A United Ireland? Some Northern Ireland Unionist figures 'ready to talk' unification

The thorny question of the Irish border after Brexit was on the agenda when the Prime Minister met the Irish Taoiseach at a summit today. Mr Varadkar warned that a possible Brexit deal could collapse if Britain doesn't say how it plans to keep the border open. And if a collapse led to a hard Brexit, could the outcome for Ireland be even more unexpected?
Channel 4 News has learned that some respected figures from the liberal wing of unionism are now ready to talk with the government in Dublin about Irish unity - and even a border poll.
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[@Camcolito]

The media on all sides have been successful in always framing this issue as 'Catholic-Protestant' rather than what it is - a territorial dispute.

[@theeaskey]

It is all about religion and bigotry on both sides, for the Catholics it is hard to look past the discrimination they have indured, for the protestants there stuck in the 8 the century ,as long as england prop them up with free

[@bgggsht]

@@theeaskey There were no protestants in 8th century, Henry VIII "poped" himself in 1500s

[@ems7623]

That's almost a difference without a distinction in the case of Northern Ireland, except that it was always more precise by a couple degrees to use the terms "unionist and nationalist, loyalist and republican" instead of the sectarian terms. But, even so ... Historically it does originate in a religious AND political divide. These days, the sectarian element is of less importance.

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

It is religious to the extent Catholics were discriminated against in the NI created in 2021 and before that during the period of penal laws. It is religious also to the extent some unionists think Ireland’s social laws are more conservative than their values when in fact it is the other way round. Apart from that the labels are easy because almost all unionists and all loyalists are Protestant and most nationalists and all republicans are Catholic. The Sinn Fein leaders despite their representing the Catholic community are not especially Catholic apart from tolerating kiddy fiddling and protecting perpetrators. But tbf that problem is not confined to the Catholic Church and has been found in conservative Protestant church as well as the BBC.

[@mrkeogh1442]

Yeah I am a Catholic and I'm English. I Want a British Nationalist Party so badly.

[@dermotegan8940]

I'm a southern Catholic from Dublin. My opinion is we still have a lot to learn from history and be careful not to marginalize the Protestants as was done to the Catholics when the border was drawn up in the first place. I would be willing to support their culture and religious beliefs and help to develop a stronger economy, less dependent on the state. It would have to be a slow change and it would be long bumpy road ahead but ultimately worth it.

[@patrickmccutcheon9361]

I agree it will take time and only when perceived concerns of unionists are addressed. We do not want to have violence on an all-island basis. The cultural differences are not enormous. The working class north and south have similar diets and interest in soccer. Perceived differences could be replaced by an all-Ireland soccer league reuniting the original all-Ireland one. The main difference is, ironically, that some northern Protestants are socially more conservative than the nominally Catholic south where socially conservative Catholics have been outvoted and are in a small minority.

[@andrewbeswick6495]

I agree with you

[@richardmoloney689]

If you're a Catholic from Dublin then you're an eastern Catholic.

[@bobsmith5441]

@@richardmoloney689 Bang on Richard. Hate hearing Irish people say South or Southern

[@TheEuroboss]

I'm a northern Catholic. Although I live in REDACTED Ireland our town has Irish flags everywhere.

[@microwavepopcorn3570]

Unified Ireland is the right way. It never belonged to Britain in the first place

[@Marc-kr8pc]

Britain made it better than it ever would have been.

[@juxyoh4659]

Thepr0df4ther So great the population was halved by the time Ireland got out.

[@mefeinster]

watch this, then scratch your head !kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZe6mpyddtR3nNU

[@jofasable]

or Europe

[@MongoloidDanceVideos]

Thepr0df4ther Really? Is that why Britain killed over half the population through famine and the land they stole is economically stagnant compared to the Republic?

[@mediolanumhibernicus3353]

What a wise and inspired man was Seamas Mallon, what a gentleman. Make haste slowly. A true Irishman. Rest In Peace.

[@dickhamilton3517]

the North has lost its fear of the Republic. The Republic has lost the crippling dominance of the RC Church. The Republic is more prosperous. The time is coming.

[@Richard-r7u6c]

Naa, you're alright

[@skeptic781]

you live up to your name

[@maxharbig1167]

Yes the REpublic is no longer the "priest ridden country" it was.

[@maxharbig1167]

@mwindmatch When were you last there? Or to be less polite "What the f**k do you kknow about it? Windmatch as a name suits you as your opions seem to come from your nether regions.

[@maxharbig1167]

Well I'm actually in Dublin at the moment,@mwindmatch

[@Chris.Magowan]

As Paul McCartney once said, "Give Ireland back to the Irish!"

[@samuelrobinson1992]

Chris Magowan I think you mean John Lennon

[@Chris.Magowan]

I think they both said it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGbMnWSdjauge7s

[@samuelrobinson1992]

Chris Magowan I think Lennon said "If a choice between war & peace, I'll take peace but if it's a choice between the British & Irish, I'll take the Irish" I think there may be a FBI file on this...

[@stephenperry7551]

John Lennon wrote that .and he's dead.

[@countofdownable]

Most of us here in Northern Ireland wish to remain British. As neither of these two live in Northern Ireland their opinion is irrelevant. Especially John Lennon as he isn't living ☠️ anywhere at the moment.

[@markdriscoll8119]

Independent Scotland and unified Ireland.....thanks Brexit voters!

[@redsamson5185]

Recognize Cornwall-Devonshire

[@jamespeterson9397]

Scotland won't happen

[@paulritchie5868]

It will happen one day,but not soon.

[@velociraptorwolf447]

Yeah ok if you say so, that will be your little secret wont it...😂😂😂

[@internationalrtg5602]

No part of Ireland belongs to England you shitbag

[@jlee4039]

I’d be thrilled to see a unified Ireland!

[@Valencetheshireman927]

Keep dreaming IRA supporter. (joking) . Still looking at the comments down below I can see why a unified Ireland is in nobody’s interests . How can we have a unified Ireland when unionists and Protestants are looked down upon by the same people wanting to be “united” with them .

[@stephenflood5374]

Jack the film fanatic. What about all the Irish that were slaughtered for hundreds of years by the British army? Invading our country. Does 1916 ring a bell.

[@jackfahy6925]

Lads imagine the celebrations like in every major city in Ireland it be some craic and it would become a new national holiday probably called unification day

[@petercampbell1287]

Dream on

[@Raggman42]

@Mr DS I'm Irish myself so I know and understand where you are coming from ,I really do hope your country reunites itself and your family including your good self all see it .b’fhéidir go bhfuil do chuid fadhbanna uile beag agus go mbainfeadh do theaghlach agus do dhea-fhéin taitneamh as an saol go hiomlán.i guím gach rath ort ó éirinn

[@jamie8032]

From someone from Ireland (The Republic) Ive always saw the thing up north as a foreign dispute not connected to me because I live in a different country, I'd like to see a United Ireland happen but it's not really up to me, it's up to the people who live up North.

[@terrybaker8156]

The citizens of ROI would have to vote on it too

[@jgg59]

Really a foreign dispute.

[@horatiotodd8723]

Its not foreign, there’s over a million people who consider themselves irish up there, and the other side’s ancestors considered themselves irish as well, acting like its not your issue and its a different country is selfish and misunderstanding the problem and the history behind it.

