Brexit: a cry from the Irish border I FT Standpoint

[@philipbadiz6189]

Great video, but I feel Dara Ó Briain said it best: "it's not the Irish border, it's the British border in Ireland. The Irish border is the beach."

[@kimmahon2872]

Most accurate comment on the border I've ever seen. No matter what side your on. A British boarder. The decision of 1921, one will live in 100 years later. All for a long dead empire.

[@jackiecampbell7903]

that is so true

[@5888max]

Such Disrespect -to the people of the North who are Irish and and also British , this is arrogance that caused partition in the first place

[@RobertK1993]

@@5888max You don't speak for Irish Roman Catholic Irish Republican/ Nationalist community see themselves only Irish and European.

[@nigelmurphy6761]

Absolutely 100 per cent correct. The British government would do very well to remember that they were the ones who created that border back in 1921. That border is their doing and nobody elses.

[@jnahnet]

As an American, I wish we had a voice of such eloquence, poetry, and intelligence to give clear expression to our division, pain, and fears.

[@maryharte8149]

Does the Tory Party actually believe Ireland really exists or matters even ? I live a few miles from where this was beautifully filmed, on the side that is the Irish Republic. This superb script is eloquently delivered by Stephen Rea. What the film makers may not realise is that this 'crossing' is an ancient boundary, a crossing over the 'bend' of the river Finn with all the mythology that attaches to Finn the Warrior. More realistically though, archaeological and historical research tells us that this place, was important to the High Kings of Ireland as Bru na Boinne and the Hill of Tara (Dr. Brian Lacy, 'The Cenel Conaill and the Donegal Kingdoms). However the Brexiteers do not know of the ancient kings and queens of Ireland, a culture that has its very roots in this narrow crossing that can be dated to at least 6000 BC. No, we are a mere footnote.......for now. We will work our magic soon.

[@MrArthurGiles]

Mary Harte, don´t hold your breath waiting for the Tories to understand anything that doesn´t put money in their pockets, they lie in their manifesto, fiddle their expenses and have no consideration for the people they are meant to represent. Do you really expect them to know or understand the history of anything outside Westminster? As regards the magic to be worked, please make it very soon as May is going to wreck everything in the next few weeks - then resign on a fat pension and laugh at us all.

[@markelliott5584]

How may Co Fermanagh Ellot-Elliott got to America; www.elwald.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/SELLING-SCOTS-AS-SLAVES-IS-FUNNY-TO-THE-TORIES-2.mp4?_=1

[@maureen3621]

I don't believe parliament and city of London believe the rest of the U.K. exists. It is a sovereign state in its own rite.

[@dvidclapperton]

@@@MrArthurGiles Like how tories (plus Farage of UKIP) on the Vote Leave campaign campaigned for the UK to be in the single market, the EFTA, to do a Norway or a Switzerland, but mentioned nothing at all about leaving the EU with No Deal. But ever since the leave win they have all suddenly changed their tune and it must be the most extreme snd damaging form of Brexit possible i.e. No Deal, and if May was planning to do a deal wuth the EU they were up in arms, resigning from the government, Johnson threatening a leadership challenge etc because it's not extreme enough, when doing a deal with the EU is what they campaigned on after all but May's rejected deal is even less than what they campaigned for, but not damaging enough to satisfy them. Vote Leave would never have won the referendum had they campaigned on a damaging No Deal Brexit.

[@richardjames5006]

You're gonna be a footnote if you don't stop Ireland 2040 and the UN migration pact. The EU wouldn't even let you leave, then you get saddled with all that debt on top ..jeezus you've short memories and even shorter sight...you speak of the old Kings yet sell out your own unborns to be replaced by somalis and afghans...head up arse itus i think you suffer from.

[@barbieblacksheep8440]

Ireland for the Irish, Wales for the Welsh and Scotland for the Scots, pride in our country and borders !

[@magnuszilarra9064]

@Straight White British Protestant Saxe-Coburg-Gotha?

[@jacquiewalton83]

@Straight White British Protestant Why are the royals STILL hiding their German past?: Queen urged to display German uniform worn by her grandfather as Britain headed for war with his cousin The Kaiser By Christopher Wilson Published: 01:01, 19 July 2014 | Updated: 12:43, 19 July 2014 Upon receiving a summons to Buckingham Palace, the new Prime Minister Lloyd George sneered: ‘I wonder what my little German friend has got to say to me.’ He was talking about his sovereign, George V. It was 1916, in the middle of World War I, when Britain’s fortunes against the enemy in France were at their lowest ebb.f George’s 29 first-cousins on his father’s side, 19 were German, the rest half-German; while on his mother’s side, of the 31 first-cousins, six were German and 25 half-German. Not one was British. Now, 100 years after the war began, the Queen is facing calls to display the German uniforms worn by her grandfather George, as a reminder of the extraordinary rift between the royals and the rest of the country. Due to his blood ties, the King held honorary ranks as a German Field Marshal and as a colonel of German regiments, and was consequently fitted out for Teutonic uniforms. God Save The Queen eh micky ?

[@RobertK1993]

@FBI SURVEILLANCE VAN Straight White British Protestant white supremacist Ulster Loyalist.

[@RobertK1993]

@FBI SURVEILLANCE VAN I am ending this tiresome conversation racist how old are you?

[@RobertK1993]

@FBI SURVEILLANCE VAN I hate left as much as the right both hipocrites in price best side is centrist or libertarian

[@heggedaal]

As a German I understand he pain you have when thinking of a border imposed onto you. The divide between east and west Germany was always acutely present in everyday life even when some cold hearted politicians claimed that it isn't an issue. I hope it won't come to this for Ireland.

[@joprocter4573]

Heggedaal yet East Germany has not been fully accepted or worked according to German government.. Past master loyalty..

[@bortstanson2034]

That's because you killed millions of Russians, don't forget that

[@medceltic]

Ireland is an Island. The Only Border is the Sea.

[@johannesbusch8161]

I hope so much you Irish people will unite! You deserve it so strongly. Greetings from Germany!

[@patricklamshear6662]

Reunification cost Germany billions of Deutsch marks,it will cost Ireland much blood.

[@RobertK1993]

@@patricklamshear6662 Loyalists will accept the results or they be exposed as hipocrites.

[@raymondoneim2590]

You never lived there. You give no heed to cultural differences. Your wishes for Irish unity are ignoring my family wishes to remain British. Your wishes fall into the poetic trap of the words uttered by an actor.

