James O'Brien reflects on Catholics outnumbering Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time

James O'Brien has reflected on Catholics outnumbering Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time. This video clip is from James O'Brien's LBC show on the date of September 22nd 2022.
#jamesobrien #northernireland #lbc
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[@TvboxFinnan]

When you've been the oppressor for so long, equality seems like an existential threat.

[@mrchickenfeathers9184]

What equality was denied?

[@ricardoperera9880]

If another Pope Francis comes, the Catholic Church will develop the religious, economic, social, humanitarian, etc. worldly aspects faster than the divine will and turn it into a fun church and go to heaven.

[@Powertoyah32]

@@mrchickenfeathers9184 A Catholic vote was only counted as half a vote to insure Catholics could not get into any seat of power. That’s one.

[@adrianred236]

@@mrchickenfeathers9184 I'd answer you but you wouldn't hear me as I'm sure you already have your head back buried in the sand.

[@polreamonn]

@@mrchickenfeathers9184 Is that a joke? If it isn't, please learn more.

[@berniestewart5112]

So grateful to hear you speak about the bigotry you experienced as a child in the 70’s and 80’s, I remember the same, sometimes threatening and violent. All carried out by older kids who thought they were decent, justified but really were thugs. My father experienced the same in his factory workplace. My mother had police turn up at the door because someone in our street had told them we were building bombs. They had a brief look around and then apologised saying they suspected it was a malicious call. Not happy times.

[@roryoneill9444]

The term used now is "Swatting"..... it is funny that when this is done to WASPs and English there is a name for it & a criminal charge.

[@frankbrennan1619]

All that happened to him & once only (allegedly) in his very posh & very expensive Roman Catholic public school was that another obnoxious snotty nosed little creep called him a ''terrorist'' because of his surname.....

[@leod-sigefast]

It is kind of an unspoken part of England: the probably millions of English people with Irish surnames that from time to time have experienced prejudice. My mum has an Irish surname and certainly experienced little bits of snide remarks in the 60s as a kid. People don't seem to acknowledge the huge impact the Irish have had here in England. Yet, there is still that condescending sneering prejudice.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

You got lucky usually the Prods would tear the house apart issue no apology and go home

[@ricardoperera9880]

If another Pope Francis comes, the Catholic Church will develop the religious, economic, social, humanitarian, etc. worldly aspects faster than the divine will and turn it into a fun church and go to heaven.

[@Norplinger]

Not to in any way minimise the atrocities carried out by the IRA and other republican groups, but were the British public aware, at the time, of the atrocities carried out by the British government and its paramilitary allies on Catholic civilians? Did people know about the institutionalised segregation and the often brutal suppression and general humiliation of the native Irish population? A lot of uncomfortable details are now coming out, decades after the fact, that must be hard for English people in particular to hear, but the general level of ignorance about NI, both now and historically, is still shockingly high among British commentators, even those on the left. Do people know, even now, how brutal and destructive the British Empire really was for so many people?

[@jopmars8168]

British people didn’t care about the atrocities carried out by crown forces in Ireland or in any country, they care when the war comes to them .🇮🇪🇬🇧⚰️

[@henrystevens2258]

Any chance of you moving on

[@CHuzz7777]

I never learned a thing about Ireland as a kid. Not one single thing. It’s not surprising though is it, I mean what would you expect British parents and teachers to say? That regardless of their opinions and although neither they, their parents or their teachers had ever had so much as a bad word to say about Ireland or the Irish they were, nonetheless seen as “legitimate” targets? I learned a lot about Gandhi though… funny that.

[@anonihme5142]

@@henrystevens2258 any chance of you acknowledging it and start teaching it in your schools so we can all do that?

[@MiloManning05]

@@resistancefighter9009 💣

[@tictacmantips1]

Ulster was always majority Catholic when you include the 9 counties of Ulster

[@marcasoceallaigh5362]

Yes you're correct, and that is exactly why they only segregated the 6 countries. It is gerrymandering, gerrymandering is the political manipulation of electoral district boundaries with the intent of creating undue advantage for a party, group, or socio-economic class within the constituency. This is what led to the civil rights movement in the 60's.

[@alphamikeomega5728]

@@marcasoceallaigh5362 Gerrymandering would have been to draw electoral boundaries within Ulster such that the whole province were controlled by a unionist minority, rather than to separate off a majority-unionist area as its own entity, as was done. You're right, as I recall, that gerrymandering was done _within_ Northern Ireland to give the unionists a majority in areas where they were in the minority. Certainly Northern Ireland's poor were barred from voting in local elections before the Civil Rights movement.

[@GabagoolEnjoyer863]

​@@alphamikeomega5728 But that's what Northern Ireland is. It's a gerrymandered electoral boundary of Ireland.

[@NewryRapper]

Well said 💪☘️

[@alphamikeomega5728]

@@GabagoolEnjoyer863 At this point, now that the Protestant population is much smaller than 100 years ago, it's effectively so. I've heard that the Northern Irish also prioritised, to some degree, control over land over having a large Protestant majority (though I forget the details); that said, in 1920, Northern Ireland had a large Protestant majority of 2/3, so even extending the definition of gerrymandering to include international borders, Northern Ireland's international border did not fit the charge when it was created. Another possible issue with calling it gerrymandering is that it suggests that a solution might be to re-draw the border closer to community divides. Perhaps it is indeed something unionists will look to - but the nationalists in Belfast, surrounded by unionists, wouldn't take that well, I imagine.

[@Annie-qp5iu]

Every empire crumbles eventually.

[@resistancefighter9009]

Germans are on there third crumbling now🤣🤣

[@thejoin4687]

Ireland is the first and last chapter in the story of the British Empire.

[@themsmloveswar3985]

The nEU empire???

[@freneticness6927]

@@thejoin4687 Ireland is busy destroying itself at the moment.

[@mariocroatia9321]

​@@resistancefighter9009British history is much worse then German history

[@stewpacalypse7104]

As a Yank with friends from both Ireland and England, I've always gotten the impression that the English view Northern Ireland as that cousin they wish wouldn't show up to the Christmas party anymore.

[@numerouno.5445]

I doubt many in Ulster would want to go to their party.

[@stephenkirkpatrick6640]

Irish people feel the same way about Americans when they come over here telling everyone their irish

[@nigelmurphy6761]

​@@stephenkirkpatrick6640speak for yourself pal. I'm Irish and you don't speak for me.