[@donnaghm]

Come on lads, let's do it. We might have a soccer team worth a damn between us.

[@michaelobrien3109]

Not in ireland it's not ha

[@eire3261]

Spot on, just look at the Irish rugby team and how well they are doing. If they were split into 2 different teams like the football team it goes with out saying either team wouldn't be half as good

[@revsin1886]

Our Wee Country is doing alright as it is thank you very much..

[@deanodog3667]

EFC 4 its called gaelic mate !

[@sodaking6858]

Michael O'brien tbh a united team could slightly make thing better but don't expect significant improvement

[@aine7173]

As a irish person from the south i feel sorry for the unionist. They are very loyal to Britain and Brexit shows England doesnt give a damn for them. Doesnt give a thought until the Eu forced them to.

[@edwardhowie6102]

You are talking drivel, the unionists will never be abandoned by the British. Don't think for one-minute people like Corbyn will ever gain power we are not that stupid. even if you get a united Ireland the unionists would be welcome here in Scotland as a large number of them are Ulster/Scots.

[@johnbull9195]

Rubbish. Brexit shows we care more about the United Kingdom than the EU.

[@ryan1916php]

edward howie the Scots are Irish

[@jiminverness]

Don't worry aine71. If the current course persists, England will likely be an Islamic country in a few decades. Before then the North will be desperate to unite with the Republic of Ireland...unless it also surrenders itself.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

The British never thought to pull out of Northern Ireland during the troubles. Why would they abandon their own people!🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🖕🏿

[@seanmckillen9090]

Irish flag is actually a flag peace for all people of Ireland hence the colours 😏

[@highvalueproductions7655]

Sean Mc Killen doubt

[@gazzanorth4373]

Don't talk rubbish. Republicans have been urinating all over the orange part for the last century.

[@gazzanorth4373]

@@daithifear8289 7 centuries lol. Thats some going considering the Irish Tricolour has only been in use from 1922 and Irish unionism didnt come into existence until the late 19th century. I take it history wasn't your strong point at school. Idiot.

[@gazzanorth4373]

@@daithifear8289 I guess the slaughter of tens of thousands of defenceless Ulster protestants in 1641 isn't worth a mention. It's always about the big bad Brits. Never the Irish. Take a look at your own blood stained actions over the centuries before pointing the finger elsewhere. Build a bridge a get over it. Its pathetic

[@paulritchie5868]

Gazza North no,I don’t think so..if so,do us Scots hate the English..no we don’t.

[@zavi13]

A United Ireland is inevitable, the only question is the timescale

[@Richard-r7u6c]

Give us an excuse to invade Ireland

[@omaghandtheshankillroad2402]

ZAVI IT WOULD BE EASIER TO SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST INTO 500 TRILLION PIECES THAN A UNITED IRELAND.. IT CANT HAPPEN WITHOUT A FULL SCALE WAR.. THE ULSTER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF 100S OF ATROCITIES THAT CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN TIME MIGHT HEEL BUT ITS AT LEAST 75 YEARS AWAY

[@Richard-r7u6c]

@jeflynnenut Now now, no need to feel threatened and get defensive little boy

[@Richard-r7u6c]

@jeflynnenut Oh my, that's cute. You sound like a toddler who threw his toy out of the pram. What don't you get? NI is it's own country that's wants to be inside the U.K. It has nothing to do with ROI so sit down and hush will ya :)

[@patrickgallagher5149]

@@omaghandtheshankillroad2402 you must have a very selective memory.

[@gregbrogan9061]

I hope the Unionists appreciate how much concern there is for them among Catholics. Seamus Mallon says here... "We would be doing to the Unionists what was done to us and they would feel exactly the same as we felt." Irish Catholics are not looking to "win" or "dominate" or get "revenge"... Instead they are looking at the protestants as brothers to share and prosper together. The Irish flag has equal parts green and orange... The Proclamation seeks harmony not revenge. And you can see it in the society of the Republic. The Catholics of the Republic would welcome the Unionists of the North more warmly than do the English!

[@DublinDan]

Exactly Green white and orange

[@stephensmith4480]

I am British,born and bred in Liverpool. My Maternal grandmother is Irish. I love the Irish people,both,north and south and I hope and pray that we can find a way so we can all live together,in quiet peace and respect each other as human beings.There has been,far too much blood spilled. We are only on this earth for a short time,lets all enjoy it.

[@xtusvincit5230]

Greg Brogan Truer words have never been spoken. In the isles of Britain and Ireland, there is no history of Catholic domination of Protestants. It has always been a one-way brutality until Catholics refused to take it anymore. Catholic violence was only to seek freedom, never for domination.

[@Socman-fu1gs]

@@xtusvincit5230 it was masked as a catholic vs protestant war by the british media to hide the fact that in reality they were and probably still are illegally occupying the north.. the irish back then n still now dont give a f**k what religion they are it was the fact that they were on "our land" or with a northern accent ire land hence ireland.. they could have been muslim or hindus it wouldn't have mattered they still took the men in the norths land.. it's never been a religious war it's always been about the land.. it just so happens that the people trying to occupy Ireland (British) where of a different religion or rather just an different offcut as we're both Christians

[@xtusvincit5230]

@@Socman-fu1gs Thank you. Makes sense. It's not as if they are fighting over the meaning of the Eucharist!

[@seamusmccaffrey4420]

Paul Mc Cartney and John Lennon wrote the song " GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH " 30 years ago ( WHICH WAS BANNED IN ENGLAND ) I guess they knew it,s on the way.

[@Willywin]

Was that give the republic back to the Loyalists???

[@seanmagee5669]

@@Willywin silly comment.

[@Willywin]

@@seanmagee5669 Well answer the question... Should the Loyalist Community be forced to give up their independence? Do you believe there would be no return to sectarian violence?

[@angelachanelhuang1651]

I am AMERICAN

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

One of the biggest shock I experienced when talking to my protestant friends from Belfast was when one said "we fucking hate the English". I wasn't expecting that. "They always looked down on us as if we were inferior". The fact that nobody in England gave the slightest f**k for NI during the Brexit debate and how everyone was surprised that there is this thing called Northern Ireland after the results came in will only emphasize that no matter how much they want and value the Union, the Union doesn't give two f**ks about them.

[@Willywin]

Lol... Don't you know every one hates the English - but we don't care lol. Get over it. I suppose the Loyalists of N.Ireland are rioting in protest at the UK ignoring the border checks between N Ireland and the rest of the UK lol... Twenty plus years of peace and within three months of EU Organisation interference the troubles are well on the way to resuming. Guess that;s what comes from the EU Organisation and the Republic trying to annex N Ireland. First thing - Get the EU out of N Ireland... Second put any border checks on the Mainland of Europe and allow the Republic, N Ireland and the UK to trade freely and without bureaucracy in away that no community feels disenfranchised.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@Willywin just as well you don’t know what you’re talking about.

[@Willywin]

@@ClannCholmain Is that because I disagree with you - good job I'm not as arrogant lol.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@Willywin the average Englishman today is uninterested in Northern Ireland being part of their union, and no small number weren’t even aware it existed until Brexit. Indeed, they’re willing to give up Scotland to achieve Brexit. Half the population of Northern Ireland have Irish passports, which also makes them EU citizens, you wouldn’t know that as you’ve never been to the island of Ireland.