[@joprocter4573]

Johannes we don't desire it. There is no room in the hearts of Irish for anything not Irish republican or Catholic. There is a whole other culture some of whom have Dutch. French. Germany. heugonot. The previous European religeous wars causing REFUGUEES to flee who brought great skills to those in UK and all of Ireland.. The northern part ulster was most industrial area creating Jobs.. Ireland was UK from ice age mainland UK erosion. Today's ancestors claiming to be Irish Irish were pirates and traders

[@joprocter4573]

@@RobertK1993 whose worried about that when we had bombers. Thieves.. Terrorists..

[@sirkeg1]

I think the whole world would celebrate a united Ireland.

[@farmerned6]

including the Loyalists/unionists? in the north? understand both sides before saying something so bloody stupid

[@lennylaa1686]

it'll go off.

[@karmabomb445]

England created this mess and they can't be bothered with NI now, too much trouble, nothing in it for them, a nuisance. That's the problem with empires, all the troublesome natives you have to conquer never seem to go away, do they?

[@paulgalligan1916]

You better believe it mate

[@bermondsey548428]

the whole world.?ireland would not celebrate they cannot afford the burden of ni.stupid idiot you know nothing

[@martinhodge3119]

The Irish Border is the sea.

[@zavi13]

@Wayne, Go and be inbred and stupid somewhere else you chav!

[@ernestrogen4639]

Buy a map lol better still ask the Irish Republics customs. Drive a lorry from Northern Ireland and you have to pay pay pay. Now if you live in the Irish Republic and buy a car in the North you will have to pay £1000s or the Irish Republics customs will impound it. Facts are it is not the Uk enforcing rules on goods crossing but the Irish Republic are. Not much of a free open border there is it and its not us the Uk doing it.

[@Len0Grady]

You're right- what we're worried about is the British Border in Ireland.

[@MrArthurGiles]

Martin Hodge - that's nice but isn't it strange that more Irish people live in the UK than in Ireland? More Irish people live in the USA than in Ireland. Some of our MPs are Irish so we have non-British MPs making our laws - we don't go round knee-capping , bomb-throwing or yelling "Irish Go Home". This is 2018 not 1922, get with it.

[@JM-gu3tx]

Spoken like a true genocidal bigot. No to the genocidal savagery agenda of Republican apartheid loving ROI.

[@dylanfaherty2030]

I’m 16 years old from The Republic of Ireland and I have more of a understanding of what’s happening at the border than the entire British Government

[@DominikJuric]

That's not difficult.

[@ShadowFalcon]

I'm Danish, so maybe my ignorance then could be excused, but I must admit that, when the while Brexit Referendum thing began, I never thought about the border between the Republic and Northern Ireland. However, that ignorance got annihilated when I saw the map over the Referendum results, and I immediately thought "Oh god, what have they done?!? Do they not realise the implications og putting a hard border there?"

[@ShadowFalcon]

@De Factio The UK wanted "sovereignty" from the EU Inner Market. According to WTO rules, that means a border. Or what? Was "taking back control of your borders" just a slogan?

[@ShadowFalcon]

@De Factio Ireland is a fellow EU member. And in this case, we've mostly put Ireland in the driving seat, when it comes to the specifics of the Irish border. What? You mad that you can't push Ireland around like you used to?

[@ShadowFalcon]

@De Factio Indeed you're not in the EU. That's what necessitates a border, according to WTO rules. I'm glad you're finally on the same page as the rest of us. Regarding any EU bankruptcy, the EU's GDP growth has been pretty steady so far. Granted there was a bit of a dip in 2020, but that's because of Covid (mind you, the UK GDP declined even more rapidly than the EU's GDP did in 2020). If you want to claim that the EU is "near bankrupt, then following the same logic, the UK "is bankrupt". BTW, it's pretty funny that you call Ireland corrupt, when the core of your economic service sector is still the very much corrupt City of London, and the Cayman Islands tax havens they commonly use. But hey, silver linings and all that, because with you gone, we could finally properly classify the Cayman Islands as tax havens, without you kicking up a fuss.

[@nicovlahavas4982]

there is no north or south just the emerald isle of ireland...that has enriched all earth with its inhabitants , their beauty, grace and creativity in all things god breathes through them.

[@philipbadiz6189]

@De Factio the ones the brits supplied to their militias... aye : : everyone forgets who started the mass killings, the subjugation, the denial of basic humanity or citizenship where we were born, the endless armies of uniformed thugs sporting the union jack for over eight centuries of betrayal and death, the endless routine brutalities, the secret courts telling even deeper, secret lies ... all to rouse the english state in praise of a dead empire created on the backs of misery and slaughter : : it weren't the Irish...

[@uinvin]

A wonderful tribute to the spirit of Irish unity and understanding its nuances. Both traditions on this island have more in common than what divides them..... decent people.

[@robertmarcellasandsmp3114]

Our revenge will be the laughter of our children!

[@paulkennelly4376]

its peoples minds where borders exist, the land knows no borders

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

This is a cry from the Irish border yes, but it is also a cry from the world. This is a human condition, and we should all heed it's cry. I wish you all peace and prosperity. And the thing is, we can all have it, we just need to be responsible and decent enough to share peace and prosperity with others.

[@fodsaks]

It's time Ireland was one single country. It might actually make us closer as neighbours, once that constant shadow of conflict is consigned to the past.

[@RobertK1993]

Ulster Protestant will resist like anti virus software on computer.

[@XYZ233PQ]

This film is probably one of most poignant reasons for the two Ireland to remain united. I hope they choose to become one nation in the European union. I love Ireland and the idea of a border return is too painful for those of us who remember the days of trouble which the Irish people have struggled hard to overcome. God bless them.

[@joprocter4573]

Merlin it was to painful to suffer ira murders. Bombings.. Where were your good wishes for British NI THEN

[@mindakahn9964]

This was beautifully universal. The scenes especially the shot with the rainbow was so Irish. Stephen Rea is wonderful. It makes me sad and a bit angry that there isn’t anyone in this country full of writers and performers who can put together such a moving piece of political art.

[@redserpent]

Incredible poem. Real, unnerving, pointed and relevant. That is pure poetry.

[@marti2474]

There is no Irish border. It's a British border.

[@arctic_haze]

Only from one side. And it's time for the border to vanish completely.

[@RobertK1993]

@flip inheck Also Ulster Protestants did for being sore losers and snowflakes lol 😂😂😂🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@RobertK1993]

@flip inheck Then you aren't from an English speaking country I think came across you before.

[@RobertK1993]

@flip inheck Wow you confirmed your a racist your from Isle of Mann you realize the Manx people share kinship with the Irish and Scottish and Welsh you racist prick .

[@RobertK1993]

@flip inheck I am not an Irish traveller however harbour deep dislike for far right British Nationalist Brexiteers as they are racist racist little fucks.