[@dermo50]

Yep same. I’m Irish and I think many of us have a strong affinity to Irish America

[@colinmassey527]

As an NI based business man working for an English based company and a lifelong 'soft' unionist, I have been absolutely dismayed at the aggressively hard-line attitude of the DUP towards Brexit, which in IMO has done more for a united Ireland than the IRA armed campaign ever did. And now, despite NI doing relatively well, by increasing trade with the ROI, DUP are trying to create a slump, by hanging their hat on a trade war with the EU. For what? The opportunity to create yet more division? Regardless of the percentage of 'them versus us', I would be sorely tempted to vote for unification myself, in the hopes of a brighter economic future within the EU, rather than sticking with the 'sick old man of Europe' that the UK looks like it is about to become, once again.

[@jonathanbuzzard1376]

With the idiots in charge at the moment, I would imagine that unification in Ireland is looking more attractive by the hour at the moment. Independence is sure looking even more attractive over here in Scotland.

[@awtistiaeth4699]

Times change and things move on. You seem to have realised that in relation to your current situation. I hope I don't come across as patronising, but "fair play". The UK/Britannia is spent force. Empires don't just collapse in a few months and the British one has been in the death-throes for around a hundred years. It is change and change is uncertainty, but it'll be fine in the end, or not. All we can do is hope we are open-minded enough to make the right decisions. If I was in your shoes, I'd be applying for that Irish passport. My birth mother was of Irish stock and if I can discover that I have Irish grandparents, maybe just maybe, you might see me at the border!!

[@ericrose3158]

Time for the 26 to come home to the uk only there was a United ireland was under British rule .

[@colinmassey527]

@@ericrose3158 Ireland wants to be part of toxic UK as much a Ukraine wants to be part of Russia 🤣

[@magsbrowne9693]

@@ericrose3158 What? Please explain.

[@pablosaintmarr3223]

I thought Scotland would be the one to bring and end to the UK , seems N Ireland will be the ones - which is just as pleasing . Let the Welsh and English reform their union and name it Poundlalaland .

[@alistairmrkerr1336]

Wangland

[@johncahalane7327]

Wales I think has bigger issues than either Scotland or Northern Ireland, there's a real 50/50 split the Royalist mainly English Nationalists and the Republicans or the old Welsh Kingdom, this did not surface until post Brexit and the they don't care about us in London flashing in bright lights.. Yes deny deny deny, but its Brexit, Bréxit, Bréxit

[@pablosaintmarr3223]

@@alistairmrkerr1336 Wangshire .

[@mushogi]

I rather thought that would be the name for Scotland as they don't have a currency of their own.

[@alistairmrkerr1336]

@@mushogi the Scottish pound and then probably the Euro 👍the GBPound will lose 8% minimum when we leave and more since it wont have as much oil to back it

[@audreymcgready4329]

My Irish Catholic Granda left Derry in the 1917 and if he was alive today. He would just love this news.

[@collydub1987]

@Pale Rider or not

[@roisinmalone3015]

@Pale Rider 😂 London is London. Derry is Derry. Soon to be a part of a United Ireland. Get used to it.

[@xotan]

@Pale Rider Either is acceptable.

[@damianmoran1512]

@Pale Rider Thats in New Hampshire USA

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@roisinmalone3015 There is no Ireland. They gave it to Germany remember.

[@cmsacademy1673]

It was always going to be the natural outcome that Ireland unites and the the uk is no more. Scotland will surely achieve independence in this decade. Thanks to the tories who single handedly destroyed the union

[@resistancefighter9009]

You know that a lie. Are you lonely?

[@collydub1987]

@@resistancefighter9009 you're the one commenting on every comment. It's only a matter of time pal. Ireland will unify.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

@@collydub1987 people in England don't care about British Ireland. For most people, the sooner its gone the better.

[@8ofwands300]

You mean reunite.

[@brendansparks1511]

@@resistancefighter9009 The ol troll using yet another username.

[@malcolmgordon2988]

I can only speak for myself but I grew up in a rural Protestant / Unionist community in NI. While there may be some lingering Unionism in my subconscious (probably connected to the fact that RoI doesn’t have a free-at-the-point-of-access equivalent to the NHS), I’m one of those who would at times consider myself Irish or British… or equally repelled by either depending on who’s waving a fleg in my face! I honestly don’t think the Catholic / Protestant thing is as big a deal as it would have been a generation ago as the most consistent growth of any particular group is that of those who identify as ‘other’. While Brexit unquestionably accelerated any potential moves toward a United Ireland, I suspect that this is still some time off. What may be a bigger factor than any religious question is that we have a group of Unionist politicians trapped in a fear based siege mentality whose every ‘strategic’ move is aimed at energising their core base while alienating those they should be reaching out to.

[@McNallyF]

I don't think Brexit has anything to do with this latest demographic or religious results. You could be right and this could be a waiting game for all the over 65's to pass on and the new generation to vote without all the old hatred blurring people's decisions. The current TUV (60'00 voters) and DUP (250'000 voters) politician are all for the most part old and being replaced with young more softer (at least looking) ones. Politicians go where the wind blows (look at Truss etc) so I feel the siege mentality is becoming a very small but loud loyalist thing. Maybe I'm wrong but these loyalist paramilitaries are more of a criminal problem than anything else.

[@malcolmgordon2988]

@@McNallyF There’s no doubt whatsoever that the loyalist paramilitaries are criminal thugs focused little more than controlling their own communities, but they are sadly being empowered by the increasingly hard line DUP who themselves are allowing themselves to be dragged along by the TUV and (rather bizarrely) that wee muppet Jamie Bryson (who lost his deposit in the only election he ever stood for).

[@joprocter4573]

After ww2 there wasn't as ppl welcomed home troops of all faiths then ira terrorists begin querrila war.. JOB silly expect piece of land to knit for an old Irish daydream. In NI we run honest politics so if it was UK or Ireland the various union political party's would by many seats outweigh ira sinn fein. You don't know job.. You always anti British at best of times.. Police n workers in the now 26county Irish Catholic w state were mixed army. Police. Services. Teachers from all faiths in past n now. It was Irish identify catholics who held country to ransome for 30yrs as UK introduced laws so not to upset Irish catholics such as abortion. Lgbt. Divorce.. Always afraid of upsetting rcs.. Even their doctors 2022 don't want to do abortions

[@williamhurley8407]

@@McNallyF whilst I agree that brexit has nothing to do with the new demographic, it did create a Northern Ireland that was by definition different from the rest of the U.K. The problems that have been created by brexit in the Provence are unsolvable with Eire part of the single market and customs union. The only way to avoid a monitored border was to leave the Provence in both, whilst the rest of the U.K. left both. But by treating the Provence differently from the rest of the U.K., combined with the fact that there are now more RCs can only accelerate the movement towards a United ireland and the break up of the U.K. Also referring to were I live Scotland, brexit is extremely unpopular up here, and has damaged the union. The SNP and independence are now neck and neck with those who want to remain.