[@Willywin]

​@@ClannCholmain First of all regarding N Ireland - as long as Loyalist communities want to be in the UK then the 'English' will support their right to be. Secondly regarding Scotland - it didn't need Brexit for the 'English' to want to offload Scotland - its costly to keep, the SNP whine and Irn Bru tastes like - well its not something I would drink voluntarily again. However, for as long as the Scottish wish to stay in the UK I will support their right to do so. Thirdly there is no such thing as a EU citizen - the EU is an Organisation staffed and run by unelected unaccountable bureaucrats - it has no borders it is not a country, it has no right to have ambassadors - it is like saying half of N Ireland are citizens of Nestle - means nothing - it is an organisation, an idea, an ideology - no more no less. Regarding visiting Ireland, have family there - sorry. Grandmother called O'Donnell. I know enough to know the situation in the North - something it seems the EU bureaucrats had no idea about. Had I joined the Army instead of the Navy I would probably have served there. But if the North and the South are ever united - then one possible consequence would be that agreements regarding free movement between the Republic and the UK need no longer apply - possible bad for Ireland - apart from those with UK passports that is, now wouldn't that be ironic. Oh and it will be Dublin having to deal with the troubles in the North by then - hope that never happens.

[@bluecanary1note]

I'm Scottish and I support a united Ireland.

[@BelcarrigFarm]

I'm from Ireland and I support Scottish independence

[@dolceanstar]

A Unified Ireland is the only good thing that can come out of brexit.

[@kylepickus5712]

And independent Scotland!!!

[@countycricklewood]

@@kylepickus5712 They had their chance and voted to stay? Don't have the steel of the Irish

[@royw-g3120]

Since Boris shafted the unionists after Brexit I can start to see some unionists really starting to think they might more respect from the Irish govt than from London, they will certainly have more influence with a million votes in a smaller country, UK politicians only worry about NI politics when they need their votes which is rarely.

[@angelachanelhuang1651]

Boris won the election

[@RobertK1993]

Liz Truss Rushi Sunak too

[@eamonnsiocain6454]

Reunification, you mean. 56% in Northern Ireland voted to remain. If 52% is a mandate from the people, then certainly 56% is a mandate. Let Northern Ireland remain in the EU.

[@barryoconnell4436]

Yo original backstop was for Northern Ireland only. And for trade only People would still have been under UK rule and part of the uk. Trade would be under EU trade Given Northern Ireland the best of both worlds This would have been bad for the Republic but they’re willing to go with it It was Theresa May that made it a UK wide backstop Ps backstop is a cricket terminology which a lot of people don’t fully understand. We need another generation of the peace we’ve had for the last 30 years to heal the wounds that run deep That is the importance of the backstop

[@albertgainsworth]

It's none of my business, I am an English born Canadian, but the issue of Brexit has nothing to do with Irish unification. You are all Irish on the island, and it is unnatural that you are apart, especially because of religion (which is bullshit anyway).

[@albertgainsworth]

@Colloquial Soliloquy Thanks for your reply. I sincerely hope that all ancient grudges will be tabled. It's none of my business, but I would love to see a united Ireland.

[@albertgainsworth]

@Colloquial Soliloquy I have no idea. Perhaps they should emigrate elsewhere.

[@anthonyinger7591]

@J J Why are you not a fan of English people? I'm a Welshman and interested in your opinion.

[@RogerRoving]

A Brexit would be the beginning of the end of the UK, of that there is no doubt.

[@full__tilt]

Scotland and Wales will eternally remain with England and the UK will remain united FOREVER!

[@QALibrary]

I think with a hard Brexit Scotland will be first, followed by Ireland then maybe Wales - but with Scotland gone the Conservative will have there end goal of never being out of power in England - I called this 3 years ago

[@johnwalsh3635]

Roger Barnes Nonsense.

[@countofdownable]

Rubbish most people realise the objective of the EU is a United States of Europe. Only nationalist head cases live in Cloud Cuckoo Land.

[@harryrambler]

Roger Barnes Could you give me the winning horse in the 2018 Grand National steeplechase in Aintree Liverpool? You seem to know complex results that will happen in the future with certaincy.

[@KIIXI]

Brexit has backfired at so many different dimensions that were not even discussed before

[@rjg4851]

lleo Chanel 4 creates snippets like this for ignorant--in the literal sense on this situation--people like you. Hook, line and sinker.

[@taintabird23]

What wrong with the report?

[@anthonyburke3428]

Taint ABird brexiters and the truth don't mix! That's the problem!

[@BringbackgAmberleafns]

Anthony Burke no you dont accept the truth that you lost the brexit vote

[@taintabird23]

He's Irish, he didn't have a vote!

[@jeevesponzi5257]

As a republican ,i want an island where unionists feel safe and welcome , and constitutionally protected. We are family now, and should behave accordingly. Make haste,slowly.

[@Lixsna]

No I don't think so. Most Unionists/Loyalists are psychopathic. They define their whole identity around the fact that they are not Irish, or catholic, but British and protestant. They despise everything Irish. Their whole lives are defined by being instinctively against anything Irish. Their governmental party the DUP is the most anti-Irish and anti-catholic party in the WORLD. This is what you're dealing with. These people are not normal. They are abnormal.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

I would never feel welcome in a unified Ireland . The sooner the Irish accept that the better . IRA go home !

[@DCFelix67]

Seamus Mallon wants to move the goalposts now, and require a supermajority of 70 or 80 percent--to agree to a united Ireland before it happens.

[@craigdorrian7391]

Lixna I’m a Unionist, but I love the Irish! I have great respect for my Irish Heritage, I support Britain because I believe NI is better off in the UK economically - and that’s the same with most Unionists, don’t let the extremists give you a bad opinion on us.

[@adammartin7007]

@@Valencetheshireman927 The IRA go home? What does that even mean?

[@thomasphra8480]

Just give lreland back to the irish .United Ireland is solution.

[@tomh3744]

Thomas Phra yeah!!!. 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@stephenperry7551]

Is it really ......the Rep. Of Ireland is like Albania ...its a mess .....get off the drugs mate ...sober up Paddy

[@sheela-na-giga-byte8397]

Stephen Perry, take a look at England's immigration crisis...Ireland is nowhere near that...(desperate argument anyway)...We are wealthier than the UK www.joe.ie/news/ireland-had-made-a-list-of-the-top-20-richest-countries-in-the-world-537701 AND our healthcare is ranked as higher quality "Britain's healthcare system has been ranked just 30th in a new global study - lagging behind other European countries including Germany, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Italy." www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-world-ranking-uk-healthcare-worse-ireland-spain-slovenia-30th-lancet-a7744131.html ...Not to mention Dublin is the European HQ's of both Google AND Facebook, and ALL OF THIS PRE-BREXSHIT...

[@johnsmith-bx4rn]

+ Ankh Gondolier Yes Ankh and please don't confuse the so called scotch irish with the native irish , i'm pretty sure you're well aware of the difference .

[@sheela-na-giga-byte8397]

John Smith ...The Irish gave the name Scotland to Scotland when they went there originally, the name coming from the Egyptian princess Scotia (who is buried in Co. Kerry), so genetically we are the same people...What you mean by 'Scotch Irish' are those who were effectively minions of England (and have been struggling with the reality that they are now disposable pawns, who btw, wouldn't have that complex in a United Ireland) and were planted in Ireland as a means to rob the proper Irish of their homeland...Let's just call a spade a spade...