[@threefrogs9898]

ulster loyalists, the selfish most spiteful people imaginable

[@keithkeegan9776]

@Straight White British Protestant Eire forever🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@LauraTrigg]

Folk in Northern Ireland need to understand that few in England care what you think, say or do, and would love to be rid of you. So maybe it's time to think about a united Ireland?

[@tonymccabe2171]

We have always wanted that, and we are aware England doesn't want us, however Theresa May is depending on the DUP, to prop her up shambles of a government.

[@darrenbellenger1]

And who pays the subsidy to NI then?

[@Locomotion-uz4ly]

Seriously? You see your own compatriots as a financial burden and the first thing to come to your mind is who will pay the subsidy? Yeah, show them how much wanted and welcome they are in the UNITED Kingdom.

[@TheTigersbay]

You needed us for two world wars , the second one my father fought in so I think your words are very unkind . God bless

[@badgersgetabadname]

We have wanted that for a long time. Its only recently that all sides are starting to agree. We live on the border and meet each week with residents and businesses from both sides. Sadly May is in hoc to the DUP so it will get worse before it gets better but united is coming. The majority of England wouldnt notice in any case.

[@rentregagnant]

A wonderful use of poetry. Well done, Clare Dwyer Hogg ! A very fine performance by Stephan Rea.

[@DPG214]

Using Stephen Rea can imply a revolutionary republican aspect - not good if your hope is to persuade mainland Britons and Ulster unionists.

[@dream_emulator]

Really well made and beautiful. Very impressed that this content is coming from the financial times. Impressed.

[@elizdonovan1965]

Brilliant piece. Real understanding. Should be mandatory watching for everyone involved in Brexit. ☘️🙂🌲

[@basingstokeborn]

I enjoyed this, but no, that is not the word 'enjoy'. .The Irish Border tis not about the passing of goods and services to suit the UK or the EU. The Irish Border is about people divided but still somehow united in one country, Ireland. Relationships are improving and the hate is dying however this clock can be turned back if the border is hard and divisive again. The emphasis will agin be on two different Irelands. It is a very serious problem for the Irish people..

[@errollwithtwolsplease1038]

John Kearney Now is the time for a united Ireland: demographically it's all over bar the shouting in the North. I'm a sentimental unionist Englishman but N.I. makes no sense today; let the northern protestants embrace the orange in the Irish flag. As many have commented, and it has been true for a very long time, mainland Brits, on the whole, don't have too much interest in maintaining N.I. in the union. Peace to all the people on the Emerald Isle

[@basingstokeborn]

I take your point but it a s al a mess really. The Protestants voted remain because the Ulster Unionists are really part of the conservative Party, The conservative and Unionst Party.and at the Referendum that party was for Remain, But there are now three strands here. Unionists still have a liking to remain with the UK, in or out of Brexit. but the EU want them out of the UK in a hard border deal where they will remain trading to EU rules and not really part of the UKJ. then there is the position you support just join a United Ireland and break from the UK altogether. I was brought up in Scotland with an Irish culture and was reared in songs of the Irish rebellion and the 'rights' of the irish to a United Ireland. Like you I grew weary of it al in the modern world and began to understand the Protestant position. But not all Protestants feel this way and the opposition Sinn Fein will accept the backstop solution because 'de facto' it brings about a United Ireand. Perhaps it is the one part of 'the UK'that deserves an independent vote to leave or to stay because of its ties to the Conservative Party. As I say their voting intentions were slightly different from he rest of the UK. but It is a right headache and as always there is no easy solution.

[@basingstokeborn]

And they voted a second time against joining the EU. But this was too much for the establishment who control he press an TlV and just as in Britain thy name out with all guns blazing for a third.when the Irish joined the Treaty of Rome having rejected the two previous, The trouble is that they had no grassroots movement to use the internet and defy the fires of their Parliament and the Media. Irexit have been given guidance from the UK on how to attack and they may succeed, but they are up against a powerful establishment who do not care a damn about the people.

[@Chubbstain]

Aye but the Southerners will get nearly no backlash with the trouble, as usual.

[@ktkee7161]

It's interesting, we've got an alleged Irishman who sounds like a Kipper and a supposed "Unionist" who sounds like an Irish nat. Is there any any support for Irexit in Ireland? The Irish establishment and media seem 99% rabidly pro EU, but when you look in the comment sections it seems more sceptical.

[@deannilvalli6579]

The indomitable Stephen Rea. Excellent, as always! And so nicely filmed. The Irish question, vexing Britain for centuries, a problem of their own making, was thought finally buried. Then the British brought it back again, all by themselves. Tory politicians say "It's their problem/" (the Irish) But comedian Frankie Boyle notes that "Historically, the Irish are very good at making it our problem."

[@deannilvalli6579]

@De Factio That seems a bit rich coming from a Brit, as Britain is the ONLY country that invaded Ireland, colonised it, killed thousands of its people directly, exported food from Ireland to Britain while the Irish were starving in the 1840s, and then imposed British rule on it. Oh, and the UK finalyl admitted, in 2011, that the British army murdered, without cause, 14 people in Bloody Sunday in 1972. How is the EU a "jackboot"? Just saying ridiculous things does not make them true. Or did you not know that? Flinging around wild claims makes you a conspiracy theorist, not a serious debater. Ireland has an equal voice in the EU, as do all members. Simple as that. Ireland has also seen MASSIVE economic growth since it joined the EC and EU. Deny that all you want, people in Ireland know it's true.

[@deannilvalli6579]

@De Factio The EU laws are all passed by the Parliament, voted for directly by people. This is the ONLY law making body in the EU. The Council consists of the heads of state, also voted for by the people. The Commission is an entity that has no powers to pass laws, it is merely there to execute laws, and its members are chosen indirectly by the heads of the member states. Much like your House of Lords, or your Prime MInister, so often chosen not by peopel voting, but by the Tory party members in Parliament. Your chief of police is also not voted for, yet she is there to execute and enforce the laws. Every state has a veto, and smaller states have proportionately MORE power, because they get proportionatley more MEPs than larger states, despite their smaller populations. So your arguments are simply bogus. You should maybe do some research before you make a fool of yourself. And your predictions of the EU "crumbling"... yawn.... the extremists in the UK have been making these predictions for 30 years now. I wish I had a Euro for each time the UK right wing papares predicted the end of the EU. Don't you get tired of being wrong year after year?

[@deannilvalli6579]

@De Factio Well that exposes you pretty nicely, doesn't it? Just another Brit with racist prejudices against the Irish. Yes, their ingenuity is so limited that they are now richer per capita than the UK, and by far. One of the most economically successful countries in the wold at this moment, and has been a fast growing economy for decades now. Ireland went from being a very poor country in the 1960s to a very wealthy one now, very clearly linked to its joining of the EC. In fact, joining was part of the plan for economic gain, and it worked. Ireland took a massive hit in 2008, but with the HELP of the EU, has now overcome it and repaid its entire debt. This is what happens when Europeans work together. But cooperation with other countries is something the UK is not capable of, thus they will remain poor (9 of the 10 poorest regions in northern Europe are in the UK), crime-ridden (worst crime rate), and with a sinking life expectancy and mounting national debt. Well.... enjoy your sad little island.