[@irishrover9332]

You're a top man Malcolm, you'd be treated like absolute GOLD down here in Galway mate, definitely minimal bigotry here. Loads of Protestant Irish across the Republic YET they're proudly IRISH. It doesn't matter the slightest, nobody cares. We are a mega multi cultural accepting society nowadays, racism isn't tolerated by a majority of the people. Welcome down South anytime lad, you're a fellow countryman no matter North/East/South or West :) Sláinte!

[@kev643]

Northern Ireland has come along way from the Prime minister of Northern Ireland Lord Brookborough telling people not to employ Catholics, He was a KG, CBE, MC, TC. No one in the British Establishment thought this was wrong.

[@wonjubhoy]

The British feel out of their depth on Irish politics and preferred to keep things at arm's length. Lord Cameron strongly condemned religious discrimination in his 1969 report into the conflict in northern Ireland.

[@123YMR]

@@wonjubhoy there was a policy in Northern Ireland of not employing Catholics, including civil service jobs, to keep Catholics poor. It led to the unsuccessful Irish civil rights movement in the 60s, later the troubles in the 70s, always badly handled. Look at all the hunger strikers let die, because they wouldn’t classify them as political prisoners.

[@ralphgreenjr.2466]

I am a retired US Army officer. I was stationed at GHQ Reindalen in 1984. I became friends with a British Officer, who had before his current assignment been posted in Belfast, NI. I had told him I was descended from Irish Catholics from Belfast. He offered to take me there for the weekend. I could not believe how the British Army conducted daily business. The separation and bitterness between Catholics and Protestants was a shock. The poverty of the Catholics was overwhelming. I told my friend that if I lived there I would be in the IRA. I had been stationed in the US south during segregation and saw the injustice, Belfast was 100 times worse.

[@jetrex1986]

I remember going to the States and the property of the Blacks and Indians was overwhelming. Poverty on both sides of the divide not just one side in NI.Did you go to run down protestant estates?

[@ralphgreenjr.2466]

@@jetrex1986 Yes my British friend gave me the grand tour to include several British Army checkpoints. I did have to present my military ID at one checkpoint.

[@jetrex1986]

@@ralphgreenjr.2466 Do you know who killed the most RCs in the troubles?.

[@ralphgreenjr.2466]

@@jetrex1986 IRA?

[@barryb90]

@@ralphgreenjr.2466 They love stating the above, which isn't true and also irrelevant if it was. Despite commiting acts of terrorism, It wasn't a religious war on their front and targeted the military, police and government buildings. The loyalist paramilitaries like the UDA literally just killed Catholics for being Catholics.

[@johnsheehan3685]

The religious divide in northern Ireland suits politicians who want to rule. Most people just want to get on with rheir lives

[@alexgordon4672]

At last i thought i was the only one who can see this, 100% not one of our so called elected representatives has their constituents best interests at heart, whether you are green or orange. Sinn Fein care about nothing other than a united ireland no matter what the cost and the DUP care about nothing but having another border in place so they can retain their very high paid positions of influence and standing. Alliance SDLP and the others are just career politicians and why not, the wages are far better than a nurses or a civil servant , our politicians have a way better quality of life than the majority of us. They are playing a big game with our futures and that of our children but it is essentially a game to them, real consequences will not reach them because of how much they are paid. And the fools here will still vote for them!

[@jquill6]

One thing I often notice is that many British people I know believe that the Island should be united.

[@CHuzz7777]

Yes and at the same time there is an assumption they would oppose it when in reality it’s really only an opinion held by a few double breasted suit types who are now in their 80s.

[@resistancefighter9009]

It is united. Germany owns it all.

[@thedude9014]

@@resistancefighter9009 😂😂😂😂 oh you silly gammon ?!

[@MiloManning05]

@@resistancefighter9009 USA owns uk

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@thedude9014 Aaaa, lost an argument and straight to name calling.

[@TheBerserkCook]

I understand signaling out the IRA for wide ranger audience in Britain. However, it's important to call both sides out for the atrocities committed during the troubles. The UVF & IRA both have plenty of blood on their hands.

[@mrsillywalk]

You forget one thing. They were beating the Catholics before they were forced to kick back. Violence was institutionalised in the "B" specials by a Protestant Government for a Protestant People. There is no reciprocity to be found in this.

[@alexmeikle1980]

when you have a party in power that is only interested in keeping the people of southern england happy what do you think is going to happen. saor alba.

[@chatham43]

.........the red wall too Alex...do your homework....😊...

[@alexmeikle1980]

@@chatham43 here in gods country {scotland} we dont have that stupidity.🤣

[@pearse9116]

I'm an Irish lad (28) from Northern Ireland. I have a lot of people from British/Unionist backgrounds who have adopted Irish/Nationalist identity and beliefs, I have never in my life seen it go the other way even the slightest.

[@picklecat4819]

I'm 37 and can say the same thing. Raised in a unionist area, but I have never classed myself as either unionist or nationalist. I'm gobsmacked at the behaviour of the DUP in not only trying to ruin the Brexit agreement but at the same time the GFA. I'm also irritated at their opinions on the Irish language act, NI has only existed for 100 yrs but they get upset at the prospect of street signs in a language that is thousands of years old. It's a bunch of bitter old men and women who need to get with the programme as all they are doing is creating more hatred on an already divided island.

[@dratsab1980able]

I'm 43 and can say the same, I've seen several unionist-background people re-evaluate the whole situation, but never a nationalist decide "British is best". Big thanks to Mr.Donaldson for recently performing the best Britainnia scuttling I have ever seen since my birth in 1980!

[@freneticness6927]

@@dratsab1980able And yet thousands of irish from the north and the south choose to leave and live under the british government in england. They have zero ability to comprehend their own ignorance.

