Ireland

[MustStopAndThinkBeforePosting]

I feel I am moving on from the anger and bargaining stages of my grief at the death of what I thought my country was, so perhaps may be moving closer to acceptance.

However, nobody seems to be talking about Ireland. Any NI mn people who can share some wisdom?

My understanding is that being able to have free movement between NI and ROI has been a vital part of the peace process and that anything that the UK does to "take back control of our borders" is going to disrupt that in a serious way. Is that right? And is it really likely, as I have heard, that such a disruption could actually reignite all the violence and horror that we thought was over?

Might it be feasible to give Northern Ireland some kind of dual status whereby it can be considered part of Eire for the purpose of EU membership and rights and freedoms thereof, but also simultaneously also have a status of being part of the uk? Or is that pure fantasy?

I'm worried but genuinely don't know whether my worries are realistic...

Not that food is the start and end of everything that's important.

I assume morning runner is being funny???? I doubt it was a serious suggestion....it wasn't was it?

Referendum 2018 : do you think there should be a united Ireland? No 60% Yes 40%

Do you think there should be a United ireland and move the Dail to Belfast and install a Unionist leader as president? No 100% yes O%

In reality the ROI has absolutely nothing to gain from the 6 counties except historic pride.

Morning runner, you must be having a laugh, surely? That's not something that would ever fly with anyone in the republic.

Love the idea that everyone except Dubs would be happy with those arrangements! I agree with pp that there's no real desire in Ireland for a united island.

NI has been royally shafted with the EU ref. No surprise really, it seems to veer between being neglected by rUK and being forgotten about entirely.

Breda O'Brien would probably love Dana as President.

Oh she would Mitzy. Jesus we shouldn't even joke about it. There will it be a united Ireland in my lifetime. We cannot afford it and the unionists will never agree to it. End of.

That she would Mitzy. Morning what area of the Island are you from? As someone who grew up along the border I can't see how you think the border is holding us back culturally? Seriously? Also not totally convinced the 6 counties have anything much to offer the ROI economically....after all if they were that beneficial to the economy the UK might care more. It's never ever going to happen anyway.

Think radical or stay as you are. Simple really.

Point being that Republic have no real desire to change the political situation or really engage with a unionist mindset. And why would they?

While a United Ireland might be a laudable ambition, in reality joining with the North would bring nothing but economic, societal, cultural grief.

I'm really worried for NI. The peace agreement there has always been so fragile (and the actual bit of paper is heavily based on EU law) It worries me that this is going to serve to really stir up the unionist/ separatist politics again, and that things may turn to violence.

It's utterly shameful that NI wasn't even a consideration in the referendum - without being in the EU they will be pretty screwed financially, the "U"K obvious doesn't give a shit, and Ireland doesn't want them.

I hope that something is peacefully resolved, but the lack of any plan in the part of WM is somewaht worrying - can NI cope with months/years of uncertainty?

I live on the border, my family had death threats through the troubles and I never expected to make 18. That said I voted leave because I detest war, I respect and value democracy and freedom. I think a euro army is lined up, the EU is undemocratic and yes, freedom and a liberal society is something to be valued and nurtured. Immigration has to be controlled and balanced so all cultures and creeds can live in harmony.
A lot of ex terrorists from both sides became very wealthy during the troubles and after they ended even wealthier from the peace dividend. (Much of which is from the EU which is why they are raging against the tap being turned off).Do I think we will go back to the troubles - no there is no appetite for it since they have too much to loose.
As for your question op about dual status, it simply won't come to that. Juncker is a dictator who wants a super state and will make too many demands and the EU will fall apart sooner rather than later. Then maybe we can again rejoin a collective of member states and work together.
So OP stop worrying, it will be ok - we just have a bumpy road to get there.

I'm from NI, and also lived in the South for many years. I'm thankful now that I live a long long way from it all. I spoke to my folks last night and was utterly appalled to learn they voted to leave, talk about turkeys voting for Xmas! I've already had quite a few (jokey) messages from friends on fb asking if I have a spare room to stay in when the shit hits the fan.

Anyway, some of the suggestions on this thread are laughable. Why on earth would ROI agree to be ruled by anyone in Stormont? And the 26 counties don't want and can't afford the economically unviable North anyway! And whoever said they weren't worried about he troubles, as no-one wants to go back there, well I'm sorry but there are still plenty of crazy fuckers on both sides of the border who would just love a chance for it all to kick off again. Apart from any ideological beliefs, a lot of them made a lot of money out of the conflict. The peace process was and remains fragile, and a hard border would be just the excuse those evil pricks need to start bombing again. I'm well out of it, but my family aren't and I worry about them (even though they are daft enough to vote leave!).

And don't get me started on the economic impacts. Thank fuck I live in Oz is all I can say.

There is no hope of any kind of political union unless both sides are prepared to reimagine what being Irish means.

I think people are already heading on this path. People in NI have already started forging a sense of common NI identity thanks to the Agreement. Yes, there are fundamentalist exceptions (see the Ardoyne/Crumlin breakdown in negotiations as an example). But a little relative prosperity has gone a long way in NI. The recent sight of football fans from NI having a good time in France gives a little hope too. As does the statement from Ian Paisley Jr about Irish passports.

The old Civil War division in Irish politics is fading fast (see the current government arrangement).

I think the time has come to think outside the box, and with yet another reminder of how completely peripheral NI is to UK politics, I can't imagine how responsible politicians north or south would see anything but advantage to the creation of a larger political entity encompassing the whole island, allowing economies of scale and all the other advantages that are in danger of being thrown away by revamping the border. I don't think NI is quite as peripheral to southern politics as some here claim.

I would like to hear what trade unions north and south have to say, as pressure on workers to accept rotten pay and conditions will increase as the UK tries to become a competitive exporter.