[@philipbadiz6189]

@@deannilvalli6579 don't debate the thuglette... he's obviously perturbed, with a twisted agenda. we can only feel sorry for such misguided and ignorant wannabes.

[@Kj16V]

*Shut up, Ireland, Scotland, Gibraltar, London, Oxford and pretty much everybody under 50 yrs old. English pensioners (aka. "The People") voted Leave, so everybody has to do what they say.*

[@maxirons709]

Im in tears. Heartbreaking. Where are we going? I'm scared. Thank you so much Stephen.

[@devonseamoor]

Don't ask where we are going, Max Irons. It's key to ask yourself where YOU will go and work things out that serve a good life, for yourself and others around you.

[@level9ing635]

This was filmed in Clady only a few miles from my home. Something about it was bugging me, so re watched it again. And sure enough it is Clady alright . It`s less than an hours walk with the dogs from my house.

[@philipbadiz6189]

some of us are blessed...

[@zachhall3623]

no border cos then i cant get fireworks

[@HansLandaNaranja]

lol

[@yak8735]

Dont worry Zach a hard border will lead to loads of fireworks all year round !

[@whatthefrack6425]

yak lol, yeah it sure will

[@NxDoyle]

There's the beautiful in the mundane. Convenience.

[@davemurphy2020]

Exelent. If Henry VIII hadn't had the notion of an English Church born out of lust for something french, If William of Orange ( A Dutch man) hadn't decided to enforced his notion of magic, If all politicians, majoritavely, freely, used the crystal ball of wisdom instead of scuttling to the corners of notional accountability and actual greed. If wishes were fishes, we would never want for meat.

[@PtolemyXVII]

What gorgeous scenery!

[@whatthefrack6425]

The Emerald Isle

[@KrlKngMrtssn]

Ooohhh like game of thrones?

[@AMRPK]

When the weather is good.

[@IAmSoMuchBetterThanYou]

It's nice with watchtowers and razor wire, and armed soldiers isn't it?

[@PanelHopper]

Way to miss the point entirely....

[@radwizard]

The Irony of the UK wanting to have freedom from a Foreign Power while doing the same to another. Let go of NI and be free UK.

[@Scoutforlife]

Beautifully put.

[@annchristine47]

Reminders of times past for me being the issue of a Catholic/Protestant marriage whose union was filled with love and little money but brought us up to believe in the goodness of people not because of religion but because kindness begets kindness.My grandparents on one side abhorred the marriage and kept their bigotry-- it was their lose.Ireland should be united for,if nothing else,for the sake of the next generation.We should not be building walls,we should be building bridges.

[@karenmagowan302]

This impressive work was written by Clare Dwyer Hogg. Just heard her short drama on BBC Radio 4 on how fear has been used for control in N. Ireland. Very intelligent thought provoking writing.

[@annewoodborne804]

Stephen Rea is a wonderful actor and a poet

[@georgeash4008]

His wife murdered the catholic widow Jean McConville.

[@RobertK1993]

@@georgeash4008 What you talking about you thick Loyalist.

[@georgeash4008]

@@RobertK1993 I am talking about Stephen Rea's wife murdering a catholic widow called Jean McConville on the orders of her IRA commanders. The fact you call me a 'thick loyalist' tells everyone reading this you are sectarian bigot.

[@RobertK1993]

@@georgeash4008 Well Republicans are thick too.

[@PapiMahoney]

This was filmed in Clady, County Tyrone, the best wee village in the North of Ireland.

[@flyagaric23]

Thanks Stephen Rea, and Clare Dwyer Hogg, now we can see and hear the clear difference between the language of poetry, and the language of newspeak. A delicate situation deserves language charged up to the highest meaning, the opposite of what the state sponsored and tabloid news press do in their perversion of language, dull and predictable, especially when talking about anybody that is not them, and/or anything that is not their home.

[@danilobacci9684]

First I would like to excuse myself for my comment but I must say something. I am not Irish, but it saddens me the idea that an united Ireland is at risk of not happening, that a hard border between one nation can even be reconsidered. Old grievences have be forgotten. Don't allow, dont even consider the ghosts of the past be a possibilty. Make Ireland whole again.

[@billwillis5732]

Yes your not Irish and haven't a clue old grievances have been forgotten . I could take you places where if you worn the wrong colours or said the wrong think or had a English accent or worked in a certain job your throat would be cut and you'd be dumped in the gutter your living in dream land make Ireland whole again . who wants houses in the republic that the youth can't afford rent 3 times higher food higher drink higher pay for healthcare fluoride water . dumping ground for immigrants forced by Germany , Irish budget give the once over by Germany . yes makes sense united Ireland .

[@fionaross3495]

@@billwillis5732 you are a narrow minded bigot. Except change or you will be forgotten. Germany had a border. You moron

[@devonseamoor]

@@billwillis5732 Don't you see why repeating the past won't serve your country, but only serves your piling more on the heap of your anger and the killings?

[@DPG214]

Read some history. Treaties requires at least two parties. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, passed by Dublin, allowed the Six Counties of Ulster to leave under Partition. That was the democratic deal reached and that was what happened. To renege on that is to jeopardise every international treaty between London and Dublin, and to junk the memory of Michael Collins who later died defending the pro-Treaty position. The folklore and mythology of the IRA about a united Ireland has no democratic or legal basis. Dublin recognised that in the 1998 GFA by diluting its constitutional claim to the North.

[@phillott4181]

From what I can gather a Tory is what we call a republican in America. I have a friend from Ireland that worked with me in Atlanta and we were talking one day and I asked him why was there so much friction between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland because in America both are simply considered Christians. He told me it's not about religion, it's about rich and poor...one side has all the money and all the opportunity and the other tries to scratch out a living with what is left. All the rules are made to benefit the rich. Just like America...I have always had a dream of getting to the Isle of Mann for the TT and a few years ago it was looking like I might actually get to do it....Then late in Bush's second term the economy went bad and the real estate market crashed (never happened before) and most of the working class people lost thousands in equity on property that had been working hard to pay for for most of their lives...suddenly it was worth half as much. Your only chance was to sit on it and wait it out and hopefully you still had a job to pay for it or you would lose everything...A whole life making payments on nothing....The rich make the rules.