[@dratsab1980able]

​@@freneticness6927That's a purely financial move, not a morally historic or cultural one? I've done it, I worked in Surrey and then came back because alot of money was offered. It doesn't mean I prefer their ethos or outlook.

[@Romchav]

The winds are singing freedom

[@bernardmolloy4463]

this has been slowly happening for years. there will eventually be a united ireland, the only question is when.

[@resistancefighter9009]

When Germany who owns Ireland took over n .I a few years ago.

[@thedude9014]

@@resistancefighter9009 😂😂😂😂 oh you gammon !!

[@eoghangreene8749]

@@resistancefighter9009 That ol German rule happened when Brexiteers voted for the protocol to get brexit done? Can't thank you goons enough.

[@xotan]

@@resistancefighter9009 Sie trollen zu viel. Ihr Englisher seid schon Deutsche. Auch ihre Sprache ist aus Deutsch geboren.

[@resistancefighter9009]

🤣🤣🤣 thank you for proving your all sad lonely trolls who kniw youre wrong and straight to name calling.

[@cathalleddy8144]

I grew up about 5 miles from the border, on the southern side. As a child it was a regular experience to go through British Army checkpoints. Soldiers, guns, watchtower, razor wire, the whole works. Now, apart from the roadsigns being different you wouldn't even know you'd crossed an international border. It's so important that Thick Lizzie doesn't vandalise this peace. On the matter of a united Ireland it must be realised that not all catholics would vote for this but at the moment the loss of QE II (Charlie is unlikely to inherit that popularity and seeming changelessness), who was a huge rallying symbol for unionists, the change in demographics as you discuss here, and the undoubted harm that the Tories will continue to do to the UK welfare state, NHS &c (a lot of people will be persuaded by whatever serves their own standard of living, similarly membership of the EU could swing traditionally 'small u unionists) definitely make it look nearer than at any time since partition. It's far from being as simple as looking at these census numbers but it's definitely another step in the right direction. (Depending on what you consider the right direction 😆.)

[@pete_lind]

But the number of people that said they are catholics did not go up , before 45 % , now 45 % ... protestants before 48 % , now 43 % .

[@bigbinji6145]

middle class catholics in Northern Ireland will always want to be part of the Union with Britain. They know how their bread is buttered.

[@joprocter4573]

Disgraceful offense

[@Minime163]

A United Ireland verses northern Ireland staying in the UK will come down to economics where people think their better off in the EU or the UK.

[@robert6106]

I was one of them Soldiers, I was also a small child caught up in the IRA's bombings in Belfast. Grow up running the gauntlet of interface violence and the reality of paramilitarism. A United Ireland will never happen in your lifetime, maybe an independent Northern Ireland if the UK falls apart.

[@imastaycool]

As it stands: 4 of the 6 occupied counties are predominantly catholic and/or nationalist. Most unionists now have an Irish passport. Sinn Féin is the most popular political party in the north of Ireland and the rest of the island. Both politics and demographics demonstrate that the British invasion of Ireland to wipe out the Irish culture didn't succeed at all. I accept the unionists and respect their right to be/feel/identify as British, but I have zero tolerance for their denial of the above changes and with them the right to a democratic border poll. Change is upon them.

[@eoghangreene8749]

Maith an fear Dan.

[@russellerskine500]

53% of passports held by people normally resident in NI are British. 32% Irish.

[@imastaycool]

@@russellerskine500 that's a complete and utter lie... Come back with facts, you silly little Planter.

[@freneticness6927]

If the british wanted to wipe out the irish culture they would have. Nothing is inevitable except irish peoples capacity for delusions. None of the 6 counties have a catholic majority.

[@dpj1]

As an Irishman, I would love to see a united Ireland, but the prospect of the DUP in the Dail (Irish parliament) fills me with dread

[@jedsithor]

Who knows, maybe they'd take a page out of Sinn Fein's book in Westminster and refuse to take up their seats. Also, have you seen the kinds of people we get in the Dail? They'd fit in with the likes of the Healy Raes talking about creationism no problem and we all know that the blueshirts would have no problem turning to the DUP for a few extra votes. The quality of politicians in the Dail on all sides is pretty poor. The DUP would be a very small voice in the Dail and they, like the other Northern Ireland parties, would need to form alliances with Irish parties in order to get anything done so their influence isn't going to be massive. This is actually a problem though. I don't like the DUP but they are currently the biggest unionist party and if Irish unification is going to work, unionists can't be just told to go sit in the corner. They need to be able to participate in the political sphere in a meaningful way and be properly represented (I'd argue they're not being properly represented as it is by the DUP but that's another matter).

[@seankavanagh7625]

It's very boring watching it atm. The villa need some new bombshells 😋

[@pixieizzy5431]

Cause our own Corrupt politicians are much better🤣,Can it get any worse than Leo,Mehole and Eamonn the Cabbage Ryan?

[@mot7099]

But they would only be confined to a small part of the North East of Ireland so they wouldn't hold much power surely, only acting as a representative for the small diminishing notion of Protestant Identity

[@rewdwarf123]

How could there be a unionist party if they're no longer in the Union?

[@robertlandrum1971]

The only question now is: do the now Catholic & Non-Religious majority coalition consider themselves more Irish than British? And will the problems of Brexit force many Northern Irelanders (Catholic and Protestant alike) to consider joining Ireland to stay in the European Union? Unless Britain finally realizes that Brexit was a huge mistake, the United Kingdom may not be able to stay unified and could potentially lose both Northern Ireland and Scotland as well.

[@sifunmon]

The UK is doomed. NI and Scotland will leave

[@charliearmour1628]

Absolutely correct Robert.

[@pablosaintmarr3223]

Lost ? its supposed to be a voluntary political union , even prince Charles commented on it [as he was choking on his own bile] . Scottish people are sovereign and they will decide, English people are SUBJECTS and it has nothing to do with them what the Scots decide.

[@imastaycool]

The occupied counties of Ireland are already "lost" to Britain aka Little England.

[@mrkillman555]

*realises

[@jabber67]

Great! As it should be 🍀

[@henrystevens2258]

Why

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@henrystevens2258 Because they want a 4th re ich.

[@MiloManning05]

@@resistancefighter9009 I do yes 🇮🇪🇪🇺

[@freneticness6927]

Irelands still controlled by foreigners anyways. One of thems even the prime minister.

