Beyond Good Friday: the future of peace in Northern Ireland

Twenty five years ago the Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland. But while the treaty has saved thousands of lives, it has also resulted in a brittle and unstable government. Could this jeopardise the future of peace?
00:00 - The Good Friday Agreement then and now
02:49 - Northern Ireland’s history
03:56 - What did the Good Friday Agreement change?
05:41 - The impact of Brexit
07:07 - The legacy of violence
09:16 - Modern day sectarianism
12:16 - The trouble with power-sharing government
Sign up to The Economist’s daily newsletter: econ.st/3QAawvI
Thanks to the Belfast Agreement, Northern Ireland is a better place: econ.st/435sqgJ
Unblock Northern Ireland’s power-sharing assembly: econ.st/3Kuwqiw
Northern Ireland’s arts have blossomed. But divisions endure: econ.st/3KBrWIb
Listen: “The hope of 1998 now seems distant; Northern Ireland’s politics are stuck”-the Good Friday Agreement at 25: econ.st/3MtVV6a
The new Brexit deal is the best Britain can expect. Support it: econ.st/3KpcOxx
Rishi Sunak’s uphill struggle to make Brexit work in Northern Ireland: econ.st/3lYwf6O
The Good Friday Agreement rests on the DUP’s ability to compromise: econ.st/3nB6VnS
A thaw in Britain’s frozen union: econ.st/40wE9Dg
Are Catholics now the majority in Northern Ireland?: econ.st/3M6S5zK
Remembering David Trimble, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement: econ.st/3TYqz9m
The Northern Ireland protocol enrages some businesses, pleases others: econ.st/3Zq4l1a
Sinn Féin has become Northern Ireland's biggest party: econ.st/439lIqi
Nationalists are set for a historic win in Northern Ireland's vote: econ.st/3nDNFG8
The Good Friday deal deferred the issue of Irish unity to the future: econ.st/3Zrpvff
Devolution is making the United Kingdom chronically miserable: econ.st/40wEplI
The Good Friday deal deferred the issue of Irish unity to the future: econ.st/40R5TlX
Irish unification is becoming likelier: econ.st/40xb5vt
Northern Irish devolution collapses-again: econ.st/3U19Our
Watch: Disputed Borders: Northern Ireland: econ.st/3nzZi0Z
Listen: “Voters could choose a party that does not want the country to exist”-Elections in Northern Ireland: econ.st/3TYJelu

[@Yesnoyesno720]

I visited Belfast last year for the first time. For an outsider as me from Denmark, the conflict was very very visible and tangible every where outside the city central. Great people, as long as you didn't belonged to the wrong group. Shankill Road was scary at night. Went to a bar full of loyalist and they asked me about my affiliation. Right there at that moment I was of course a loyalist until I could get back to the hotel in a cab.

[@LeMerch]

The strange thing is (as an outside myself), you rarely get asked that in a nationalist/Irish pub. I think its because the tide seems to be changing toward a United Ireland, and there seems to be a defensiveness on the loyalist side.

[@patriciabrady72]

​@@LeMerchloyalists have always been defensive and have that under seige mentality

[@roberthunter4618]

Im glad you enjoyed your time in Northern Ireland. If you knew the hisory of all the attrocities that happened to the normal people of the Shankill Rd you would understand that outsiders are rightly questioned.

[@joprocter4573]

Should know your king involved benjamin

[@MiloManning05]

@@roberthunter4618 yawn

[@Mike_5]

This should be a subject taught at Schools in the UK to fully understand both sides of the issue

[@L333gok]

Neither side is taught. Calm down

[@RobertK1993]

​@@L333gok Should be thought in British schools.

[@AwRighttttt]

Ireland belongs to the loyal Irish.

[@RonSill1986]

​@Robert Kelly does Irelands involvement in slavery get taught in Irish schools?

[@pedclarkemobile]

​@@RonSill1986 St Patrick? Shur he loved it so much he came back to get rid of the shnakes. He missed a few in NE Ulster tho.

[@DD-sr9xm]

I love how the UK government is so adamant about respecting the brexit vote as the will of the people, but when NI votes in a a first majority Sinn Fein government, they ignore the vote and do nothing to help seat that government.

[@suss23]

It's more the DUP which has the problem. British government would love to pull out, the only reason they still hold is because of the Protestants living there.

[@index.00874]

Of course, why would they when it essentially was then, like now been thrown into the "conflicting interests" basket.

[@joprocter4573]

First brexit must be enacted before next vote is enacted.

[@cerseilannister7283]

It is because almost the 90% of the UK's population belongs to England

[@user-se1wj7df9d]

I’m from NI. Sinn Fein has always refused by their own freewill (and probably will continue) to sit in the HOC, the UK government could do literally everything and SF still would refuse out of principle to work with it. When that happened you have no idea how confused I was about how this will even work.

[@element4element4]

I think to understand the conflict, you can't just start from 1921. Some mention of the British ethnic cleansing campaign by kicking out native Irish people and bringing in settlers (also know as Plantations of Ireland/Ulster) seems to be important to understand the roots of the conflict.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

The Irish also colonised GB.

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

@@noodlyappendage6729 how tf did we colonise britain, who invaded who

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@darnellbiggumsthe9th658 Well there’s a reason Scotland is called Scotland..

[@johnc7651]

But this is a British newspaper so we can't expect a balanced view.

[@GabagoolEnjoyer863]

​@@noodlyappendage6729 Yeah, the English. The actual Scottish name for the kingdom of Scotland was "Alba", and was formed through the unification of the Pictish and Scots-Gaelic kingdoms. So unlike the British colonisation of Ireland, the Gaels actually unified with the place they settled.

[@tadesubaru1383]

Im from the basque country, an area with a deep history of terrorism, nationalism, oppression and trouble. And young people also romanticise our past while Spain and France treat us like trash. I can feel the pain of the northern irish

[@amyjohnson4449]

Your Irelands closest genetic relative!!!

[@yodorob]

Back during the times of the Troubles, the Basque ETA was allied with the IRA.

[@fghezelbash8731]

Basque is NOT a country

[@yodorob]

@@fghezelbash8731 The Basques do not form their own state (in the sense of issuing passports, being part of the United Nations, etc.), but they have their own country in terms of having their own land where they are the majority inhabitants.

[@niallsheehan474]

In the eighties I was a young southern Irishman working for an American multinational and I used to read the Economist on flights when traveling the world. I will always remember one edition where the lead article was on Ireland and they used a photo of a group of travelers ( gypsies) to portray the "Irish" on the front cover. Never picked up a copy since and never will.