[@prnps]

A beautiful Country and I hope it’s finally united as one.

[@lizzrobb2313]

It'll never happen, Republic can't afford to keep their own people, never mind Northern Ireland aswel, remember British had to give the Republic money a few Yrs ago.

[@finnbarm]

@@lizzrobb2313 Republic can't afford to keep their own people YET The UK is in debt too you know.

[@joshconn17]

I’m a young person from a unionist background but have been involved in many cross community organisations and my girlfriend is from the nationalist side. I often see people on KZbin and other social media platforms saying the unionist side is full of bigoted back minded people, the majority of these people aren’t even from Northern Ireland who make these claims. They just see the violent and bigoted side because that’s what makes the news, in reality this bigoted side is small in comparison to the forward moving unionists who want gay marriage and other more modern issues dealt with. Unfortunately we have a political party in charge who don’t share the views of many forward moving unionists, although they want to keep the union, some of their other policies aren’t right in today’s society. We feel under threat of an all Ireland and the growth of Sinn Fein, so the DUP get the vote due to trying to keep a unionist majority. One day I wish a more modern unionist party would come in charge and loose the bitterness. I understand why there are so many people saying for an all Ireland because that was here first, one day that might happen. It is just hard for unionists to really accept that with open arms, this is down to our upbringings, we would have been around parades, bonfires and union flags before we really knew what they meant and so we feel an allegiance to the union, possibly without choice really. I wish there would be some sort of settlement which would mean that the unionists can be ran from London and the nationalists can be ran from Dublin but that unfortunately won’t work. The worry many of us have about any referendum is that it could respark the troubles and destroy Ulster once again.

[@mrnugget1690]

Yeah unfortunately unionism doesn't have as much of a voice as it needs, the nationalists constantly push out their hate of us in a way that make us look bad, its the same for the British media that is pushed by Anti-Northern Ireland agenda constantly outlining our bad side but never any of the good.

[@paulcronin3626]

@@mrnugget1690 you don't need any help making yourselves look bad.

[@ems7623]

You are, of course, correct. And you are right to point this out. I've been what you might call a concerned foreign observer of Northern Irish history since the 90s. (I'm a historian but I've also spent time in the north.) I think one of the difficulties unionists face is that Ian Paisley's DUP long ago chose the "losing side" on many social issues, instead of focusing exclusively on the territorial cause of unionism. As the major political parties in Britain and the Republic all turned their backs on social-cultural conservativism, the DUP was left looking like a pariah. And this, in turn, made many people have a very low opinion of unionism more broadly. I even met a Paisley family member in England once and he did not have kind words to offer about his family legacy. That speaks volumes ... It doesnt surprise me at all that there are many young unionists like yourself that do not ascribe to the kinds of social causes Paisley once fumed over. But, the damage is done, I suppose. All this said, I think young people like yourself are a sign of a possible brighter future for Ulater. And that's not mere flsttery. Whether Northern Ireland stays in the union or joins the Republic, it will need people who are prepared to reevaluate what causes are actually going to move Ulster forward. (And for readers who want to politicize my comments, consider me politically aligned with Bill Clinton at the Good Friday Accords. That's as close as you'll get.)

[@PaulMuzik]

United Ireland is coming, get ready for it

[@seymourclearly]

It won’t happen without a majority vote and that isn’t happen it any time soon

[@budbowl77]

It’s time. Time for a United Ireland. It’s good for everyone. Good for peace.

[@finneire2081]

As a Irish nationalist I never had or have any animosity towards the unionist community. I live in hope that everyone is more educated now and realize It’s the elites vs the working man Always had been always will be

[@johnc3403]

Reunifying the country may not take too long, reunifying the people will take a whole lot longer.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

Christ why can’t the Irish just leave us alone . Sometimes I wish there was a hard border than at least we wouldn’t have to listen to these people. 😫😫😫😫

[@notkayleigh3550]

@@Valencetheshireman927 bRuH, if you like being british so much, why don't ya move back to Britain??

[@High_rise12]

J 19 have you heard of the troubles. A hard border is pointless. Go sip tea and watch the BBC news

[@Valencetheshireman927]

@@High_rise12 Yes I have heard of the Troubles . I haven’t been living under a rock ! 😅 Lol, BBC news is terrible so no thanks . I don’t think a hard border is “pointless” borders do exist for a reason and the only reason there isn’t a hard border is because at the time of the good Friday agreement both the U.K. and Ireland were part of the EU , if that wasn’t the case at the time then the hard border would have continued .

[@Valencetheshireman927]

@@High_rise12 I never said I wanted a hard border (ideally , just to be clear ) .

[@Irish_1916]

Our revenge will be the laughter of our children.. Bobby Sands

[@georgesorosghost7244]

Actually the vast majority of civilians deaths came from the loyalist/british army side. Look up the stats for yourself.

[@georgesorosghost7244]

www.google.ie/search?q=civilian+deaths+during+the+troubles&client=ms-android-huawei&prmd=inv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwje-Jag2JTbAhVDDewKHVX1CakQ_AUIESgB&biw=360&bih=524#imgrc=iPI8290vzaClpM:

[@Irish_1916]

John Msx Actaully he's right

[@georgesorosghost7244]

Kojii Naz an occupier force is a legitimate target. Terrorists are a legitimate target. CIVILIANS ARE NOT, being pro British soldier you wouldn't understand the concept. That is why Britain launched an illegal war against Iraq and will continue to commit war crimes worldwide.

[@georgesorosghost7244]

Harry L 88 Is a cowardly cyber rat Hear about the British soldier who got home from illegally invading Iraq, he was going to have a knees up, but he couldn't find them, like the unionists can't find the numbers (look up Northern Ireland demographics).

[@YorkGod1]

Let Ireland be unified!

[@shanebell2514]

Let Unionists alone.

[@James-th7wb]

The UK welfare state is substantially less generous than the Irish one

[@TT_1221]

Flags don't pay bills. People will vote for an Irish unity within the EU that provides jobs, opportunity for the future. A United Ireland that protects unionist identity would pass. The EU has been good to N Ireland (it funded cross community projects, the Derry peace bridge, roads etc.) However, Irish unity is an Irish people issue and Brexit is a EU/UK issue (28 Nations) and the Irish gov not surprisingly isn't going to put it into the Brexit mix just now. Brexit will encourage more N Ireland people to look at Irish unity but in reality a referendum would take years to arrange as there are many variations of Irish unity. The Tories were not thinking about N Ireland and couldn't care less about the place.