[@belfasta]

When I was young I thought of myself as British but I'm older and wiser and I'm Irish and proud of it born on the island of Ireland

[@Hazed64]

Best way to do it the British don't care about protestant irish

[@liamcassidy5992]

One day our beautiful island shall be united

[@TheShiningOne_-_]

@belfasta 1 of the most beautiful islands in the world 🍀

[@themaskedman221]

And if you were even wiser you'd realize you could be both.

[@danmayberry1185]

Seems inevitable that the Island of Ireland will be a European country.

[@Annie-qp5iu]

We are

[@resistancefighter9009]

N.i and Ireland are under the rule of law of the German empire.

[@davidpryle3935]

@Pale Rider Yeah, a lot of people make that mistake. It is always worth pointing out.

[@xotan]

It already is.

[@frankoneill5675]

Ireland has always been a European country

[@fdoy]

The Republic of Ireland is now experiencing a phenomenal great economy. English people consider the Unionist in NI Irish, not British. This will totally change the outlook in NI.

[@freneticness6927]

Didnt know a paddy like you spoke for all english people.

[@mamaduck9370]

Chucky ar lar. Love from an Aussie in the Republic of Ireland in the peaceful trading bloc of the EU.

[@geovanniali6060]

Tiocfaidh ar la cara

[@DoctorCymraeg]

Tiocfaidh ár lá | Daw ein dydd 🇮🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@freneticness6927]

Allah who akbar fellow horrible human.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Beagnach tagtha mo chairde!🤞☘🇮🇪💚

[@tonymc8268]

You spoke about Irish violence and completely fail to mention British violence.

[@robert6106]

All nation states have the right to protect themselves and their subjects

[@tonymc8268]

@@robert6106 While murdering and terrorising innocent men women and children, protecting themselves from what?

[@barrycreed9886]

@@robert6106 Ever heard of the Military Reaction Force?

[@TheAwillz]

The UK ended with the Brexit vote, it’s just a case of waiting for everyone to realise this now.

[@resistancefighter9009]

@Pale Rider It's just these sad trolls trying to act like it's fact. Nobody want ind epende nce. They just want to take our land and give it Germany.

[@josepablomolinacarrillo3621]

Adios UK.

[@collydub1987]

@@resistancefighter9009 lol

[@Nilguiri]

@@josepablomolinacarrillo3621 adiós*

[@brendansparks1511]

@@resistancefighter9009 The ol troll using yet another username.

[@michaeloshea5505]

Not all but many Protestant Unionist. "Now very much in the minority" are very inflexible in their views about the nature of NI And always default to a thinly veiled threat of violence at any signs of any change and the conservative government has always supported them in that stance.

[@6Tghma]

We are Irish not British and don't want anything to do with monarchy or empire/commonwealth. We have a different culture, language, gaelic sports and so on. We have always wanted a United Ireland and the partition of Ireland was a disaster from the get go. United Ireland makes so much sense for a small island. Unite Ireland 🇮🇪

[@realitysosubtle2746]

Even the pro-brexit DUP MPs carry Irish passports...a vote for a UI if there ever was one.

[@resistancefighter9009]

Can I ask why your pro German empire?

[@minimoog4236]

@@resistancefighter9009 Is it German this week? I thought it was French. You just can't keep up, can you.

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@minimoog4236 Are you OK?

[@MrStoneyburke]

@@resistancefighter9009 Resistance chap why are you Pro Russian Empire ?

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@MrStoneyburke I'm not. It's been russian for 400 years. Ukrain renounced its s0ver3gnty so it's belongs to Russia. Facts innit

[@rachel.mcgowan]

The first time I flew into England alone, at age 22, I was actually detained for over an hour at Manchester Airport while the police checked out my background and determined whether they considered me any sort of threat. This was post-GFA, late 1999.

[@resistancefighter9009]

Where you?

[@JayJay5244]

That’s basically what people who look middle eastern or have an Arabic name go through now. I never thought the Irish were targeted like that… Thanks for sharing

[@jumantewashington8715]

"Sir, please remove the balaclava."

[@greamespens1460]

Did this to other family members or friends?

[@cheiftain732]

I was dragged out of a toilet in new st station MP5 to my head over a tattoo

[@ghawe844]

I can't imagine any Catholics in NI considering themselves as British. The British atrocities in the history of the island is still felt strongly. Northern Irish yes, Irish definitely. I feel sadness for my Protestants here because they are holding on to a last that no longer exists and the majority of English just sees them as an embassment, especially since Brexit.

[@alanh2179]

@Pale Rider Having lived in London for many years I can say the English look on the Irish as Irish not British, they don't ask if they are northern paddies or southern paddies, catholic paddies, or protestant paddies. They are all just paddies.

[@jedsithor]

@Pale Rider A majority of pro-Brexit people in England were in favour of getting rid of Northern Ireland if it meant getting Brexit done. To be honest, before Brexit I doubt most people gave a second thought to Northern Ireland for decades.

[@batcollins3714]

It's not "Northern Ireland", it's a British colony in Ulster formed by a truce between the UK and Ireland.

[@Epsilon04]

Can I just ask what you mean by felt strongly? Not denying that the Irish feel that way and obviously not denying the atrocities themselves, just wondering what is meant by felt strongly and how that manifests itself in a on the street day to day sense? Not trying to have an argument here just want to be educated on it.

[@sk00p]

@@alanh2179 erm no. They are British, why you trying talk for myself a born and bred londoner

[@danielcampbell3686]

When I worked in London in my late teen early 20's the English were just as nasty to you whether you were a Catholic Paddy or a protestant so as often happened the paddy's from both sides worked together, and found we weren't any different from each other, The friends I made from the Protestant side are still some of the best Guys you could ask for 40 years on. We always have each others backs

[@LiveFromLondon2]

the english dont like foreigners, especially neighbours. But lets add some balance to this - the French dont like foreigners either, nor do the Welsh, and as for the Irish, they dont like anyone that isn't from their own village. Obviously that doesnt include every single person.

[@LeMerch]

@@LiveFromLondon2 That’s just not true. I’m Irish, have lived in France and England and found them both extremely xenophobic which doesn’t exist anywhere near the same level in Ireland.

[@q11q40]

@@LeMerch if you start speaking with an English accent in Ireland you are in trouble, I know many people who visited Ireland and would never go again because of the hatred

[@divannavid4576]

@@q11q40 sorry but that's horseshit! Maybe until the 90's but no way since. Irish, by in large, are very tolerable of all ethnicities and cultures

[@derekkearns3377]

@@LeMerch both are imperialist thu

[@gottmituns813]

Irish unity now!