[@stephenconway2468]

That was the 1980's.

[@TheLastAngryMan01]

The pictures chosen around the time of the financial crash in 2009 weren’t much better.

[@LukeHoareGreene]

I have never ever heard anyone call themselves “southern” Irish, never mind an “Irishman”

[@briangallagher7441]

Not much has changed, this video is a hit job - an apology for the Unionists, totally one sided and condescending in the extreme to 50% of the north's population

[@miliba]

Now you know how Kazakh people felt when Borat used Gypsies in Romania to portray their country

[@sharonw2008]

I don't know if anyone outside of Northern Ireland knows this but for the past few weeks there's been a massive loyalist feud which has resulted in 30 families having to leave NI. It's not because of the troubles, it's because of petty crime and drugs but they are playing on the legacy of the troubles. Roads have been closed, the police standing by just watching thugs run about with guns in broad daylight, families terrorised, the whole community put at risk and yet nothing has been done about it other than watch and wait. This is what is still going on here.

[@johnwilson5637]

The petty crime and drugs have 'always' been there. The 'Troubles' were used to cover the criminal activities of both sides. How many, I wonder, killings were down to gang fights etc rather than sectarianism?

[@smallfeet4581]

I agree with you , it was and is a cover for criminal activity , I was told this about 40 years ago ,

[@smallfeet4581]

That's not to say the crime is in the north alone ,

[@BarriosGroupie]

Thanks for the info, and I'm not surprised: Obsessive 'Loyalists' tend to come from broken homes and families so use their British identity to attach themselves to a 'community'. But they're so socially dysfunctional that they end up attacking one another over social resources whereas people from strong families don't have this problem so much.

[@DefaultName-ld1xn]

Is this in newtownards?

[@maginot2u]

The situation in NI seems hopeless. Democratic elections were held in May, 2022. Voters turned out, cast their ballets, the results were announced but even now almost a year later, there is no functioning government in NI. The DUP was able to block the formation of a Government because they don't like the election outcome. Is this democracy? NI is still an extremely divided society,

[@michaelbuglass5764]

Well before that they could gerrimander the results

[@faded_ink3545]

The DUP are the problem

[@zerrinak317]

Sad

[@PMMagro]

@@funnyflix895 Do not worry, the DUP is doomed.

[@Hartley_Hare]

@FunnyFlix To whom?

[@A.D.540]

I hope peace for all Irish 🍀 ❤ people 🙏 long us humanity excist.

[@jaber5345]

☘️ Three leaf clover is correct

[@shutthefuckupstudios]

​@@dabrams84 the holy trinity

[@stiofain88]

​@@dabrams84 I'm not there's such a thing as a three leaf clover. It's just a four leaf one. A shamrock has three and as above it was chosen to represent the holy trinity.

[@belfasta]

I'm from a loyalist background and am sick and tired of the dup I would have no hesitation voting for a United Ireland it's the final solution to peace

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Haha. Yeah right.

[@starofdavid9919]

Real shame there is not a lot more right thinking people like yourself in NI.

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

well said as a republican myself a new ireland is going to need thousands like you🤝

[@belfasta]

@@darnellbiggumsthe9th658 I'm not alone believe me

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

@@belfasta i hope you’re right man because we’re going to need people from a unionist background to show the rest that partition has failed both of our communities

[@mikedee171]

The problem in Northern Ireland is that certain elements of the unionist community, ie the DUP and TUV, don’t want/can’t accept a nationalist party as the dominant force. Brexit doesn’t help, as they can’t square that circle.

[@MolloyPolloy]

Also the DUP are basically told what to do by loyalist drug dealers.

[@joprocter4573]

You forget they can't accept a terrorist supporting mainly

[@faded_ink3545]

Dead right

[@joprocter4573]

Republican Propaghanda view

[@minnietoby]

@@joprocter4573 it’s the truth not propaganda

[@jasonquigley2633]

As an Irishman, I've a feeling that the Dail in Dublin will pay more attention to the problems in Northern Ireland, and fixing them, then Parliament in London ever has. London is a world away,people there barely realise Northern Ireland exists, while Dublin is just a 2 hour drive from Belfast (there are people that commute daily between the two).

[@Dreyno]

Sam McBride wears many hats. Just note, when he writes about Northern Ireland in the Economist, he’s also editor of the News Letter, a heavily unionist newspaper. Nothing wrong with that but Economist readers should be aware of his bias.

[@crw45able]

He's pretty balanced and will criticise the DUP as much as anyone. He wrote his book about RHI.

[@ryancrory7030]

He isn't the editor of the Newsletter. That's Ben Lowry. Sam is the Northern Ireland editor of the Bel Tel.

[@theninjalion2811]

​@@ryancrory7030 which is still a Unionist newspaper

[@Dreyno]

@@ryancrory7030 He was the political editor of the News Letter until recently. I hadn’t heard he’s left it to join the Bel Tel exclusively. The point still stands.

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

And the Alliance parties MLA who appears? What about her Republican sympathies. Should they be aware of those too? And those of the party in general, supposed to be cross community, yet they are Sein Feins mouthpiece, when they don't want to appear on certain shows, for example. I mean, why buy a dog, and bark yourself 😉

[@laurecrp8751]

I lived 2,5years in England and met many Irish people, I also saw them during the Euro 2016 (they even received a medal of the best supporters from the Maire of Paris) they put an ambiance like no other country did it’s heartbreaking to see thoses amazing people having to endure this Love from France, be strong❤

[@andyjel4632]

Northern Irish

[@Pete-xs7in]

You never seen any Irish at euro 2016 they didn't qualify

[@adammurnin9284]

Aye cause Ireland was there too

[@jdfiend]

Endure what ?

[@horuslupercal9936]

I was there on holiday in 1994. So much positive change has occurred since then, it would be a crime to throw it all away.

[@marydonohoe8200]

The children are the key. They are the future. Integrated public schools instead of private parochial ones may be of significant help. To some extent kids will hook up with those they know from their neighborhoods or from church. But they will come to see each other as equals and not as “other.” Integrated after-school sports are especially important, and it was great to see that basketball program in the video! Great history and present-day update! Thank you, Economist!

[@shep9231]

Indeed sir. That was how the US did it back in the fifties and sixties.

[@themadfarmer5207]

Integrated schools are not entirely critical. There are still segregated schools in Irish Rep and the citizens live comfortably together post school in employment and socially in mutual respect and co operation. The Protestant population is closely interwoven in Irish Republic society that they contribute to cornerstones of the comunity

[@rocarolan2003]

MI5 accessing the terror threat. That's funny concidering they inflicted most of it. 😅

[@wodens-hitman1552]

How Einstein?