[@maciekronowski9734]

Exquisite!!! Very moving!!!! I wish you people reunification - you certainly deserve it.Greetings from Australia.

[@dickmartino9933]

I'm Irish and I don't want reunification and neither does the vast majority of Rep Irish.

[@yermanoffthetelly]

@@dickmartino9933 You speak for nobody but yourself pall.

[@TheTigersbay]

Don’t talk fecking rubbish

[@johnsrhorgan]

I don't disagree, but more it seems a terrible idea in the foreseeable future, by which I mean at least a decade. NI is too politically unstable to even contemplate it. Anyway it's for NI to decide, and NI alone.

[@solidus784]

Richie Matin Really Richie when every poll in the South says the opposite, what the " vast majority of Rep Irish" dont want is West Brit jackeens like you speaking for the rest of us

[@timkbirchico8542]

Clare, thank you for such a beautiful bardic expression of border reality , lets hope for peace.

[@PCB-dg7pt]

Stephen Rea is an Artist that reflects human love and understanding minus the political influences of todays realities. As an Artist he has the ability to convey the feelings of all people that face strange circumstances never encountered before!

[@tendrosstoodross2976]

Stephen Rea is a boring old fart.

[@Relatedonthate]

I’ve no place to talk, but two of my family members died during the troubles and my great grandmother left the country (out of desperation) for an arranged marriage in Wyoming. I go to Ireland about once a year, as it feels like home to me-never have I felt more at home anywhere in the world-but when I cross the border from the Republic into the North, I feel something, it is suffocating and oppressive. I pray almost daily for the country to be one again, perhaps someday the border will collapse and become overgrown with more of the lush green that covers Ireland in resounding glory. God bless the Irish-all of them.

[@andreaberardi7003]

Beautiful poetry. I'm sorry, I feel like you've been left behind by the people on the other side of the Irish Sea, too concerned about their own borders, to be mindful about yours.

[@aleksanderwertynski9870]

“With so much chaos, someone will do something stupid. And when they do, things will turn nasty”

[@MrBread0000]

If the UK can accept "one country, two systems" for Hong Kong, then surely they can accept a version of it where Northern Ireland is part of the EU but also a special administrative zone in the United Kingdom? just saying....

[@OhNoYouDidnt]

But the DUP won't accept it and may is bound by the DUP.

[@MrBread0000]

Just hand Northern Ireland back to Ireland. If the UK can return Hong Kong to a murderous communist dictatorship, why is it so hard to give NI back to a democratic and free country?

[@SerBallister]

HK Island was forever, it was the new territories which had the 99yr lease, however Deng threatened to send in the tanks if Thatcher didn't concede all of it.

[@TheOneLichemperor]

I have a limited understanding on the subject, but I'm under the impression that they[Ireland & N. Ireland] never were the same country(though I suppose it depends how you slice it whether or not my statement is strictly true!). The Republic of Ireland and its northern counterpart, which is still currently part of the UK, as you well know, were only established in the last century. The official date for the foundation of the former is 29 December 1937. Prior to and during most of the English/ British rule (until 1801, I believe) there was no "Country of Ireland" to return the northern counties to, if you understand my meaning. Other than that, your point is pretty valid, and I for one agree that there should be no border, but then I also believe that Ireland should be part of the UK too, so that will never float with the republicans, will it? =P I can only sympathise for the poor folk of Hong Kong who have had to adjust to living with more limited freedoms.

[@SerBallister]

That was a treaty the Chinese agreed to.

[@jimparlett4099]

My prediction is that Brexit will be an economic disaster. Jobs will go, growth will go, tax receipts will fall and we'll need an IMF bailout to stay solvent. The IMF will demand swingeing spending cuts to pensions, health, benefits in return for a bailout and life will be hard, especially for the old and the poor. When that happens, the opportunity for Scotland and N Ireland to seek a brighter, more prosperous future will be lie outside the poor, friendless, UK. What is imperative, though, is that those who campaign for re-unification of Ireland mount a political, popular campaign, and don't return to violence. Sell it as a better future and the unionists will have no credible answer in a post-Brexit broken UK.

[@chimex4life]

This is the type of man that u just want to hear all those stories from😊

[@henrybn14ar]

The British government has never said it intends to restrict the movement of goods across the border, post Brexit. It is the Republic's government that is insisting on the restrictions, at the behest of the EU. But given the pattern of import and export trade in the Republic, there is little point in it remaining in the EU, at least from an economics perspective.

[@kierangreene6714]

The partition of Ireland must end.It was wrong in 1921 and it still is today.

[@gregoryfenn1462]

That will happen when both the north and the south want to reunite, that’s encoded into the Belfast Good Friday agreement. They are allowed a reunification referendum every ten years, but they can’t agree on the terms of it- should the whole of Ireland vote, or just the UK-bit?

[@houndofculann8876]

@FreeSpeech FreeSpeech. stop it will you please. The men of Ulster, Connacht, Leinster and Munster spoke the same language, used the same law code, the brehon law, had the same cultural expressions and many times the High King of Ireland was a Ulster man. ONE PEOPLE ONE NATION Your ignorance or lies can not change the truth, no matter how much you want it to.

[@jameswarbrick9168]

when the majority become the minority a war will be declared.

[@Benzknees]

Quite, the separatists in Ireland have had their day, it’s time for the Republic to rejoin the family of nations in the rest of the British Isles.

[@HondoTrailside]

Hard case to make since all parties agreed to it. Eire has been happy not to have the problem for 100 years, and it is unusual for them to be advocating to take it on. Maybe that is the advantager of a Dutch PM.

[@julesdownunderjulesdownund7722]

Being part Irish/Cornish and being brought up in the UK through the troubles and observing from afar, I feel for the Irish people and the troubles Britain has brought over the centuries.

[@syourke3]

There’s only one sensible answer to “the Irish Question”: a United Ireland!

[@IrishRose]

That's not sensible. Ireland is corrupt and broke

[@RobertK1993]

@@IrishRose Liar UK is more of a failure thanks to Brexit.

[@IrishRose]

@Diarmaid O'Riordan you clearly haven't a clue what you're talking about! Irelands government went to the eu in 2008 and offered to pay more to bail the banks out! The eu said you're paying too much already! Ireland refused to take tax of apple- they tried to o stop the eu from demanding apple pay! Ireland gave away f its oil to dutch shell for free in 1987 it was worth $900 billion.. ireland has more oil than norway! There are 10,000 Irish People inc children sleeping rough in Dublin and anybody entering Ireland claiming asylum gets put up in a hotel with 3 meals a day and an allowance! No health care system, have to buy your own books for school. To have a car in Ireland cost thousands more than to have a car in the UK. Taxed on water when living on an island that's annual rainnfall is 1.2 meters. A garda in immigration passed thousands of pakistani applicants For citizenship And it was only because a junior member noticed a pattern he was caught.. nothing happened! So Ireland will have its own Rotherham thanks to its traitors! If you're going to make such random and hollow remarks , I wish you back it up with facts rather than much feels! Greetings from Armagh, not America 😉

[@IrishRose]

@Diarmaid O'Riordan copium!