[@msmith4441]

Why would that lead to Ireland unity?

[@jumantewashington8715]

What difference would it make?

[@rewdwarf123]

@@jumantewashington8715 It would for the Northern Irish. They'd move into the EU.

[@freneticness6927]

Under british rule.

[@jimibhoy8935]

​@@freneticness6927Explain please, why would a united Ireland be under British rule??

[@claireslattery7]

United Ireland 🇮🇪

[@chatham43]

....and England independence...

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Athaontaithe- Reunited!🇮🇪

[@claireslattery7]

And Peace for ALL.

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

@@claireslattery7 Not at any cost! Charles Dickens!🇮🇪💚

[@cheiftain732]

Ireland can be your best friend but it can never be you . We are distinct different and seoerate and only force ever held us together . Unity and friendship is best

[@johnfisher697]

Many years ago I dated a girl from the Republic ( I am British) and asked her, if in the event of a Plebiscite would the North re-join the south if the Catholics were in the Majority. Her reply was its not really about Religion, but who will have the better Standard of living to offer the Voter. This gave me a whole new view of the "troubles" in that part of the world.

[@alanmarkalan9602]

It's much more about identity than religion. The church is a failing concept across the island, albeit more so in the south than north. The reality is the Unionists (DUP and other hardliners) detest anything Irish and struggle to hide it even when in the highest of office.

[@NewryRapper]

It was never to do with religion in the first place..

[@johnfisher697]

@@NewryRapper That's easy to say now, but in the early 70s when the troubles started most people didn't know about the provence or people , this is what the media always portrayed it as.

[@johnfisher697]

@@garyfletcher1910 For Governments and political parties of course its about power, but what is it about for the ordinary folk.? In the end I think you may be right, Ireland/Dublin will prevail, in the end its the sensible option.

[@BigStew993]

Its also hugely about identity rather than life quality. I mean theres no doubt many Irish Nationalist people in the North that would sacrifice a lot so that they could be freely Irish again

[@nnsnumbersandnotesunlimite7368]

Time to unify, write this history in the books, and reconcile gently !

[@josephxd6574]

Reconcile first then unify. History can often repeat.

[@golgotha3938]

Protestants are older and aging ,the Catholics are younger and growing. If it won't be don't peacefully it'll sadly be done not peacefully and the older protestant population don't deserve to be thrown to the wolves by the British state like that.

[@freneticness6927]

@@golgotha3938 I dont think they want to be genocided like what happened in the roi.

[@thewexican1095]

UNITED IRELAND 🇮🇪

[@josepablomolinacarrillo3621]

@Pale Rider Get a life.

[@collydub1987]

Hopefully soon

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Athaontaithe go deo!🇮🇪☘💚

[@constantius4654]

The Protestant parties of Northern Ireland will have a whole lot more influence and clout in the parliament of a united Ireland than they will ever have at Westminster where the English view the 'province' as something between an expensive irritation requiring a subsidy of £10 billion a year and otherwise as a general irrelevance to the wellbeing of England or Great Britain.

[@BuckFastNinja]

It's never been about Religion, it was about sovereignty, tribal lines usually fell down religious lines though. Some of the greatest proponents of a united Independent Ireland have been protestants. Anyway modern Ireland doesn't care what flavour of nonsense floats your boat, there's more important things to worry about.

[@freneticness6927]

If it was about sovereignty and tribal lines then ulster would still be independent.

[@BrianDwyer77]

What a great listen! Well balanced as usual!

[@europainvicta3907]

When I was at school in the 80s our school was selected to go on Question Time. And I was chosen as one of the handful of teenagers to attend the recording at the BBC. I was also asked to submit a question. I can’t remember the politicians on the panel but my question must have to pertinent to the panel and that we were in a London. My question was ‘why are the French maquis Resistance fighters but the IRA terrorists?’ My question was not selected.

[@maureenurquhart]

Bet it wasn't how can you be a Terrorist fighting in your own country for your rights Soar Alba and Erin go Bragh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮

[@mozartsbumbumsrus7750]

Catholic or not, Ireland will unite kicking out the crown.

[@icdgyixify]

It will all be Islamic before long anyway.

[@dublinsteve4642]

@@icdgyixify 😂😂😂

[@mozartsbumbumsrus7750]

@@icdgyixify You think? Freedom of religion should prevail.

[@tgm_rka8888]

@@mozartsbumbumsrus7750 well if it becomes majority Muslim country freedom of religion will go down the bin.

[@martyg1647]

I worked in London in the eighties and constantly was harassed and descriminated against for being irish . The English mostly know nothing about Ireland and it's people. It was a horrible experience with threats of violence and actual violence against myself and fellow irish people Northern or Southern irish

[@jasonparfitt5936]

Um but like the English getting insulted in Scotland ,and when my friend got spat at in Ireland.

[@martyg1647]

@@jasonparfitt5936 had worse done to me in England

[@patrickbracken3363]

@@jasonparfitt5936 except of course the irish never occupied england, took the land and banned the english from practicing their religion, speaking their own language or governing their own nation. But apart from that, exactly the same......

[@martyg1647]

@@patrickbracken3363 exactly

[@dmvzfdac]

@@patrickbracken3363 the Irish language was never banned. As for Catholicism yes it was banned in England and Wales and independently in Scotland. But conversely Protestantism was banned in France and Spain so that’s just how things were those days.

[@burrrrrrrrrrrrrrp]

Just because we outnumber them doesn’t mean that we want to do onto them what they did onto us. We just want what we have always wanted, a fair shake of the stick.

[@davidtkocz8356]

I do.

[@christopherhennessey8991]

Agree.

[@christopherhennessey8991]

@@davidtkocz8356 I’m certain the Protestants are now quite concerned.

[@davidtkocz8356]

@@christopherhennessey8991 hope so

[@stephenkirkpatrick6640]

What about what the IRA did to protestants??? And catholics !

[@davidmcinnes8290]

Why would anyone want to be classed as british? I'm Scottish and never british.

[@jasonbourne7499]

Great News

[@chatham43]

....absolutely spiffing posh boy......