[@rocarolan2003]

@@wodens-hitman1552 they controlled the majority of loyalist paramilitaries. Along with a special branch and the UDR. Read "Lethal Allies" by Anne Cadwallader. Basically most loyalist s were under the pay of British intelligence.

[@tracy8056]

And infiltrated most of it!

[@Herewegoagain-tw8mb]

​@@wodens-hitman1552 by having links with the UDA/UVF, terrorising innocent families. Read a history you might learn something.

[@ciaranmac8689]

​​@Woden's hitman are you serious idiot they do that all over the World.

[@faresgh6820]

For those perhaps interested in learning more about "The Troubles", I recommend the outstanding book "Say Nothing".

[@maccesandholm]

Yes, it is an interesting book

[@williamkennedy2902]

I hope and pray I see a united Ireland in next few years.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

i do to but i am also happy to wait another 50 years if that is what it takes because realistically we get 1 shot and 1 shot only to win a Border Poll better make it count

[@Bond047]

Ireland deserves Independence....

[@johntate131]

Yeah I hope and pray that the unionist English Protestant mud blood oppressors get what they deserve….a piece of lead in their head. Oppressors don’t deserve peace

[@liamcassidy5992]

Me too but I’d rather have it in the distant future if more bloodshed can be avoided that way

[@rhyancudor]

same, 1921 was indeed a mistake and i do pray that we rejoin the UK

[@Hereford567]

If you want to know how the Irish feel about a British free Ireland, look at our support of the Palestinians and their support of us.

[@jonathaneves]

Thank you...excellent

[@edgardebruin8398]

boris Johnson lied

[@SkepticalTeacher]

And water is wet!

[@johnhollyoak9295]

You don’t say?😯

[@noelter]

When unionist go on about bringing a hard brexit in, they have to realise the act of union 1800 was brought in by a minority and which never give the majority of Irish people the right to vote on it. Just like the gerrymandering vote that brought in the act of union, petition of Ireland was brought in the same way. The democratic vote was stamped on by the English government, now making the petition a English problem in Ireland; which stop the pro-british unionist moving to England. If you look back in history it was always a English government brought in religion resentment into the control of Ireland, Irish republicans were the first ones to break the mold by uniting the people in 1798 they called themselves the United Irishmen. The act of union 1800 came into power on 1 January 1801 by English landlords who fear lossing control.

[@colors6692]

Northern Ireland should become it's own country so the people will stop taking sides and be on their OWN side!

[@AnabolicSaagAloo]

@@colors6692 That'll never happen. Anyone with a base knowledge of Northern Ireland would laugh at that suggestion

[@alelectric2767]

@@colors6692 The Northern Irish side is on the other side of the sea.

[@joprocter4573]

They simply need to see soveigntry is still in place.. No country treats is citizens so UN-EQUAL.. SUNAK got his big pay out.. EU wouldn't give money owed unless they shut NI up but they played with a nation that is loyal to crown.. So journey is not going to get easier for UK EU USA

[@joprocter4573]

@@colors6692 tax haven

[@tobehonest7541]

Northern Ireland belongs to Ireland

[@yvonnefarrell1029]

Yes sending you Maundy Thursday prayers from across the Pond and yes we've got Irish ancestry. Decades ago we had friends from Belfast and were appalled at the tension, the constant tension, under wwhich they lived. Thank you for this report.

[@wodens-hitman1552]

You've all got irish ancestry until the next vikings series comes out and then you're Scandinavian

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@wodens-hitman1552😂

[@themaskedman221]

@@wodens-hitman1552 It really is a game of make believe over here 🤣🤣🤣

[@NickMACK1473]

watching from Grenada in the caribbean

[@BreadAccountant]

What's life like over there? Greetings from the Republic of Ireland

[@joprocter4573]

Why politically did GRENADA HAVE CRISIS few years ago??

[@LordDim1]

What are the chances, another Grenadian here

[@AwRighttttt]

Who cares

[@AwRighttttt]

Monk.. E

[@marcphelan]

We can not forget that the agreement says that Northen Ireland is British until a majority of people vote to be Irish. We are getting realy close.

[@jungleboots769]

The Economist Newspaper Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Economist Group. Sir Evelyn Robert de Rothschild was Chairman of the company from 1972 to 1989. Although The Economist has a global emphasis and scope, about two-thirds of the 75 staff journalists are based in the London borough of Westminster.

[@RobertK1993]

So

[@paulduffy4585]

Rothschild's of London was a huge contributor to Irish famine relief in the 1840s. So I wouldn't necessarily assume a bias.

[@sandrathompson1277]

There’s no snob like like an English snob

[@jamesmccaul8002]

No mention of Mo Mowlam, the true architect of peace in NI? Please edit and give her the appropriate credit that the Northern Irish give her for ceating peace by speaking to everyone, without conditions.

[@devtank]

Saddens me greatly. However, I am forced to understand that the parameters the GFA were written under, were, pretty much, designed specifically in the temperament of the day, and the reality that divides would run the way they had previously. Hover things change, and a new GFA needs to the drawn up and discussed. The old one doesn't fit the new landscape. And given what we've learned, from this time period, the new agreement, should either be drawn up with a shorter time frame, or something else needs to be devised. I spent time in Belftast in the early 90s as part of a cross boarder education drive, to get kids (10-16 yo's) to work together on a host of things, mine was filmmaking and TV documentary production. The one thing that really struck me was how easy it was for me to get the kids to see the folly of it all.

[@Hemingway308]

As a Celtic American, who happens to be Catholic.I just want to say I want peace between everyone I understand that this is very much a political dispute but I respect the protestants and I respect the Catholics.I just want peace

[@mrt2215]

Let's hope the Alliance Party get those reforms through and let's get on with governing this land. I have a feeling that once they do, more and more (young) people will start engaging in politics again. Enough is enough, we don't want to be ruled or depend upon two extremist parties to have to be the ruling parties here. Northern Ireland and our people have so much potential. Having travelled and lived abroad a lot, I have come to realise how much we have going for us. Thanks to the GFA and the peace it provided us, a new generation has grown up not really or experiencing the worst of the troubles. However, it is no longer fit for purpose and feels outdated. The political quagmires the province finds itself (repeatedly) in, illustrates this. We, the people, deserve better than the status quo. This generation is ready for change and to push forward with a reformed GFA that benefits all people. One that pushes us ALL forward together, providing us with even better opportunities to want to stay here (and come back here) to build a better country.