[@666maiden5]

Get it right never been an Irish border it’s a British enforced border SIMPLE

[@LondonMusicPsychology]

I do love that guy. Epic portraits, by the dozen. Thank you for this upload.

[@LiamDeege]

Stephen Rea is a great Irish talent. I've only seen in V for Vendetta so far, but his performance was so good I felt and I'm interested in more movies with him as a result, like Crying Game, Michael Collins, End of the Affair, Breakfast on Pluto, and Black 47.

[@ronaldschultenover8137]

Reunite Ireland and Brits out I did not enjoy Northern Ireland because it is not Irish

[@CrazyMonkey679]

Its not an Irish border it’s a British border, the British are the ones who put it there, the Irish border is in the sea!

[@bosheek8632]

Irish Reunification Ireland for the Irish!

[@HondoTrailside]

poolander There are a dozen or more groups, it isn't all one group any more. And some groups like the migrants are set to be very large, given how few of the ethnically Irish are left in Ireland. The IRA murdered people for decades, and set development back in NI by at least a century, and the laugh of it all is the only real ireland left is behind the borders in the North. The South sold out to globalism a long time ago.

[@tobymsjenkins]

Dave Long oh for fucks sake dave: grow up

[@Community-Action]

Bo Sheek- what does it mean to be Irish?

[@MrJohnnyseven]

Lol "diversity" will stop that....

[@rossgeography]

Ireland for All - live up to the flag - peace between Catholic and Protestant, Orange Man and Nationalist

[@joehiggs100]

As in the heading for this Financial Times piece, over here in England the topic is referred to as the question of 'The Irish Border'. As comedian Andrew Maxwell pointed out on last Friday's edition of BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz, it's a British Border. ''The Irish border is the sea'' (Much applause and laughter).

[@philipbadiz6189]

Maxwell borrowed that from Dara Ó Briain...

[@glenstevenson7751]

What a balls up this brexit it's madness

[@nicolahamilton2036]

Glen Stevenson What a balls up that Ireland was asked to change its mind and voted for the EU Uber-commandant Varadkar instead of national rule!

[@tomellis4324]

@@nicolahamilton2036 leave Leo's balls alone Nicola

[@MrResearcher122]

He whispered Islington, my neck of the woods, and Donegal, the land of forebears,asleep for eternity under another man's sky. Rest in peace my dear Grandfather, and Hail to the wise words from Ulster!

[@someone-wi4xl]

Ireland should be united .. and then join the EU that would be fantastic !

[@justdefacts]

Ireland is in the EU. We joined at the same time as the British. And have benefited just like the British although the latter are reluctant to see it. The EU has resulted in social and working conditions half a century better than those in the US because it has lessened the political clout of the ultra rich on any individual government.

[@MrArthurGiles]

someone, "Ireland should be united... and then join the EU, that would be fantastic" - not for the people of Ireland North or Eire, please, for their sakes, get off cloud 9, the EU is a dictatorship that will suffocate every nation it conquers. See if you still believe the same in five years.

[@wattyler6075]

Well as the 6 counties is an artificial construct of the 1920's,I'd give them back to Eire,end of problem. After all the country is called Ireland.

[@rsoubiea]

Wow this was beautifully done and so impactful. My heart breaks you beautiful Ireland, I’m so sorry.

[@abdulamariislamhussein]

Hardborder all the way.

[@RobertK1993]

@@abdulamariislamhussein Ulster Loyalist bigot🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@TheDrumlinBoy]

I have only one wish. Tory Party leave the Irish alone. We have no quarrel with the people of England. In the name of justice and peace on our beautiful island let us work out our issues in peace with help from well meaning European and American friends. Your colonial politics are history, splitting nations and peoples has never worked.

[@georgeash4008]

I wish the Catholic priests would leave the children alone.

[@basilrose]

A two-state 'solution' has never produced anything of the sort, it's politicians 'splitting the difference" with complete disregard for peoples and cultures per usual. England fomenting civil unrest and WAR is an old story, divide & conquer! The independence vote in Scotland failed by a hair because of economic concerns, but the Republic of Ireland has a proven independent strong economy. Seems like now would be an excellent opportunity for the Irish people to unite! What's stopping that?

[@juanitagomez3410]

Stephen Rea..excellent ..

[@svenkikals-hallstrom6200]

It's time for Irish unity - one Ireland.

[@johnhorgan6045]

There is One Ireland,but more than one Irish identity.It is not by chance that Polish is the 2nd spoken language afterEnglish.Irish is 4th,this is not by chance.

[@MrAlien911]

Yes, by the south rejoining the UK :>

[@pudicio4895]

@streetmuggedbypolice take your pills

[@stuarthossack7906]

Not in any way trying to trivialise this powerful presentation ........... but I came here because the thumbnail pic looked for the life of me like Gary Moore, I thought "Gary Moore? Brexit? Eh? turns out it's not Gary Moore but I stayed anyway, to listen and think ............ glad I did. Respect.

[@melvynrutterreedbeds]

Jacobs comments were about the technical solutions to the border. And if you feel Jacob needs to live on the border to find solutions, then so to the big guys in the EU, who have authority over your land and people. The wrongs of the past need have no part in our future. The war between England and Germany has seen both populations open their hearts to future friendly relations. This was eventually also true of relations between English and Japan. It seems peace can only come to those that want it. I have seen many young people in Ulster, who fear a return to the old troubles. They are building their future prosperity. The last thing they want is for their efforts to be thrown away by bombs and bullets. Perhaps, rather than looking to mr Mogg and Boris, you could look at the man in the mirror, as I often have to do.

[@eoinenglish7659]

Rees-Mogg has claimed consistently there is no problem at all re: The Irish border. Somewhat contradictorily, he has simultaneously claimed a technical solution could be found however he and other Brexiteers can provide precisely zero information on this or point to anywhere else on the globe where such a system is in place. He is not a stupid man which leads to only one conclusion: he is a liar.