[@Scotland2306]

26+6=1

[@roisinmalone3015]

It means that reunification is inevitable. Northern Ireland was set up to be loyal to the crown etc as a manufactured statelet with a built in protestant majority, put there re the plantations initially. Reason would dictate, once that protestant majority is gone, sooner or later so will the manufactured statelet go. And that is without all the Brexit stuff.

[@resistancefighter9009]

Reason would dictate Ireland didn't wants it sov rnty it would return to Britain. Of course non of you people are very reasoned are you.

[@rommel3854]

@@resistancefighter9009 They had no choice , beause in the 1920s the British government treatened to wipe out all of the south via aerial bombardment if they didnt agree to the take it or leave it offer of a prodestant state,, Do your researh for goodness sake

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@rommel3854 🤣🤣🤣 the 1920's? What. The e.u didn't exist till the 90's😂😂😂 Imagine talking down to me like that after absolutely humiliating yourself🤣🤣🤣

[@roisinmalone3015]

@@resistancefighter9009 Emm, no reason wouldn't dictate that at all considering what happened under British rule in Ireland, eg, for one at least a million people dead of famine, enabled by Westminster and Britain. Why would Ireland ever want to go back to a union responsible for that? I think your sense of reason must be skewed

[@seang3019]

@@resistancefighter9009 You've got all the answers, haven't you? Why don't you have another drink and call in to the show?

[@Dub1916]

I have the same relationship with Scarlet Johanson that unionists have with the UK, one is madly in love with the other, but the other doesn't know we exist.....

[@castroceltic7424]

The British public are generally clueless on the causes the intricacies the realities of the Irish conflict and Britains absolutely complicit role in the conflict. The UK media portrayal of Britain as an honest impartial broker is so far removed from reality yet it’s widely believed and accepted in Britain

[@padraigpearse1551]

When my da went to uni in London in the late 70s/80s he was treated as a possible terrorist by his peers until his lecturer told the students to get a grip of themselves

[@dodonnell-ze9yc]

My mother was the same. I still remember a story she told me where the day after a bombing in London. Her lecturer asked the 3 Irish people in the class where they were the night before in the middle of the lecture.

[@michaelhay514]

Clocks ticking - bound to happen, eventually a historic injustice will be rectified. I've been looking forward to it my whole life.

[@icdgyixify]

Better study the Koran. You will need to before long, anyway.

[@dmal4008]

@@icdgyixify oh shut up Hugh

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@dmal4008 Yes, knew you were a troll. Sort your pathetic head out.

[@stevedapom]

@@icdgyixify your mum

[@LiveFromLondon2]

Ireland and UK joined together at the request of the Irish Crown. Independence was not a simple matter, many people especially "up north" didnt want to leave. Specifically the protestant dominated areas. And so a partition was agreed. Rightly or wrongly, it was relatively democratic. Of course just like todays remoaners, some in Ireland didn't accept the agreement.

[@leonardoflorentin]

I'm not a religious person but i always get horrified on the way england got to be protestant. A freaking fat king wanted a divorce and that's it. Man, at least Constantine was fighting for his right to be emperor when he decided to convert.

[@tendrosstoodross2976]

Meanwhile the catholic church became the worlds biggest noncing group.

[@PaulStrickland]

Do you know the difference between Anglican and Presbyterian? Obviously not! Anglican is catholic with a small c ;) Presbyterian is full-blown Protestant, you also want to do some proper research before spouting off, Henry VIII wasn't fat as you put it when he divorced Katherine of Aragon

[@georgebrowne5935]

There was always going to be a United Ireland in the future, as History has taught us about former British Colonies, they return back to normal eventually. Brexit just gave it a step up the ladder, thanks to the DUP. If I was an Irish/British Unionist, I would be working very closely with my counterparts in Politics for the inevitable transition.

[@resistancefighter9009]

🤣🤣🤣 North and South were united under the new german empire. Britain left and is now demanding n I back. How have you got from these facts to that waffle?

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

Brexit had sped up the process by 15-20 years lol

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@kurtpunchesthings2411 Its literally the opposite.

[@johnny-pc7sf]

Brexit happened 8 years ago and yet still no mention of a border poll so it must be a pretty big ladder

[@georgebrowne5935]

@@johnny-pc7sf Do you live under a Rock? Or in Britain where you are kept in a Media Bubble?

[@ssmith954]

Really interesting... I think one point that is often missed, behind the all-too-easy categorisation of people as either Protestant or Catholic and what that means for N.Ireland, is that there is an entire generation and possibly a silent majority made up of people from both communities, but who are forward thinking, well educated, outward looking and no longer constrained or preoccupied by issues of sectarian identity. See the EU referendum result as a reflection of that. Regardless of religious demographics, this trend is continuing. What's interesting politically is that Sinn Fein has seen this and adapted and changed accordingly. What's also interesting is that the Republic of Ireland is no longer the closed society it used to be, and has developed a similarly forward-thinking and outward-looking identity. On the other hand, the UK has been derailed by english nationalism, while the DUP are still stuck in 1690.

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@johnmckiernan2176 You think a German empire is forward thinking?🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@resistancefighter9009]

It's not a Republic is it. It's under German rule of law.

[@brendansparks1511]

@@resistancefighter9009 The ol troll using yet another username.

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@brendansparks1511 Straight to name calling when proven wrong. 💯 % sad lonely troll.

[@seankavanagh7625]

@@resistancefighter9009 What German Empire? The only one refusing to hand back their stolen property and colonies is you lot. Hence why you haven't a friend in the world.

[@Frank75288]

more in liverpool too , maybe that's why they boo the national anthem

[@eggyfart4738]

Liverpool's always been the Catholic Enclave of Protestant England, Anti Scouse Sentiment stems from Anti Irishness and Anti Catholicism

[@Lifeofriley41]

Quite happy to spend UC money with the queen's head on it tho

[@New-ye2fl]

I fully support the unification of Ireland, I lived in Galway for 15 years, amazing country with amazing people, I genuinely miss it. Independence for Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@CHuzz7777]

You live in Scotland now?

[@resistancefighter9009]

So do I. Let's take the south back from Germany since the Irish don't want in deep en dance any more👍👍

[@brendansparks1511]

@@resistancefighter9009 The ol troll using yet another username.

[@msmith4441]

You fully support the unification of Ireland because you hate everything British ya plonker. But probably live in Britain 🤣🤣🤣

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@msmith4441 🦵🪜

[@upthedubs1000]

I would love to see a united Ireland. Let’s be honest, the last 800 years has not worked well for Ireland under British rule. Why not try a united Ireland?