[@kumasenlac5504]

As long as people whose forebears have lived in Ulster for centuries are regarded as 'other' by their neighbours, and by many citizens of Eire, I fear such hopes as are expressed above are forlorn.

[@stepoutskz]

Tbh as a foreigner, I find it extremely difficult to understand the whole thing but I find it really weird as well like Ireland was under British occupation for 800 years, people suffered there just for being Irish and Catholic, the plantation happened who most of them were Scottish Protestants but at the same time I find it so weird like just because Scottish and Scotland comes from the word Scotti who were a Gaelic Irish immigrants that moved from Ireland to Scotland. I mean Ireland and Scotland are very close in a cultural way and it’s mostly and probably likely that many Scottish people have Irish DNA somewhere so the fact some people in Northern Ireland feel “proud to be British” because of these Scottish planters is just so weird to me. After 800 years the Irish fought for their freedom and I just can’t understand how some people preferred to remain in the UK after everything the whole island of Ireland went through because of them? I just can’t simply understand it On the other side, it’s actually really sad this is happening, there is still so much division and people deserve peace but it’s difficult when the UK government, the country some people claim to be proud of, are leaving the people of Northern Ireland behind, like if Norn Iron didn’t mattered, it’s really sad to see this

[@WjfhdhShshshsh]

We are Irish that's what ney don't like .they look at us as subhuman and call us n*ggers like we aren't whiter than them

[@mariavergara3657]

PEACE AND LOVE , BROTHERS ....FROM ARGENTINA .

[@yveslacascade469]

Fantastic report. Thanks!!

[@rebelmouth9349]

Was thinking a lot about this in the context of Ukraine. I wonder how it feels as in Irishman to be sending your taxes to places that are fighting against imperialism, while your leads talk about how that nation deserves their sovereignty and recognizes their unique identity.

[@gallowglass2630]

Presumably you mean Northern Irish people,because in the republic to be perfectly honest we in the republic only care about our part of the island which celebrates 100 years of independence the fact nearly a quarter of a million who regard themselves as irish are denied the self determination that we enjoy is of total disinterest.Its a view i don't agree with however that sadly is the view of a great number down south.Which is why irish nationalists feel greatly betrayed by us down here in the republic and i can't blame them we have left them to the wolves ober the course of 100 years.

[@darnellbiggumsthe9th658]

@@gallowglass2630 stop feeling sorry for us northern nationalists and actually pressure the free state government into establishing an all ireland citizens assembly to actually plan for irish unity

[@englishalan222]

Which is imperialism?

[@pauls.2526]

I am Irish from the republic and I always wanted a united Ireland 🇮🇪 since I was a small child.

[@evelynmccabe3855]

An uncle of mine as an outsider used to say he always said he was a protestant in a loyalist area and in a nationalist area he was a Catholic.. ofcourse he would not be there for very long. Be aware that people do have ways of finding out even if they don't ask you direct. Its mostly in urban areas (Belfast a high wall still dividing the Protestant estate from the Catholic estate) that this hatred exists as there are very mixed areas in rural areas in N Ireland where Catholics and Protestants get on very well and have done so all during the troubles.

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

3 places in Northern Ireland that still have peace walls, Belfast, Londonderry, Portadown. The third one will probably be shortened soon, Dennys land is valuable after all. That will be another excuse to attack the local protestants once its gone. I wonder which side will have the entrance to what evers built!!

[@derekm1791]

The youth are the future for Northern Ireland! Hopefully lasting peace will come soon!

[@JacksonGreenhorn]

Who introduced 'sectarianism' to Ireland? Who created the border between |Ireland and N.Ireland? Who has interfered with over 62 countries throughout the world? UK Government?

[@noodlyappendage6729]

With help from the Irish.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@bobsmith5441 Who introduced sectarianism to Ireland? I don’t know? Sectarianism existed in Ireland before England even existed. To think otherwise is naive. Who created the border? The UK government with help from the Irish. Who interfered with 62 countries around the world? I don’t know? Possibly the UK with help from the Irish seeing as the Irish made up a large proportion of HM Armed Forces. The Irish certainly played a large role in fighting the Boers in Southern Africa.

[@cian434]

⁠​⁠@@noodlyappendage6729what do you mean with help from the Irish. Of course there were Irish serving in the British army but it was extremely frowned upon by their community. There were also other ethnicities in the British army such as Indian people, were they also complicit in colonialism. And Irish people did fight in the Boer war, overwhelmingly against the British.

[@ATLmodK]

It is extremely infuriating that the DUP seems to prefer anarchy to picking a Deputy First Minister. What is the gain here

[@BreadAccountant]

I think they know that if government is suspended long enough then London takes control

[@Endless_Horizons2007]

The comforting delusion that they are better than everyone else because they latch on to a version of the UK that doesn't exist anymore.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

What anarchy? Northern Ireland is a part of the UK and controlled from Westminster. It is also under the Crown. That’s the opposite of anarchy. SF don’t want to turn up to Westminster. Nobody says anything. DUP don’t turn up to Stormont and their called dinosaurs. 🙄

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@Endless_Horizons2007 Oh and Republicans don’t latch on to their romantic view of a Gaelic Ireland? 🙄 Unionists want to remain apart of the UK because they see themselves as British. The UK is their country. It’s their default position. Why would you expect anything else?

[@joprocter4573]

Kathryn... One must first know whose country is being governed by... Whatever you say will not change fact that is UNCLEAR.. why would you work hard for your brother to give your share to someone else (country) however before leadership vote the previous one was troubling not one year but many. Unionist need to know why not equal to follow UK citizens.. INFACT republicans should demand if not for themselves for their co partners.. Brexit overall vote has not happened yet. Yes yes ppl want to worry about xyz but if Russia took us over tomarrow are you going to vichy with them...

[@antonralph6947]

Ireland needs to be united. Only a united ireland will bring a lasting peace. Partition hasn't worked. Catholic, protestant , Dissenter, Anglicans, Unionists, and Nationalist.

[@darkgalaxy5548]

Well, what about Ireland rejoining the UK?

[@MomMom4Cubs]

Though I don't have a dog in the fight, I really hope the Northern Irish, all the Northern Irish, make out well. Not for Britain, or the Republic of Ireland, but for yourselves. Lord knows you deserve your hard-won peace, and increased prosperity and fulfillment of your potential! Happy Easter!

