have been very hurt by that, but I don’t think it’s made them more open to ROI.

The hardcore DUP have always been very suspicious of the South and I don’t think that’s changed.

The only thing that would shift attitudes is if Brexit causes a lot of problems and ROI continue to stand up for their interests when the U.K. throw them to the wolves. That trajectory had started, but not much had been felt in reality.

Leo has said that he actually gets on very well with Arlene Foster, in person. They'll happily chat away.

They're just miles apart politically.

I feel a bit sorry for the DUP. London clearly doesn't give a shiny shit about them, regardless of government, but they view Dublin (who have actually fought for them in Brexit negotiations) with the deepest suspicion.

It's like Stockholm Syndrome.

Of course by the time any of this comes to pass, Leo will be long gone.

Planning a wedding if rumour is correct. Apparently he's engaged but waiting till he's out of office to announce it.

I did hear an DUP politician a while ago saying that all these years they've been looking over their shoulders at the threat from Irish nationalists when it was the English nationalist that were the real danger the whole time.

God I hope not - Ireland don’t need the burden of Northern Ireland !

It's like Stockholm Syndrome.

Yup. It is a difficult situation. They really are caught between a rock and a hard place. I’m not sure what the future for them is.

As someone born in NI, who’s lived in London, Edinburgh and Dublin, I find their distaste for ROI very strange. I guess it goes very deep.

I did hear an DUP politician a while ago saying that all these years they've been looking over their shoulders at the threat from Irish nationalists when it was the English nationalist that were the real danger the whole time.

There’s a lot of truth in that. Who was it? It demonstrates a surprising degree of self awareness for a DUP politician.

I find the language used sad though. ‘Burden’, ‘nightmare’, wanting ‘rid’.

NI has many problems, but also many great points. It needs a good PR job done on it.

@Moonmelodies Lolz at the thought of Ireland ever even considering joining the bloody U.K. - not a single Irish person would support that! What a ridiculous thing to even think!
Do you know anything about our history? 😆

Who was it?
Can't remember. Male, but I don't know who.

NI has many problems, but also many great points. It needs a good PR job done on it.

Noooo! Then they'll all want to move here! Terrible place to live, terrible

I can't see Ireland ever joining the UK. Once bitten, twice shy....

Having said that, I can see them getting along happily with Scotland and Wales. Maybe all three countries should consider a reverse federal union that excludes England..?

Why would ireland rejoin the U.K.? It’s just a nonsensical proposition. As I said upthread it makes as much sense as England joining France or Japan joining China.

It was certainly a shock to find out during brexit that some Brits thought it could be a viable option.

Obtuse, colonial entitlement dies hard apparently.

If the Tories hadn't voted down Gladstones home rule plans in the 19th century, Ireland could well have continued to be part of the UK.

Home rule was only ever going to be a stepping stone.

Ireland could well have continued to be part of the UK.

For a relatively short period. That would never have lasted.

I really cannot imagine why anybody should feel sorry for the DUP. They have held everyone to ransom this last three years.

@Viviennemary - I really cannot imagine why anybody should feel sorry for the DUP. They have held everyone to ransom this last three years.

Your comment typifies the attitude of Britain, and particularly England, to NI. The DUP have caused enormous damage in NI for decades. Whilst they have not directly murdered anyone, their rhetoric (in particular from Ian Paisley in his heyday) has resulted in loyalist murders. They have done their best to maintain sectarian divides and have prevented social progression. But the only bit worth mentioning is their part in Brexit over the past three years because that affects the rest of the UK.

Sorry I sounded blunt. I can't stand the DUP to put it mildly. I agree completely with your post re their contribution to stirring up divides.

Too soon I reckon, we'll need to be another generation at least away from the Troubles before the majority vote of NI people vote themselves into a united Ireland.

We need to get some sane politicians elected first, not the dinosaurs that are the DUP or SF who are still too closely linked to the IRA, whatever they say.

All Hail the People's Republic of Cork!

I 2nd this motion as a proud Corkonian myself

Perhaps by 2050.
Ideologically, I would love it, but I'm not sure it would be possible economically, as several others have said.

It was certainly a shock to find out during brexit that some Brits thought it could be a viable option.

I actually came across a person online during the Brexit debates who thought ROI was still part of Britain.............

Ignoring classical examples, has any modern republic become a Monarchy again ? Which is what Ireland "joining" the UK would involve.