[@michaelatkinson9396]

Ask the working class of Ireland

[@andrewjones-productions]

Watching this again at the end of February 2019, I feel it is more and more inevitable that Northern Ireland will break with the UK and unite with the Republic of Ireland. The predominantly English so-called British Parliament has completely lost the plot and can't even agree with each other. The break up of the Conservative and Labour parties is nothing but a mere crack right now, but the process has started and the crack will ultimately become larger until they break entirely. More importantly, with Prime Minister May deferring an important vote until March 12th (yet again) and the direction the UK will take on the 29th of March even more unclear and uncertain, I would imagine that the people of Northern Ireland (like most people in the rest of the UK) are hoping for something stable and reliable and understandably, more and more people are going to be looking towards Dublin rather than London for the reassurance that a clear direction brings. Whilst I am no royalist myself, if the Queen should happen to die in the very near future and given her advanced age, it is very plausible that she could, the last 'solid constant' in the country could be yet another catalyst that encourages people to 'move on'. That said, I suspect that the 12 day period between her death and the funeral would likely bring the country together for a short time, but once she is laid to rest and King Charles becomes the monarch, things could drastically change and not necessarily because of him per se, but simply because he would signify a new era and a different UK. If May is not aware of the impact of a change of monarch, then I would be very, very surprised in one respect but not in another. In Northern Ireland where symbols are more prominent and hold more significance than in the rest of the UK, a change in monarch will have a far more reaching effect than in the other 3 countries. Whilst I don't particularly believe that the Queen will pass away this year or even the next, at the age of 93 this year, it is realistic to think that within 10 years, she will likely no longer be on the throne. At her age, the death of her 97 year old husband and lifelong companion is probably going to be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Ten years is a relatively short space of time following Brexit and the changes it brings and I don't think any of the politicians have considered this potentially major impact as they are far too busy squabbling and trying to get one up on each other. This is just another example of the rough-shod approach the politicians took towards Brexit and the complacency that David Cameron had in thinking that a 'remain' vote was 'a given'. The politicians have demonstrated their lack of understanding of the feeling in the UK and how disassociated they have become with the needs of the country as a whole and especially the needs of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

[@DonFlufflesPrime]

Now I will say firstly that I do not live in the United Kingdom, but from an outside perspective everything you said here seems absolutely true. It seems as though, to me, the UK is heading in the direction of an independent Scotland and a unified Ireland.

[@lhaviland8602]

@@DonFlufflesPrime Agreed. And furthermore I'm very interested in what happens when Wales decides it wants out of the merry madhouse England is currently in the process of building.

[@aandwdabest]

Now that the queen has passed away, only time can tell if things change like what you say.

[@DoubleWhistle]

Beautiful to be alive in a time like this. I got to grow up in a conflict free Ireland and will hopefully see a United Ireland.

[@stever6542]

It would be nice to see a united Ireland....good luck...

[@stub1256]

Come on Ireland. Unite! but keep the travellers.

[@stub1256]

Lug Lamhfhada 😂😂👍

[@nathanremix5800]

Join eu immigrants . I will prefer to stay in union i serve her majesty what a great honor

[@nathanremix5800]

Seán O'Nilbud sorry m8 if i heard ur feeling

[@nathanremix5800]

Danny Reilley duh m8 what your problems many northern ireland want to stay in uk .

[@nathanremix5800]

Danny Reilley Brainwashed really? . These so called nothern irish are part of UK Citizen And Will Be . They Received Enough Education And Freedom . They Had Their Desicion . And Most Of Them Choose To Be Part Of UK. Ur Irish Had No Power To Dicide The Northern Irish

[@trevofbillysville1655]

Would be terrific. Time for the English to go

[@theknightwhosaysni1356]

Damn, If i thought Brexit would hasten a United Ireland, I'd have voted for it. What is hilarious is the Unionists who voted Brexit have moved a united Ireland closer.

[@finndevenny4564]

Im a republican nationalist and in my book, I'd say English and Protestants are welcome, but we do deserve a united independent Ireland, it's the will of the native people

[@darrenmc1986]

As long as it's a peaceful unification I don't mind.

[@stevenmcalister826]

Jack The Film Fanatic so even if people vote to be unified under Ireland, you’re gonna want everything in the country to suit your precious needs. I’ll bet you’ll want the flag, anthem and marches changed all to suit you. All because “ IM A UNIONIST, THIS OFFENDS ME😭😭” grow up

[@herbypumpkin1256]

I'm from Derry and consider myself Northern Irish. Not Irish. Not British. We are a separate country and if we ever leave UK, we will go it alone. We will get on with everyone in which of the 6,000+ islands that make up the British Isles they live.

[@taintabird23]

I doubt it.

[@ZameerHJ]

There should be a union between Scotland and a United Ireland. England and Wales can have their Brexit...

[@gracey2727]

Mark Johnston Why would we have a union with Scotland? Two random countries?

[@gerardlaide9962]

Let the Scots paddle their own boat

[@theknightwhosaysni1356]

Agreed, leave them to it.

[@lucilovecraft1621]

The Scots and Irish have a lot in common we could have close co operation and some sort of Celtic alliance while still being independent.

[@slywolflobo8394]

include the Welsh in your wee circle of friends the Irish, the Scotts and the Welsh all suffered at the hands of the English, they hated everyone, and that is a fact, there England is now over run with political correctness making there own English people second class citizens, the one good thing that came from there hatred is the Irish the Scotts and the Welsh all know how to fight back and rebel, the English have proven they can be walked over by a bunch of misfit muslims who are now calling the shots in there very own capital,,,, which is now 41% white british, gangs of blacks run the drugs, eastern Europeans run people trafficing and prostitution , and the councils and government allow mosques to be built on every street corner over 1500 in England,,,,,,when asked to say what England is like ,,,,,A BIG MULTIRACIAL CESS PIT OUT OF CONTROLL WITH NO POLICING

[@DoctorCiaran]

If only the flag of the republic represented the protestant community on the island so that they would understand they are welcome in a united Ireland.. I mean there's green for the catholic community, white for peace, if only we could squeeze in another colour that would somehow make them feel less threatened and more accepted.. Hmm.

[@revsin1886]

Is that why the protestant population in the ROI feel from over 11% to just under 2% since 1922? Is that the same respect that saw my Great Grandparents move from the land they farmed and owned for generations, in Donegal across the boarder because of the threats and violent attacks upon them.....

[@Nathan-on2vr]

sinnerboy hmm your second point about your relatives is rather ironic considering they probably got their land from Catholics who were forced off it in the first place, but that's not relevant. As far as your statistic goes it might help to look at the other religious statistics which also show a decrease in catholics. Ireland is changing as a whole and religion is soon becoming a minor affair

[@revsin1886]

The family had been on the land for over 200 years, 200 years of making it into usable farm land. The fact that the family where of cruthin stock, they were taking back the land that was taken from the cruthin people after Ulidia fell to the invader from the south..... So you are trying to tell me that over 9% of the protestant population, just stopped saying they where protestant and wernt forced out of their homeland?

[@RogerRoving]

Why not an orange stripe? For the Orange Men? That would please everyone, surely?

[@onlyonealanlancasterstatus810]

Roger Barnes why not blue white and orange

[@joshuaharper18]

Shock - money talks. NI farmers want to make sure their subsidies remain in tact. Loyalty only paper thin

[@eoinenglish7659]

Joshua Harper I think you make an interesting and very valid point.

[@joshuaharper18]

Eoin English I’m from England and Irish identity is obviously a complicated question but if people from NI so strongly believe they ARE British how can they be willing to bargain it away? Surely identity can’t be bought at sold

[@eoinenglish7659]

Joshua Harper maybe so Joshua. One of the reasons many Ulster Presbyterians joined the United Irishmen in the 1798 rebellion agsibst British rule was in response to the Navigation Acts which hindered them economically. I don't doubt a hardcore would oppose reunification on any terms but history has proven people are fickle and money talks. Likewise, I've no doubt the British army was at one point full of Irish nationalists short of a few quid...