[@joprocter4573]

What a respectful remark to all

[@sandrathompson1277]

The northern Irish….are English

[@callumoleary6645]

Mainly Scottish

[@sandrathompson1277]

@@callumoleary6645 thanks Callum…thought most of the northerners were of English origins..either way it will not help the situation

[@joprocter4573]

@@sandrathompson1277 NO THEY MIXED HERITAGE.. NOT IRISH... NOT ENGLISH... NOT SCOTS OR WELSH..

[@fuckboi_killa]

Great doco m8s

[@lauraatkinson8920]

Pray for peace in Ni 😢

[@flaviopitanga65]

Ireland must be United once and for all and end this madness

[@koeman1873]

Shows just how much you know if you think that will work.

[@Nemo59646]

Love to Northern Ireland and its people, especially the children and youth.

[@123YMR]

It wasn’t a religious war, it was a war of culture and identity: British Vs Irish. It was a war, not “troubles”

[@Trendigthings]

Freedom for northern ireland

[@AwRighttttt]

Freeeeee DUMMMM

[@redbike6340]

🇬🇧🇮🇪 Love thy neighbour 🙏❤️

[@peacehope7365]

Absolutely. Whomsoever they may be. Very best wishes to you, my fellow lover of peace 🕊️❤

[@Richard-gp5tg]

It is time for the British to go. They have been unhelpful since the Agreement.

[@adrianwalker2833]

What is the point of anti-British sentiment and Irish reunification - if you let hundreds of thousands of immigrants into Ireland?

[@bobsmith3291]

Have they not been unhelpful from the start?😂

[@jackietreehorn5561]

​@@bobsmith3291difference is migrants now which is out of hand don't have rifles and helmets

[@MerryOREILLYOReilly]

Love you your LIBERTY

[@saxon1376]

Most people in this comment section are Americans who have never even been to Ireland

[@sandrathompson1277]

If they want to be English…why do they not live there? All these lives lost over being patriotic about a country they do not live in…..

[@ck1643]

It just boils down to the fact that the DUP and TUV and other loyalist mouthpieces can't accept that there is only one direction of travel.....a new united Ireland. The last census has shown that unionism is in the minority and nationalism is the majority and anything that is deemed to be irish such as the Irish language and GAA are treated with disdain and digust when the actual fact is that both of these things belong to every single person who lives on this island

[@adrianwalker2833]

First of all: what is the use of Irish unification - if the day after, all your rights are given up to the European Union? And secondly, with the current influx of migrants into the Republic of Ireland, I fear a "new united Ireland" is the least of your problems.

[@ck1643]

@@adrianwalker2833 rights given up how? If anything more rights protections will be gained and it means that ireland as a whole will be part of the most prestigious trading partnership in the world....visa free travel, more choice in terms of study work and travel not to mention lucrative foreign direct investment who want access to EU markets ....yes as far as I can see rights are certainly eroded by EU membership 🤔

[@RobertK1993]

​@@adrianwalker2833 EU you don't give up rights misguided ignorance and borderline racist.

[@jooseppielleese7156]

​@@adrianwalker2833 the migrants aren't from the EU. Why do you think Rishi Sunak will care about keeping Britian white lol. That's what you're getting at.

[@anniegrath1417]

@@adrianwalker2833 don’t you have your own mammoth problems with migrants coming into your ports still?? The non EU ones?

[@celtictwist6750]

All Definately Deserve Better☘️💖👍Peace and Security for Families All

[@apax2901]

The conflict did not start in the 60s.. it started 800 years ago. Root cause was social, political, religious and legal oppression of Irish people by the crown. Been to Belfast just this week and honestly.. walking around neighbourhoods at night after the Gates close is an experience you can’t witness anywhere else. Especially Shankill and Falls Road.. graffiti and murals telling stories on every corner. the residents are usually very neutral and even welcoming towards tourists (at least the catholics were) I recommend everyone visiting Belfast to actually dare themselves out of the City centre and Titanic area into the outskirts and witness actual Belfast. Absolutely tragic and depressing town

[@arthurbridenstine225]

There is peace without reconcilitation. Both sides are deeply traumatized. Grief needs to be acknowledged and then the process of forgiveness can begin.

[@roberthunter4618]

Sinn Fein still glorify their past terrorists.

[@stephenconway2468]

That process started, but now schools need to be desegregated and the community too.

[@sollte1239]

That's not the issue

[@stiofain88]

​@@roberthunter4618 Unionists parties glorify the UVF's past and actually still represent them through the LCC.

[@barryb90]

​@@stephenconway2468 100% Stephen. I've already witnessed most in only one generation after the GFA, the distain for conflict. The hatred is mostly being kept alive by the likes of the Orange Order. Schools need to be desegregated, the vast majority will find out that people from the other background aren't the boogie man they were thought.

[@PMMagro]

How in the world could the unionists vote leave in the Brexit referrendum? They themselves opened the door to short term problems and long term leaving another union. If you can leave one union with a referrendum you can leave another the same way...

[@noodlyappendage6729]

What?

[@keithgreen9009]

The bitterness will always stop a peaceful way forward.

[@MrRoastedSnow]

Of Peace or For Peace? Which?

[@IRISHBOIIABLE]

British media forever showing it from protestant perspective, not highlighting the atrocities they have also committed

[@noodlyappendage6729]

British media showing it from the pro-British side you mean. The majority.

[@droidmansky7354]

Aye, on the whole it was balanced and the they showed a victim who was legitimate in his anguish and grevence....poor lad....however, they sure there were atrocities on both sides...and it's all grim :(

[@sands7779]

The EU redistributed UK taxpayers money to UK poorer areas including Northern Ireland via redevelopment and social funds. The reduction of subsidies will become more of an issue for poorer areas in Northern Ireland as the Tories do not need to buy Unionist support.

[@jim-es8qk]

What are you going on about? We sent the EU 15 billion and got 5 billion back. What happened to the missing 10 billion?

[@jim-es8qk]

Northern ireland is most heavily subsidied areas in the UK. It gets more tax payers money than every other region in the UK l!!

[@kieranmccrory3960]

Peace to the people of Ireland , north and south ✌️🙏

[@hyena131]

7:24 - that combover sported by the pallbearer is truly a thing of beauty.

[@laimingwong4166]

Sinn Finn 'won' the assembly election and its leader vowed a United Ireland would shortly become a reality. That fueled the unease and definitely alarmed the always wary Protestant population.

[@blueishxx]

America is crazy with irrational divisiveness but this intractable conflict is just next level crazy and irrational I was working in England and left in 1997 and just couldn't grasp the complexities of this situation it just seems mind boggling that it's still this broken tbh I could never grasp why all of Ireland wasn't united it just seemed so simple and obvious

[@AnthonyD-yy2in]

It's real simple really. It is the North of Ireland and always has been. A united Ireland is the only solution for all this conflict to slowly come to an end once and for all. Irish people, both catholic and protestant simply can not keep dodging that very simple fact.