[@HondoTrailside]

Eoin English You lack imagination if you think that is the only explanation. R-M is just a back bencher, he is not the person with the brief to lay out a technical solution to the problem, he is just calling those who are making too much over the issue. There are many EU states on the eastern frontier with no hard borders, in regions with real risk of war. And there are technical solutions in place on the Irish border that R-M has referred to, despite the inaccuracies of your claims. Some of these points now seem to be the basis of solutions supported by both the EU and the UK. The reality is that Brexit may accidentally happen regardless, we are getting to the point where it is nearly on autopilot for a hard Brexit. So something will have to happen. Predetermining that that can only be war is not a productive way to proceed. I would imagine even the para-criminals would prefer to just keep extorting money at this point. The Irish government made inflammatory remarks at the outset of the process, and has to guarantee the interests of it's citizens which the EU then also has to represent in talks. The result is the whole thing has been blown out of proportion in the short run. I would expect a referendum that will lead to a re-assembly of the parts of Ireland in the next 20-30 years. That is set to be the actual disaster that will wake the sleeping dragons. One hopes not. But in the short run there is little reason for the UK to put aside it's sovereignty when the end is in sight regardless. History will probably hold, that an Ireland that remains in the EU is a mistake, but that is probably what will happen.

[@eoinenglish7659]

@@HondoTrailside really? Which states have no borders? Where are there completely open 'frictionless' borders as The UK has promised to maintain between Ireland and NI? So let me get this straight: JRM says there are technical solutions but when asked to clarify this he can't and you think that's ok because he's 'only' a backbencher? ! I'll remind you that his goverment have admitted there is currently no technical solution to this problem. This was the finding of NI Affairs Committee (which includes two members of The DUP!) Why don't you share some of your 'imaginative' thinking with us? you obviously know something The EU, The UK, WTO and the world don't. www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/northern-ireland-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2017/ni-land-border-report-publication-17-19/

[@holz_name]

Hondo Trailside Can you please name one border on the eastern frontier that would fulfill the GFE? Can you please name one border with no border checks or border installations? Hint: there isn't one. The only borders that are frictionless are the one the EU have a customs union with. Like Norway, Switzerland and even Turkey. But May rejected a partial customs union with the EU, the only solution for a frictionless border between Ireland and the UK. What now?

[@jimmierustler5607]

SO if the UK government doesn't put up a hard border, what then? The EU would do it, suddenly not your mainland saviors huh? When the Eu starts putting up walls and watchtowers. Stop pretending the UK is some overlord when you kiss the feet of the EU

[@04051940able]

I’m in England, and I do care about northern island a lot,it’s only selfishness that happens to be on both sides of the divide, get rid of your selfishness and we can all live in peace.

[@wobblydangly]

Maybe it's time to end the occupation of Ireland completely.

[@user-ks5ff]

I agree, they should go back to Spain where they came from.

[@themaggattack]

@2manynegativewaves Nobody said a thing about expelling anyone. Just accepting the fact that they are in IRELAND. (Despite their ancestor's attempt to steal it for Brittain.)

[@patricklamshear6662]

What occupation,

[@Nieves226]

Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[@TheQuazar1961]

As an European i got teary eyed because i"ve seen the troubles on TV . A people split by violence. Please never again.

[@capnskiddies]

@Wayne Logan who treated Catholics as second class citizens, denied them jobs, equal voting rights. I don't condone the acts of the IRA, but mistreatment of Catholics was most assuredly a factor and catalyst in their creation. To believe otherwise is ignorant in the extreme.

[@jonjojames3798]

THE EU NEEDS A BACKDOOR TO THE UK, FOR BOTH POLITICAL AND MILITARY REASONS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU NOW CONSIDER THE ONSLAUGHT OF AN EU ARMY

[@chowder8802]

This was a beautiful, tragic poem

[@philipocarroll]

Irish Sea customs border is the best solution. Only the DUP would be unhappy and they only speak for 35%. Let NI stay in the Single Market while GB goes for Canada+++. Seal with a referendum in NI, it would pass because NI is majority Remain and its status in UK is guaranteed by the Belfast Agreement. NI would prosper.

[@vcouw]

Stark reality poured into magical poetry.

[@jameskirk4106]

Who pays the NI subsidy of over £10 billion a year if we leave? The ROI doesn't have that kind of money. NI is an economic wasteland

[@eointolster]

Scotland also wanter the EU more than to leave it. What will england do when a border is suggested there

[@davidlamont5793]

Scodland voted no to independence therefore must leave the EU

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

Scotland and the U.K's internal market is worth about 90% of all the trade it does the rest is between the E.U and everybody else.

[@HondoTrailside]

A quick coat of paint, and we can get Hadrians wall back in play. I think a Scottish border might be easier. A hard border really isn't a big deal, particularly if you have some big river doing the work for you, or if the land is easy. In Ireland's case the border is a geographic nightmare.

[@dxtxzbunchanumbers]

Had to rewatch this after the Article 16 talk. How incredibly reckless is Boris Johnson to squander 30+ years of peace for a few votes.

[@plumduff3303]

Ok I have lived through the troubles...you can't just unite Ireland..... if you say that you have no idea of the complexity of this issue...when an ied goes off and blows your loved ones to bits that's the reality..if you are young Google the troubles learn...this is not a simple issue my mates were killed or scared for life by the troubles for God's sake wake up.

[@Skunkwurx]

Yea i agree. But putting an old school border is a worse idea. The whole thing is fucked. David Cameron has thrown NI and IRE and the UK into a blender and what ever happens, everyone is gonna get fucked. NI, the UK, IRE, everyone.... If the UK dumps NI, IRE has to grab it. Too bad for IRE we just can't afford NI, not to mention that will cause absolute chaos with what/where/who is the government, can't just fire 100%, not to mention the legion of brits who find they "aren't" british one day. Hard border will cause people to go spastic plus play hell with trade. Put a border in the sea and you have angry NI brits that feel cut off. If the UK stays in the customs union for a soft border then i wouldn't be surprised to see Westminster burned to the ground by angry brexiteers. And 2 years was waaaay to ambitious. Its just fucked....

[@TheNotSoEpicChannel]

@@Kitiwake It is common knowledge that circa 60% of the North's population receives its paycheck by some means ffrom the government.

[@ryanbyrne259]

@streetmuggedbypolice amen

[@GregorysMode]

Simple, leave England. Unite together. No harm, no foul. No drama. No melodramatic poems. just quietly unite, all the best, hope the funding goes well.

[@plumduff3303]

Brilliant brilliant brilliant piece....I remember the troubles like yesterday and the hard earned peace. I remember the terrible killing...mogg and Johnson don't represent me.. they are unworthy of office given their comments and the serious consequences of taking the Irish question so lightly...God help us all.

[@manoo422]

Your problem is that most people simply dont care, they view you as children fighting over a football, pathetic.

[@californiadreamin8423]

because it's not right Welł said.

[@karmabomb445]

Opportunistic careerists the pair of them. Immoral and insincere, perfect little Tories.