[@eoinenglish7659]

Joshua Harper as the video points out, demographics in Northern Ireland are changing. We may soon see just how democratic Unionists are! For me democracy and unionism are completely incompatible ideologies so interesting times lay ahead. Probably more of an issue is that in my view a sizeable majority of people in the 26 counties would not want a united Ireland as it would be a huge financial burden and frankly people here wouldn't want the hassle it would cause...

[@deanodog3667]

Eoin English yup pre 1845 british army was 50 per cent bog trotting gaelic speaking micks , especially wellingtons pennisular army , and then the famine struck !

[@stefinlay5105]

Seamus Mallon speaking logically and intellectually. Should be listened to

[@troyhoff3700]

Giving my support to the People of Ireland to take back your Country...ALL of it.

[@andrewconway9589]

How about a “reunited Ireland?” I’d love to see it!

[@andrewconway9589]

@Prince Andrew IsAPedo but it is divided into the north and republic regardless of how technical you want to get with it. 2/3 Ireland, 1/3 UK

[@andrewconway9589]

@1 A you’re right

[@jedhawkins1769]

I support Ireland being united and as an independent country. The British already have their own country to worry about, and the Irish have their island.

[@anthonyinger7591]

@Jack The Film Fanatic Germany owns Ireland.

[@0____________0_____________0]

@@anthonyinger7591 ???

[@edstaunton6913]

I want a United Britain under Irish rule

[@edstaunton6913]

We will keep Unionist culture alive by paying ye equal dole to Taigs, think how much more popluar both Taigs and Dobs would be in a United UK when every person saves £300 a year in tax supporting services for Nordys. The Queen might have to take that one up the shiter

[@TwoFace2222]

That actually sounds like a good book set in another reality!

[@barbarahallinan1151]

john max....ok but the german royals get beheaded the afro american can stay.

[@Richard-r7u6c]

ed staunton Or how about we invade Ireland?

[@omaghandtheshankillroad2402]

ULSTER ISNT 2 MILLION PEOPLE IT IS 65 MILLION SO THE 4.5 MILLION EIRE ARE TOTALLY OUTNUMBERED

[@Nulrom]

England. You already have an island. Don't be greedy.

[@Nulrom]

Tom Johnson you are far from truth

[@Nulrom]

Tom Johnson England is a state who invaded others countries and when she archived the whole island she decided to try to get the next one too. It's time to get out of there folks. Colonialism is expired since long.

[@Nulrom]

Tom Johnson every state has invaded others. Time to stop, what you think? Don't you have enough of your land?

[@Nulrom]

England was unificated in the 10th century. You better study dude.

[@SamMitchell90]

Ignorant. Not England. We are the United Kingdom. England is part of the United Kingdom, just like Texas is part of the United States. England is NOT the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom is not England.

[@chipzz86]

if that is what they want then i dont see the problem, if the majority vote for it then i see no problem

[@chipzz86]

there will always be a losing side when it comes to these kind of things. look at brexit or the scottish referendum, cant make every1 happy thats why a majority rules, so if there is a vote what ever side the vote falls on then 1 side is gonna be pissed.

[@eoinohare848]

Unionism lost its majority in the 2017 Assembly elections. The "British population" wasn't a majority in the 2011 census; and with demographic trends, the effect of Brexit particularly on soft nationalists, and general unionist intransigence towards nationalist culture in the wake of these, it's likely to be further from a majority by the next census in 2021. Irish unity may not happen any time soon, but it is recognised as a legitimate aspiration under the GFA, as legitimate as the maintenance of the Union, and the recognition of its legitimacy and that of Irish identity in NI has been in recent years key in keeping soft nationalists relaxed on the status quo. The demonstrably false "always has been and always will be" rhetoric you spout is only likely to accelerate any shift in attitude towards unity.

[@onlyonealanlancasterstatus810]

k p WOULD it because so many taigs have children. ..ULSTER not for sale never never.. Do these silly cunts want war again . .I wouldn't want to see it ..

[@onlyonealanlancasterstatus810]

k p never happen ..

[@onlyonealanlancasterstatus810]

k p some loyalist. I hope to god it never happens again.. But loyalist paramilitaries will never let this happen. We have had peace for long time .. But I don't like this United Ireland going on and on . It's going to give these people ideas. Another war we peaceful people don't want . But these sf and the bitter nationalist or going to push this to far.

[@adamcorcoran7338]

The Irish are one people. And Ireland needs to be United.

[@mrnugget1690]

yes there is only 1 irish person in the world.

[@jackf1841]

C'mon. The place is called Northern IRELAND. It has Ireland in its name. It's Irish. It belongs to Ireland.

[@Noam_.Menashe]

Their population doesn't think that.

[@jackbell6294]

Comparing the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is like comparing Canada and the USA. Sure Canada and the US are both on the island of America, why don’t they unite. Northern Ireland is not a colony, it is a part of the sovereign United Kingdom, and that’s what a majority of northern Irish citizens feel.

[@ejoarkhamgamer567]

Noam .Menashe I can prove you wrong

[@ejoarkhamgamer567]

Jack Bell yes but Canada isn’t called North USA

[@jackbell6294]

EJOArkhamGamer USA and Canada are on the one island. Why don’t they unite. Your logic is highly flawed if that is the case

[@tweetiepie551]

Brexit has done what centuries of civil unrest and war could not. Ensured indepence for Scotland and unification of Eire.

[@Mr-Foad]

the unionists can claim to be as british as they want but lets face it they still get called paddy when they visit england...

[@cartmann227]

Unity for Ireland would be great

[@ruairijoseph]

50 plus one just like Brexit Seamus. Unionists privilege cannot be a bottomless pit... 100 years is long enough

[@mrmoney2249]

A nation once again!

[@Valencetheshireman927]

What are you on about , Ireland is already a nation and so is Northern Ireland. 🤷‍♂️

[@BatTaz19]

Re-unification is inevitable.

[@joeyohalloran4174]

Come on Ireland 🇮🇪

[@kbgorman5138]

Unified Ireland is an Unstoppable force coming and as we already no by now the north isn’t an immovable object

[@Someone-dv8uj]

Things south of the border have also changed. The hunger for a united Ireland in the Republic has lessened. BREXIT has show us what we could expect from Northern Ireland Unionist. You only have to watch the politicians who represent them. They still live in the 1600's, are regressive, and have nothing to offer. They produce nothing, have no industries to speak of, and live on a £9bn cash injection from the UK. The UK gets nothing in return for this, except to be able to say that Northern Ireland is still part of the Union. In contrast, the Republic is progressive, both socially and economically. The population is growing and the economy is flourishing. The Republic would have to take on the bills of the North, and the reality of that is making people south of the border think again. The people North of the border are not ready for a United Ireland and the social unrest would surely spread south. It's hard to see Unionists let go of the past. Perhaps in a few more generations.

[@danielcano4876]

The UK is interested in a united Ireland in order to apply Brexit with all its benefits. Nothern Ireland is currently an obstacle for the UK.