[@someirishguy1662]

At the time Belfast was an economic powerhouse due to ship building/breaking, and historically a lot of protestants there that didnt want to leave the UK.

[@justonecornetto80]

@@AnthonyD-yy2in It`s not simple at all. For starters, not one single political figure from the Irish republic has even come close to providing a roadmap for peacefully integrating a million Unionists into its population without triggering serious unrest. Or let me guess, you think they should all move to the mainland? You also fail to realise that most of the NI economy depends on remaining part of the UK and its current model cannot be duplicated as part of a united Ireland due to the massive subsidisation of its public sector by the Barnett Formula. The current autonomy that NI enjoys as part of the UK cannot be duplicated either due to the Irish republic`s system of governance. The Unionists won`t simply stand by while Dublin turns NI into an underfunded provincial backwater, they will wage political and quite possibly paramilitary guerrilla warfare in order to turn NI into a security nightmare in the same way republicans did during the 1970s and 80s except that in this scenario the Irish government won`t have the considerable resources their British counterparts did to contain it. Finally, you appear to think this is still about religion. It isn`t and hasn`t been for many years. It`s about nationality and the fastest growing demographic by far in NI are those who subscribe to a separate Northern Irish identity, neither British or Irish. If this trend continues then it`s far more likely that NI will become a completely independent entity.

[@lif6737]

@@justonecornetto80 They're colonial settlers. They can integrate if they wish, but if they have no desire to they should pack up and move to their beloved England

[@illogicalslayer9856]

@@justonecornetto80 If the unionists can't live in a United Ireland due to them identifying with Britain let them go to Britain.

[@FrankTheTank94]

The narrator kept getting Sorcha Eastwood’s name wrong. Called her Seoirse, which means George 😂

[@bunyip5841]

Yes, wouldn't you think they could get the neighbours names right after 800 years or so?

[@FrankTheTank94]

@funnyflix895 That's Saoirse, Seoirse is a different name

[@stephenconway2468]

It mean light or brightness. It does not derive itself from the Irish for George. Even if it did, then it would be Georgina which is a lovely name. You should read a little about the Anglicization of names from different languages. We (the UK) did that all over the world from Africa to India and now I read Ireland as well.

[@stiofain88]

I don't think there's an Irish equivalent of George. In school the teacher just threw out fadas like Skittles to the lads whose name couldn't be translated. One of the Nigerian lads was delighted and kept the fada for all other classes

[@stephenconway2468]

@@stiofain88 I think Seamus might be George but it could also be James. Anyway, I prefer someone with Irish ancestry to advise on these matters.

[@bigmal1690]

Our system of government should be reformed to something like the other 2 devolved governments have, it was OK at the start but it needs to change

[@death4metal201]

Freedom first then peace

[@maureenmckenna5220]

This was a difficult and hard won peace. The memories do not go away because of a signed piece of paper. Nor, does a culture of fear and separation, not when there are people who have vivid memories of friends and family being killed during the “Troubles”. Northern Ireland currently has more Catholics than Protestants, never an intended consequence of division, and this alone, is telling for the future of Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was settled, deliberately by the British, by Calvinist Protestants in the 17th century, mostly from Scotland. The Republic of Ireland was settled mostly by Anglican British, a completely different sect of Protestantism. After WW I, when the Republic of Ireland was created, and divided, it was thought that the northern counties would eventually be absorbed into the Republic of Ireland. But, it ended up being a larger area than planned, and four of the counties were largely Catholic, the enemy within, so to speak. Northern Ireland also enacted repressive laws and regimes against the Catholic population, which only enflamed the divide and divisions, resulting in an almost thirty year long war. Finally, we have Brexit, which has moved Northern Ireland out of the European sphere, and the Republic of Ireland into it. How will this impact the future of this tenuous relationship, where memories are long and divisions strong? Hopefully, the peace holds. They very well know the impact of war and all the horror, loss and sadness that it brings, along with economic stagnation. Eventually, in the far or near future, Ireland will probably be reunited as one country. Let us hope that whatever the future holds, it is along a path of peace.

[@mcdronzy]

UK always brings troubles everywhere they go...

[@wendyb4405]

You mean the politicians surely.....as it ain't the people on the street

[@Ribod]

Blame Farage and Boris.

[@cynicalb]

lets face it if the DUP don't get their way they throw their toy's out of the pram,

[@durudadlani1931]

Peace is the only way, Peace is the future. I pray the government will provide the financial blessings to make it grow. In the name of Lord Jesus, our Saviour. Amen

[@joprocter4573]

It hasn't 40 yrs later

[@anthonyhassett]

London is getting tired of bailing out NI. 26 bn in and only £16bn out in revenue. Where is the accountability? Time to dump the money pit.

[@durudadlani1931]

@@joprocter4573 "Ask and it shall be given" Prayerfully, we should invoke this law.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@anthonyhassettLondon is only tired of the IRA. Unionists aren’t trying to bomb London.

[@joprocter4573]

Instruments of peace created aphreid education so kids never mix with kids of other faith from birth

[@abrahamlevi3556]

There will be no foreign investment without guaranteed political stability; moreover, if the Unionists decide to bring the troubles into the Republic of Ireland that will have catastrophic effects on foreign investment there as well, especially in the rapidly growing hi-tech sector. Even accommodating corporate tax policies and other perks won't change that.

[@joprocter4573]

Think unionist voters of no relationship to groups that can do violence HAVE BEEN MORE THAN UPSTANDING CITIZENS AVOIDING RISING TO REPUBLICAN BAITING but beware if ever blows it will be worse than anyone wants to. See.. Either way left bereft by all especially own Westminster

[@leelilly5700]

Forget about foreign investment. It is a two-sided sword. Right at this moment, even choose to remain in Union, doesn't mean much stability. Just look at what shape UK is now.

[@illogicalslayer9856]

Didn't bring up the Irish side at all just the Unionist or British side. Economist keeping the moniker "rag for British millionaires" for all time.

[@arcticauroras9627]

Peace

[@presterconst4757]

As a Christian living in predominantely Muslim country called Indonesia..I am hard to digest this reality..since even Catholic can even borrow our churches..as.license to build a church is as hard as getting license of a pub.