[@RayOther]

And this is why Northern Ireland should unite with the South. Get away from people who are ignorant and simply don't care and see Northern Ireland (and Southern Ireland) as expendable. BTW they also see most of the people of England as expendable as well - horrible selfish people like Rees Mogg, Johnson, Gove FOx, Hannan and Raab.

[@lolb4507]

The Tory government are blamed for Nigel Farage, although David Cameron called the EU referendum he wanted remain and fought for it and bullied into doing the vote by Nigel Farage who wouldn't let it go until he put one through. Now he's doing the same with May because she has done something with the NI border but 1/3 of his party has decided to fo with Farage.

[@preasail]

Meanwhile Russia is delighted about the chaos they ignited.

[@yammychops]

i was born in armagh, i know the border well, stephen reas choice of wife says it all to me, jacob rees mogg does not speak like me, but he does speak in reason and thinks his arguments out. he may not speak in your tones or walk along this border of sad history but he bares his reasoning with grace and fortitude, fine words stephen rea but they are dipped in blood, jacob rees mogg does not speak in our tones, but his words carry great weight with this man from armagh, peace to all who seek it..

[@gerardmonaghan2576]

Y is this filmed in clady?

[@level9ing635]

Why not?

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

By imperialism you rise, and by imperialism you shall fall

[@user-mx1il4np6n]

And by Kaiser Merkel's fourth Reich EU bloc YOU shall FALL!

[@lukebrown997]

Jacob Jorgenson - British Imperialism = bad Imperialism to the British = good?

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

Luke Brown Don’t mistake the failures of your own life with the rest of the EU.

[@lukebrown997]

Jacob Jorgenson - sorry what? Do you know how to follow a conversational flow? I was asking if you thought imperialism was a good thing now, now that it’s happing to the British. Because I know how virtuous your ilk are at demonstrating how “against” imperialism you are when the British was doing it, but yet you seem happy/smug when it’s the other way round. Seems a little morally bankrupt to me. God knows what you was getting at in your reply to me?

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

Luke Brown What are you talking about ? The UK has all it’s own laws and have benefitted so much from the EU. Buy hey, go broke for all we care

[@daviddunne4737]

Well done Stephen and Clare .

[@strofikornego9408]

Split Northern Ireland into Northern Northern Ireland and Northern Southern Ireland - problem solved

[@VincesInHocSigno]

Haha or just let the Irish rent the North and collect payments

[@jorgeborges7707]

Why not let England leave the UK? Technically, a border between Scotland/England would be easier to manage, plus we get to stay in the EU. (I'm only half joking. A freedom of movement treaty would be very easy to negotiate with a seriously weakened English rump state!)

[@strofikornego9408]

Adrian Montgomerie - how about all 26 remaining EU countries leaving EU and joining England?

[@MrArthurGiles]

@Lug Lamhfhada what a great idea, the split could be Westminster on the one part and the rest of the UK on the other - and no immigration either way.

[@robinsnell2231]

Too many politicians don't care about people, about nuances, about delicate balance, about the beauty of resolving centuries-old conflicts and resentments. Let's hope it doesn't go up in smoke.

[@davidbrisbane7206]

It might be that BREXIT plus the increased popularity of Sinn Fein will lead to Irish reunification.

[@user-mx1il4np6n]

I hope so...

[@lennylaa1686]

David needs to have a chat with Protestants. May not go too well!

[@HondoTrailside]

Derreck Jones There wasn't even a majority of catholics that wanted it before the Brexit pot got stirred. People in NI know that there is greater stability in the status quo. There are people in the north, normally pretty old at this point, who firmly believe they will be murdered if reassembly ever happens. Reassuring that kind of fear is going to take a lot of work. Guaranteed seats in parliament; their own police and so forth. Piece of cake.

[@Peter-200]

Not any time soon tho

[@SH-lm6ek]

David Brisbane - correct me if i'm wrong, but didn't 45% of voters in Northern Ireland vote for Brexit? That's a significant number, and you'd like to think those people clearly understood the implications of NI leaving the EU, and what that COULD mean with regards to a border, yet they voted that way anyway. So I don't really understand why you think something that nearly half the country voted for would lead to reunification. You also mention Sinn Fein's increased popularity, but in Ireland they are only the third largest party, polling something like 20%?

[@MrArthurGiles]

You talk of a United Ireland then say that the people want to rule themselves - except that you don't include the people of Northern Ireland in that, What do you intend to do with the Protestants? Chuck them all in the sea? Or kill them? Carry on putting the blame on others and being convinced that you are blameless in every way - couldn't you better learn to live with your neighbours without trouble, trouble and more trouble? In England we still have the Norman Invaders of 1066 (they never went home) we have the descendants of the Saxons (they never went home either) and the Romans left some remains but do we keep up a never-ending war that solves nothing? Please stop feeling sorry for yourselves and learn to be good neighbours then the wall-or-no-wall will mean nothing, everybody will get along just fine - now wouldn't that be just great?

[@Colonel1954Dz]

UNITED IRELAND

[@mikeshadez]

Am sure Ireland voted out the EU but they was forced to vote again, there shouldn't be a border between northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

[@lucilovecraft1621]

Ireland should Unite and remain in EU, Scotland should join you independent and in EU too, let England and wales have their isolation.

[@pennarpete7087]

Yes please. :)

[@lucilovecraft1621]

@white wolf Northern Ireland and Scotland would have more independence and power in EU than they presently do in The UK.

[@WillGilpin]

NI should do what it wants to do. It doesn't need the rest of us telling them what to do.

[@lucilovecraft1621]

@@WillGilpin The Northern Irish people voted to remain in the EU. They didn't vote for the good Friday agreement to be ripped up and a hard border to be placed back in the island.

[@ZenosOsgorma]

lol billy you what , the eu members have less much less control over what their governments can do , look at article 7! under the EU if they keep this path you won't even be able to change your tax rates ect ect atleast under a united kingdom you have a vote , a right to leave or stay or ask for AID without it being blocked by the commission or voted for under a Fair rule of law via parliment of which you have a voice to reject regulation/legisition unlike the EU parliment . the is NO " No option " in the MEP parliment you can't reject regulation or legisitation to the dust bin , you'll be trapped in a loop of fake Democracy. it is only the eu that want a boarder in NI not the uk , the government rejected the commissions proposals. the eu are causing this issue end of.

[@timothywgray1]

Regardless of what happens, there cannot be a return to the Troubles. Regardless of what form Brexit takes, there cannot be a hard border - or a return to sectarian violence. Three thousand people have already - and that total cannot be allowed to increase. That has to be the top, overarching priority. Fishing rights, agriculture, the NHS, Gibraltar - all these are secondary. The leadership on the border, both in the UK, have to figure a way out of this mess, which does not lead to bloodshed. Period.