[@darksharkrafa1]

do away with northern ireland...time for ireland to reunite and i am english...most of us feel the same way

[@user-yv4qx7pw7g]

Its because you don't understand anything. You say most feel the same...ask any british soldier who lost friends and family what they think. Your english, you know nothing of the history the people the situation. Were you of the same opinion about the Falklands war...? A little Island just like North and South of Ireland separated from the main British Island by water, give it back to the Argentinians or....its british its ours fight for it...? Remember, always think before you speak.

[@aus3492]

@@user-yv4qx7pw7g well if the British didn't take by force what wasn't theirs then maybe a few more of these soldiers wouldn't have been killed fighting to keep it. I suggest you research the British actions in Ireland, rape murder and genocide.

[@seymourclearly]

@@aus3492 nonsense check your historical facts about who did the killing

[@aus3492]

@@seymourclearly Cromwell, The Genocide of the Irish in the 1840's, the plantations.. the British took by force land that wasn't theirs and in the following centuries it's not unreasonable to say that millions of Irish were killed through armed combat and starvation. Did the Irish have no right to fight back?

[@corkboy4523]

@@user-yv4qx7pw7g the difference is the majority, if not all of the population of the falklands wished to remain under British rule. That may not necessarily be the case in Northern Ireland soon. Also Argentina invaded the falklands. The Irish government aren’t going to invade Northern Ireland. If Northern Ireland ceases to be in the uk it will due to a democratic vote.

[@Justme-zo3jy]

Its up to the ppl of Northern Ireland

[@TwoFace2222]

Its up to everyone living on both islands. Like NI is a part of the UK so they should all vote and its about NI uniting with the ROI so we should aswell as it involves us getting land.

[@nigelmurphy6761]

it's up to the people both in northern ireland and here in the republic of ireland to decide on unification.

[@Frahamen]

Stop kidding yourselfs it's pretty simple: Brexit = closed border. Closed border = border partol. Border patrol = violence in NI. It's that simple. No "if" or "chances of". It's clear as daylight. The only chance for peace in NI is a "Norway type deal". But first of all that would imply May would be able to make a deal, which rediculous even to think about. And second, that would betray the whole point of Brexit: "taking back our own borders". It's basically EU, except without representation.

[@ThePandorads9]

2 things that happened in the history of star trek in the year 2024 Irish unification and economic downturn It's like they saw it all coming

[@Tullynamalloge]

European Union Membership provides the international framework that has facilitated the implementation of the Good Friday agreement. The agreement encapsulates and protects the rights and cultural identity of people from both sides of the divide. That's why it was massively supported and ratified by all the people in Ireland and why Northern Ireland has consistently and regularly voted to remain as part of the EU. The agreement, no matter how important however is one aspect of what was intended as a blueprint for we all move forward. There still remains highly complex and emotive legacy issues and without effective governance our health care & economy are now clearly in very desperate trouble. People are clever and can see the growing deficit in equality, in opportunity, in fairness etc that's pushed by the pro Brexit cheerleaders of the North. Faced with this double whammy then, the next generation of voters on the face of it would have a fairly simple decision.

[@0w784g]

EU membership does not facilitate the GF agreement. The CTA predates free movement and the common market predates the EU. Those are the only two things that are required for a frictionless border. All the extra trappings of the EU are not a requirement.

[@Tullynamalloge]

@@0w784g Hi, you seem to be missing the key point. The framework that I’m describing offers all folks in the six countries the option to identify with the nationality of their choice irrespective of trade, customs, travel etc. In a world where massive populations club together to reduce cost and make life & trade easier, the erection of special barriers that fuels age old arguments is not productive!

[@0w784g]

@@Tullynamalloge I don't miss your point, it's well made. My point is more technical. Many people don't know the difference between the EU, EC and common market, seemingly even fewer know about the CTA. Just mentioning the framework you described, as pertains to the GFA, fits inside two long-standing agreements that predate the EU - the CTA and the common market. To put it another way, you could get rid of every evolution of the EEC since 1957 and the GFA would still work.

[@Tullynamalloge]

@@0w784g unfortunately that’s not correct - what we are witnessing now over Brexit and the fallout just keeps making the point.

[@0w784g]

@@Tullynamalloge What I said is correct. There are two ingrediants that make the GFA work. 1. A frictionless border for goods as provided by the common market established circa 1957, and 2. The free movement of any person to work, live and vote anywhere in the British Isles, as provided by the CTA, established circa 1923.

[@apurvchaturvedi]

Yes. Unite Ireland 🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@haamidrahija5604]

Support to ireland from a london born muslim salute my friends ✊✊✊

[@misfitsatanas5756]

Haamid Rahija ✊✊

[@wclifton968gameplaystutorials]

No. Islam should be banned and you should be jailed for trying to stirr up some violence like most antifa protestors.....

[@amaethon2117]

Haamid Rahija. Salute Israel.

[@haamidrahija5604]

lex t your not irish so your opinions mean nothing to me.

[@haamidrahija5604]

QE ornotQE go home were exactly ? I was born in London And right now I'm in london. So I guess I am home. Thank you tho

[@forwardslash1486]

My concern is the cost of unification. NI costs London billions to keep it a float. This is also not considered the costs of standardising everything up north to the same in the republic.

[@finnbarm]

If NI was in the republic it would be much better if the government plays their cards right. The economy in the north is only bad because it suits the tories to ignore Northern Ireland as much as they can.

[@pjkelly81]

Séamus Mallon in a poll everyone will be given a choice not like before when our country was torn in two without any consideration of the Irish people

[@PeterOConnl]

Tiocfaidh Ar La

[@JackoJ15]

I prefer granola personally.

[@sevatarlives185]

*Ár*, and *Lá*, a chara.

[@bernardmcavoy1864]

Anglo Fyrd I had it on my testicles. But my doctor prescribed an ointment for it.

[@Irishandtired]

Tiocfaidh bit my head. Fuckin Tiocfaidh!

[@derekferguson2328]

By the time it comes you 'll be going to a mosque to pray to the invisible man in the sky instead of a pineapple.

[@anthonyburke3428]

Scotland next!

[@strogarth6752]

I'd rather die than see that happen

[@anthonyburke3428]

2cer3al why? Do you not believe in democracy?

[@strogarth6752]

Democracy? So you want to go on about democracy but then join EU? A truly undemocratic system?

[@NavidHarrid]

2cer3al That's a decision for the Scottish people to make. The UK shouldn't make it for them.

[@strogarth6752]

Usman Akhtar I am Scottish so I am apart of the group of "Scottish people"

[@melindadiaz7304]

If Northern Ireland left the UK and ceded control of their country from local devolved government (stormount) to Dublin (the Oireachtas) does that mean the uk will no longer be obligated to maintain and uphold the common travel area agreement that affords Irish people freedom to enter and stay within the UK without complication and will essentially relegate its citizens seeking to enter the UK to the status of.. say.. Bangladeshis applying for work permits or visas (freedom of movement is slated to end after brexit) ? Will northern Ireland become a unitary state with its own regional administration within a federal union with the republic or will that be dismantled, NI subsumed into a Dublin centric administration? It looks like northern Irish people already have a good deal.. I've visited both Dublin and Belfast and poverty is much more pronounced and visible in Dublin.. Belfast seemed very affluent and upwardly mobile by comparison. Lots of entrepreneurs and small businesses thriving and bustling. The republicans will potentially sabotage the progress with their hubris. Just some questions and observations.