[@zorina109]

Woah ‼️ I didn’t know this’s happening in Ireland 🥺so sorry😔✨🙏🏼💫

[@joprocter4573]

We not Ireland this 102 yrs and never ceased being British over 800-ice age yrs ago.. Its NORTHERN IRELAND

[@mktrollop1093]

​@@joprocter4573 what's the Island called Jo? Oh yeah, it's Ireland, so it is happening in Ireland, or at least on it. Anyway, Brits out!

[@BreadAccountant]

​@@joprocter4573 just to clarify, i don't think there was a substantial protestant present in northern Ireland until around the 1600s with the Ulster plantation.

[@BreadAccountant]

​@@mktrollop1093 I'd love to see a peaceful solution to the whole situation, 'Brits out' doesn't help at all. They live here too. Most of them are sound

[@1916jamesconnolly]

So there was an ice age 800yrs ago and Ireland was British during the Ice Age? Yes Ireland has been a Colony of England for 800 yrs but I'm sure there weren't any Loyalist Polar Bears roaming about. A lot of Scottish Presbyterian Planters kicking the native Irish off their own lands though.

[@Jormangunder]

I hope Ireland 🇮🇪 can fully throw off the yoke of British imperialism and stand united as a socialist republic working for the Irish people.

[@wodens-hitman1552]

Hopefully all those tens of thousands of Irish taking our jobs in England will give them back ?

[@thesecondsilvereich7828]

White Irish minority by 2050

[@adrianwalker2833]

Does "the Irish people" include those hundreds of thousands of migrants as well? You're stuck in the past.

[@tacidian7573]

Well written, Herr Honecker.

[@sl_721]

Socialism 🤢

[@diegozambrano6292]

I am sure that you published this report some years before. Exactly the same.

[@robdubz1510]

I think it will be the other way around with Dublin sending troops to loyalist areas. I'm Catholic and it's a shame I can walk safely in England mainly with protestant neighbours but people in ni can't.

[@Sam-pv7bd]

I’m going to Northern Ireland in June. I’m hoping the Peace Lines and the Paramilitary murals are still there when I go. I’m doing a Conflicting Stories Taxi tour with my parents. I’m looking forward to seeing the walls, gates and murals with my own eyes. I know that I probably shouldn’t be looking forward to seeing things that represent violence and division, but I’ve wanted to go to Northern Ireland ever since I saw Derry Girls, and started watching documentaries about The Troubles on KZbin. Do I need to be careful of wearing the wrong color in certain neighborhoods? Would I get hurt if I wore a blue jacket in a Nationalist/Republican area? I’m not going to wear my Aer Lingus t shirt while walking down Shankill Road or another Loyalist area. My mom has a green rain jacket. Will it be safe for her to wear that and walk in a Loyalist area? I’m a little more nervous about going to Northern Ireland since MI5 upgraded the terror threat level to Severe. My parents and I should be fine right? We are going there to see the paramilitary murals. I just want to go there. See the walls and murals, and leave without any problems. I think it’s great that there is peace for the most part in Northern Ireland. That’s how it should be.

[@seanohare5488]

Sad you have to worry about the color of your clothes is telling

[@Charles-hq7ce]

I wondered something similar when my republican parents brought me, a socialist, to washington on jan 6. I expected a riot and obviously something alot worse happened, but i worried about wearing the wrong colors too. Ended up wearing an old brown leather jacket, black t-shirt, and jeans so id just look normal. Any time i go to an area known for violence, political or otherwise, my thought process is to wear neutral looking clothes that dont look expensive. Dont look like you have a side to pick, and dont look like you have anything worth stealing. Old beaten up clothes of bland colors without any insignias. I dont know much about ierland, but if i were asked about the politics, id just say im a yankee taking a trip to see the land my great grandmother grew up in and i dont have enough information to form an opinion on the matter.

[@billdog1537]

I'm from Belfast, I would not worry about anything you have stated. Belfast is amazing. you'll enjoy your time . visit bars, visit restaurants visit the sights. get talking to local people. the people are what makes Belfast. wouldn't worry about the security threat either.. I've worked in most bars/restaurants/hotels in the city and most visitors love the place!! embrace the place and enjoy your trip. let me know on the comment how you got on ❤

[@drumclaypete]

Things are completely fine. It’s all hyped up in the media. Same as any city ever, there’s places you shouldn’t go out 99.99% of the time you’ll have absolutely no problem whatsoever. And murals aren’t going anywhere

[@leighmurphy417]

Belfast resident here...the peace lines and murals aren't going anywhere. I've had no trouble at all in my area, even though I live in a rather loyalist area with a not so protestant surname, which I've never been questioned about. As for the colour of clothes topic, you'll be fine no matter what you wear. We love tourists, just not each other. Enjoy your time.

[@cdes68]

Thank you providence?

[@engy6592]

The future is reunification.

[@sourabhpatil23945]

Northern Ireland should be free, they should get their freedom, why did the UK occupy it?

[@TheRaidoRune]

Sure.

[@LeMerch]

It colonised Ireland and based a lot of its loyalist planters in the northern part of the island to try exert control from it. The Irish battled the British off the island but centuries of loyalist generations left a large population of them in the north who threatened violence if they were to stay in an independent Ireland. So the British Government decided to strong-arm Dublin during negotiations and said if Dublin doesn't decide to leave the north with the UK, the British would leave the negotiation table and go back to war. This was a bluff, but Dublin knew it wasn't able to go back to war as it was now depleted after the initial war of independence. So it agreed. Sadly, I wish Dublin called Londons bluff and maybe.. just maybe London would have said 'ok, take it'.

[@TheRaidoRune]

@@LeMerch It's a question of choosing shame or war and ya'all know how it goes...

[@BreadAccountant]

​@@LeMerch Whats the evidence that it was a bluff? I don't think we can know that

[@thesecondsilvereich7828]

Oliver Cromwell moved a lot of protestants from Scotland to northern ireland to protestantism the area in the 1600s

[@johnfisher247]

Peace will improve with demographic change. Those that want union with the Republic of Ireland are now in the majority and are growing. The other problem is the loss of moral compass and trauma that has come with the partition and Troubles. I am a Catholic but understand and have so much that is essential in common with Calvinists in Northern Ireland. The problem is the ignorant tribalism of the lapsed Christians who are Protestant Unionists and Catholic Republicans. They neither behave like Christians and are corrupted by the new secularism that corrupts them.

[@dwinter666]

Only a small group of extremists have any taste for further violence and disruption in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately British intelligence seem reluctant to tackle loyalist narco paramilitary terror gangs, probably due to their ties to said agencies.

[@gazzy5303]

Yea I’m sure it’s just the Loyalist side that has a problem with drug dealing?

[@dwinter666]

@Gazzy British intelligence seem reasonably happy to go after the newer dissident Republican groups Garry. Past alleged collusion seems to have resulted in us tolerating the ongoing existence of some groups. Primarily "loyalist narco paramilitary terror gangs". Everyone knows who these people are, if actually live here and aren't a somewhat sheltered middle-class type then chances are you'll know all to well who the local paramilitaries are, yet psni etc allow them to exist.

[@jooseppielleese7156]

​@@gazzy5303 it is, Republicans actually kneecap drug dealers in the North. Its the South where some of them turned into drug smugglers.

[@WeAreThePeople1690]

​@@dwinter666 All the while, you complain about this type of stuff. And we have terrorists in government and on our policing board. They might wear suits now, but they still are members of the army council. We all know, who is in charge of the "small group" are too. Yet they are still walking the streets too, and yes they deal drugs and are on the books of MI5, and smuggle fuel, cigarettes etc. Dont forget they robbed the Northern Bank too 🙄 You would think your sides, all upstanding members of the community the way you all go on!

[@lunainezdelamancha3368]

Well.... I guess I will never get to know Ireland... neither Northern nor Southern for I don't think it's safe. So sad really. Nothing has changed!!

[@Aaron-cb2dd]

There should be a referendum once and all about NI future

[@noodlyappendage6729]

It’s not needed because 65% of Northern Ireland see their future with the UK. Only 30% want to join the RoI. The Irish Republican aim is to have a referendum so they can keep having referendum every few years. Basically agitation. It will only cause trouble.

[@panthir6720]

Best way to keep the peace is for a United ireland

[@garageliddiard8420]

You can’t have a United Ireland if you don’t have a United Northern Ireland first.

[@cubethelad8394]

@@garageliddiard8420 well said, I'm completely nationalist but I fear NI is far too divided

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Best way to keep the peace is to stop agitating. Northern Ireland wants to remain in the UK.

[@RandomBloke007]

Yes, within the UK

[@panthir6720]

@@noodlyappendage6729 you got proof?

[@RabbiRabbit87]

I’ve always found this war one of the most fascinating. From an American prospective nobody in my country has a clue about any of it.

[@tacidian7573]

I'm not shocked by that lol

[@artlover1477]

Americans are very ignorant of geo politics through the world. It is cumulative dumbing down of our society these many years.

[@Klynch111]

It goes further back then 1921. Sure, that's the main reason the country is split, but go back to the 12th century when ireland was invaded by britain and the plantations, kicking irish catholics out of their homes and placing Protestants in their place, which is why ulster never left with the other 26 counties and which off course led to the split. Now do i think we need to forget and move on? Sure, for the sake of Northern Ireland we all need to get along but you have parties being stubborn and not to mention these people themselves taking matters into their own hands with the shooting of that policeman or kids throwing petrol bombs shown on the video.

[@outlawquelshingdixienothin8893]

​@@Klynch111go back to the 6th century when Ireland invaded Scotland

[@mealainimacruaidhri7490]

Loads of Americans know about it. Not sure where in the states you’re from but it’s covered in HS where my kids go, March is Irish heritage month and they cover the Easter rising, civil war, and the troubles 🤷🏻‍♀️ I also learned about it when I was in school in a totally different state than I live now and that was in the 90s

[@praack4563]

well - the IRA had a heavy hand in the " troubles" and that predated the 1921 agreement ( say 1919) - so you can't really place all the blame on the UK now can you...

[@wearemysticking]

NI should become an independent state of Ireland, with their own parliament. They need to move away from the UK as they are doing nothing to help.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

The UK invests in Northern Ireland. Republicans just like to bomb it because they don’t want it to work.

[@wolfblitzer1981]

Unfortunately there will never be true peace in Ulster there will be periods of relative peace like the past 25 years. But if you go back via a timeline of 700 years you can see a trajectory of ups and downs of peace and conflict. Its just the way this place is.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Of course there will be peace.

[@ck1643]

Well there is peace in a third of ulster in donegal monaghan and cavan

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@ck1643 there’s peace in all of Ulster. A couple of Republican idiots are left but they aren’t strong enough to change things. They’d be destroyed.

[@TiocfaidhArLa34]

reunification will end all of the conflict eventually. when ireland is reunified england would have to launch a coup or invasion on an EU country. i do not think that would end too well for england.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@TiocfaidhArLa34 Mate. Stay away from idiots. NI will remain in the UK. That’s why Ireland was partitioned. Roughly, 26 wanted to leave and 6 wanted to remain. That’s how it still is today.

[@NorthernIrishCitizensAlliance]

The extremes of the Northern Irish are really extreme but the number is exaggerated quite extensively in the media, as the small number of people actively involved, are extremely active, extremely focused and extremely vocal in all the media outlets. Facts are hard to come by, but here we go. 19% of the Northern Irish population identify solely as Irish so would identify as Nationalist or Republican. Not all of this group would vote for unification in a referendum as the negative impact on their lifestyle, finances and demographic future would be massive. Which is why their politicians talk about a “New Ireland” and don’t even try to sell the existing Republic of Ireland. 35% of the Northern Irish population identify as British which is really a statement that they want nothing to do with the Republic of Ireland. 42% of Northern Irish Citizens have no affiliation as they are quite happy with their lifestyle and do not want any sectarian affiliations. The way forward is Independence and joining the EU as an independent country. That gives each group most of what they want without crossing tribal boundaries or causing massive financial, social or demographic hardship. Unfortunately it will take time and patience to convince everyone that we a genuine democratic party, not a proxy to get their vote as politics have become so divisive and dishonest.

[@web2yt488]

How much of this is just people finding purpose and reason to segregate, unionise, hate because they lack constructive purpose in life

[@richiemurphy9783]

I smell the British minority sweating in lrelands Ulster 😢

[@wodens-hitman1552]

Yes right😅.the SAS are really sweating😂😂

[@RandomBloke007]

Not a minority.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

You spelt majority wrong 🇬🇧

[@sl_721]

British heretical minority don’t belong in Ireland

[@johnjoyce2393]

the English followers up the North are the minority a united ireland is on its way a fair vote and bye bue northern Ireland

[@stephenburke7612]

Johnson Farage and the DUP will be fully responsible for any upcoming unrest in Northern Ireland

[@tracy8056]

Nothing to do with ongoing Provo activity then?

[@tracy8056]

@FunnyFlix 👍💯🇬🇧

[@yermanoffthetelly]

​@FunnyFlix 🇮🇪🇪🇺🌊🧱🌊🇬🇧😂

[@fuckboi_killa]

Keep it up lads Remember 32=1