[@celticlofts]

No. I think free movement would still continue as many in the north of Ireland within the new republic would still hold dual passports and maintaining cultural and economic links would still be of paramount importance to both jurisdictions.

[@bobsmith5441]

There are more British as a percentage of the population living in ROI than the inverse.

[@RobertK1993]

Common travel area still be open

[@paulfitzpatrick1334]

A united Ireland won't happen - the UK pumps far too much money into NI and almost everyone works in some way for the UK civil service. There is no way the Irish Republic could afford to pump the same amount of money into NI to maintains such services as the NHS or the pensions and I can't see people in NI giving that up to be honest. As long as UK citizens keep paying through the nose for a union with NI then the union will continue and frankly I can't blame the people of NI - I say milk it for as much as you can! I just can't see NI people putting up with the Republics health services for instance. Everything on the table with Brexit but at the end of the day, money talks!

[@lelandgrover8514]

Belfast should join the Republic of Ireland the religious divides that separated our people don't matter anymore to most people especially the younger generation both in Dublin & Belfast who are largely irreligious let's create a peaceful, prosperous strong united Ireland based on mutual respect for each other & our neighbors.

[@hyouzanren1846]

this can spell THE END for UK!

[@Valencetheshireman927]

Dream on dude !

[@h.m.a.8066]

@@Valencetheshireman927 . president trump is gone. Joe biden is president now. The british have nobody to back them.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

@@h.m.a.8066 Joe Biden being president does not mean he won’t have good relations with the U.K. and even if that was true we still have Australia and Canada as key allies .

[@kamala_limbulimbu1758]

💯%👍️ Agreed😍😎

[@geoffreywilliams7705]

Let Ireland unite and finish the damned debate once and for all ! ! !

[@Valencetheshireman927]

Never . Unless you wish to be unified with Britain . That’s the only way I can see us being unified .

[@leondesaintaubyn3319]

I'm Irish And I Say Let the People Of Northern Ireland Decide What is best for them . A United Ireland . Stay in the United kingdom . Become apart of an independent Scotland . Or Even Complete independence ???? Plenty of options at least . Besides We Are Thee Celti Hibernians Of Old . A Chosen People Of GOD . Love Thy Neighbour . Not Catholics or protestants . Love And Kind Regards from Limerick 🍀

[@chromatica5494]

I think the Northern Irish would regret reuniting with the Republic. Healthcare in the south costs a fortune, the healthcare system in general is a complete joke, then there’s the high cost of living... motor tax is extremely high unless you own a newer model car, supermarkets like Tesco charge a lot more for products here compared to the same products in the UK... we don’t have a lot of options either.. no Asda, no Sainsbury’s, no Home Bargains... we also don’t have many facilities in our towns and cities like government owned gyms and swimming pools, like what you have in the North. Stay were you are 😅

[@karatemaster8674]

It would be good for ireland most of the population lives on the east coast

[@MichaelCunningham007]

Many of the greatest heroic Irishmen were protestant. The sick sectarian substate of Northern Ireland must be brought to a peaceful end and its population reunited with the modern non-sectarian State down the road, of which a protestant was the first president. Only a true republic, where religion and politics are constitutionally and legally separated can guarantee tolerance, freedom of conscience and bring healing and prosperity to our people. Remembering the Presbyterian Republicans of 1798 cruelly butchered by the colonial english masters. Lest we forget!

[@eibhlin5940]

In an ideal world it would be amazing to have a United Ireland where each other's religions are respected and accepted 🙏 Maybe one day with the younger generations as they seem to be more diverse than each generation before ? NI may be under UK rule but it's in the hearts of Irish people ALWAYS 🇮🇪

[@angelachanelhuang1651]

what?

[@jgg59]

14% of the republic are not Catholic and they practice their faith perfectly without hindrance

[@pauldilley8974]

Perhaps there is a way Ireland could unite, and yet allow the protestant communities to retain British citizenship (become dual nationals), and allow for some devolution for the Northern Ireland section, so that it can continue power sharing. It's basically like switching the country they belong to but without changing too much of the existing political infrastructure.

[@AndyTomlins]

Amazing that it will be the DUP and the Conservative and Unionist party that will be responsible for the end of the union.

[@zavi13]

Hubris and Nemesis writ large!

[@grahamfleming9179]

Protestant in Scotland, can we join tòo, please!

[@galacticcore0796]

UNITED IRELAND 🇮🇪 Please Ms May

[@fleite34]

RUI - Republic of United Ireland Sounds great!

[@ejoarkhamgamer567]

I believe that if a United Ireland is to happen it won’t be the creation of a new state but the transfer of territory from the United Kingdom to Éire

[@phillipwilloughby5013]

The United Republic of Ireland (URI), or the United Republic (UR) sounds like a better name to me.

[@stevenmcalister826]

Just call it “Ireland” 🤦‍♂️

[@celticlofts]

" Our revenge will be the laughter of our children." ~ Bobby Sands. Yeah and Britain's revenge will be actually handing it over...

[@RaTeeBoom]

True, what a lot of people don't realise is how desperate we in England are to get rid of Northern Ireland.

[@Valencetheshireman927]

@@RaTeeBoom Most English people love and respect Northern Ireland so we wouldn’t want to hand it over to the Irish . It’s a great piece of our United Kingdom ! 🇬🇧

[@revol148]

@celticlofts will you promise to still hate us Brits when the island is united?

[@Valencetheshireman927]

@@revol148 The island does not want to be united and even if it did many Irish nationalists would still hold a grudge against the British.

[@celticlofts]

@@revol148 : I don't hate anybody, I'm just quoting Bobby Sands. As much as some in Northern Ireland would like to see the country united I have to say I'm not one of them. The British created this mess and they should be left to deal with it. We have enough problems of our own to be getting on with.

[@donbarzinitut]

NI is an absoloute burden to us. Please ROI just take them off our hands.

[@johnwinthrop2702]

You're insane.

[@anphash]

Interesting to see the surnames of the 'unionists' in the queen's group not an Irish Surname amongst them Cinnamon and Jardine demanding that London controls the colony

[@user-qi5jw2hg1c]

It's trztment to the fact we're of mixed blood. My ancestors were Anglo-Irish and settlers in Ireland. We have a Protestant surname and until after ww1 they were Protestant. I have an Irish first name and have been raised Catholic. We need to united behind the fact we are not so different and certainly not as distinct as we think

[@celticlofts]

The Unionists know that the money they receive from Brussels is not going to be replicated by London after Brexit.

[@sodaking6858]

celticlofts true they don't seem to realise cutbacks will now have to be made soon the north will have even less money and I'd Scotland becomes independent then they really fucked

[@PMcA90]

Ireland Unfree shall never be at peace as the famous quote says. Let’s face reality together everyone’s welcome

[@andronicemarinis1072]

Time to Unify.

[@danielkelly5112]

If Ireland was ever to be reunited Unionists would have a huge voice in Government buildings. .. maybe even form a government some day. .. it's not beyond the realms of possibility. . Deep down I think they know that too. . I personally think the island would prosper and go from strength to strength. . And both traditions would have a huge part to play in that. .. ✌

[@RobertK1993]

Ulster Unionists probably don't care as they are Irish culture they are self hating a lot of them.

[@annchristine47]

WSeamus Mallon ,spot on!

[@andrewbrand2433]

A majority of people in the north of Ireland voted to stay in Europe.