[@Maestro4759]

More like 400 years, maybe even 200.

[@petert1692]

When a large part of the oppressors now think they’re oppressed. How ironic. Had advantages whether they had the brains to be “the boss.”

[@jacobite1017]

Poor wee protestants - bless them all.

[@johnbest4513]

Lol. GSTK.

[@JI-rx8uc]

Imagine the news of this being the biggest thing going on in your life. Pathetic 😆

[@jacobite1017]

@@JI-rx8uc You can imagine all you want - I don't care

[@edmund184]

do you enjoy overpopulating the planet and bowing down to Rome?

[@PaulStrickland]

You do know there were Protestants in the INLA?

[@ThrashingHorror]

The end is only the beginning

[@chatham43]

....very deep.....😊....

[@bandit2048]

I never realized the importance of Northern Ireland to Ireland until my son worked in Ireland for some years and told me that it is frequently referred to as 'the lost counties'. Still a lot of feeling in the south i believe that these 'lost counties' should be restored to Ireland.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

restored so long as there are no protestants there. Those of the south barely like each other let alone a protestant from the north. The dream of a united ireland exists in the heads only of people outside ireland, like Biden etc.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

Because from our perspective the North was our land it never belonged to them it was stolen land from day one and all these years later it is still stolen land a united Ireland would correct a historic injustice that began almost a millennium ago

[@shipwreckscuba2651]

Restored( ?). They were never part of an independent Ireland. They have been part of the U.K. for a very long time.

[@Wut3225]

@@shipwreckscuba2651 Except they would've been part of an independent Ireland before as it was a seperate Kingdom before the UK came into being

[@shipwreckscuba2651]

@@Wut3225 except Ireland was never unified before the Brits came. There never was a unified independent Ireland. Hence the idea of such being restored is a falsity

[@endlesssabbatical9612]

Demographics is destiny they say. The only chance to save Northern Ireland (if that’s what you want) is to embrace the Northern Ireland Protocol. It will make the need for a decision to be made via a border poll less of a necessity. If they break the Protocol and with it the GFA it will lead to a United Ireland

[@resistancefighter9009]

Who says that? Everyone chanting it on this channel?🤣🤣 Ireland is United. United under the German jack boot.

[@Tonydjjokerit]

@@resistancefighter9009 rather have that than the troubles coming back. That's what you want isn't it?!

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@Tonydjjokerit You prefer what's happening in the ukrain to the trouble? You don't do you. The troubles are not an alternative to peace.

[@frankoneill5675]

Save Northern Ireland? From what?

[@andrew300169]

Before brexit none of this really mattered or was at least a more or less resolved issue

[@macjim]

A United Ireland, an independent Scotland and… an independent Wales and England. The Union has seen it’s day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@resistancefighter9009]

Scotland doesn't want inde p3ndence. It(some)wants to go join the German empire.

[@rewdwarf123]

You're probably right with the first one but I cannot see an independent Scotland or Wales happening.

[@alanmacaskill6121]

@@rewdwarf123 why? There is almost a settled majority for Scottish independence and it only gets stronger as each year younger people get a vote. It’s demographics.

[@chatham43]

.....nah...the Scots are too canny to leave the gravy train.....

[@richardlewis7498]

@@alanmacaskill6121 no there isnt

[@BRENDAN75100]

As an Irish catholic living in Belfast dreaming of reunification of our beautiful island it’s brought a tear to my eye just listening to you , it has been a dream of not only mine but my mothers and grandparents and it looks like our dreams and prayers have all came true ..

[@paulmurphy1285]

Unlikely you’ll see a United Ireland… and, despite being catholic, I hopefully won’t either.

[@seankavanagh7625]

@@paulmurphy1285 Lad relax, be grand

[@McNallyF]

@@paulmurphy1285 Take it easy mate, everything will be alright.

[@Bdoc76]

@@paulmurphy1285 Are you Paul Murphy the former SOS ? You'll see a UI Paul - wheels are already moving.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@paulmurphy1285 you like seeing the Irish people separated? Well, okay then.

[@PaulSmyth]

I had the same experience of being called a terrorist because my Dad was Irish. We left London to move to Manchester because of the way the Irish were treated in London as a result of the Guildford bombings

[@davepangolin4996]

😂

[@petermeichan3160]

i hear you, just ask who invaded who ? the English thats who

[@resistancefighter9009]

@@petermeichan3160 When?

[@jonoessex]

your fellow countrymen shouldn't have been bombing pubs in the first place.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@jonoessex and it’s the Unionists who are still the biggest threat to peace despite all their crying about the injustices of war over the years.

[@alexkilgour1328]

Let's all remember that in the Star Trek universe, it is canon that Ireland becomes reunited in 2024. :)

[@isoldedoyle3483]

John McKiernan, I think you are looking at the pre Brexit economy of NI - the fact that post Brexit NI is still part of the EU for some things has given a huge boost to the economy there.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Demographics are destiny.

[@keltiquewood]

Ironically, Brexit has been more instrumental in bringing about a United Ireland than anything the IRA ever did! Cheers Britain!!!🙂

[@frankoneill5675]

Yes, reunification was a niche interest in Ireland before Brexit.

[@McNallyF]

Not exactly true but Brexit has helped those on the fence decide.

[@conordorrian1652]

Oh Mark! , don't fall for that one . If you study the English and their " glorious" empire they never left any country totally by political agreement but mostly by the use of guerilla tactics as in the case of Republican resistance. If it were not for such resistance Catholics and Republicans would still be feeding on the crumbs the fall from the so called Prodestant elite put into power to control a section of the UK , manufactured majorities in local elections by gerrymandering areas to produce time after time Prodestant majorities ( research Derry population).

[@LiveFromLondon2]

@@McNallyF youre right, not exactly true. The IRA did more to keep ireland separated than anyone else. Those of the republic, in general, didnt and still dont want terrorism in their name. Those people are not welcome in the republic.

[@Lifeofriley41]

The sooner the better english taxpayers pay for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales , money that could and should be spent in England

[@zendog7212]

I served on HMS Courageous in the 70's. Two of my mates were from Ireland. One from Belfast and one from Dublin. I saw more animosity between two Welsh blokes. One was from North Wales and spoke Welsh when he was on the phone to his girlfriend, and the other was from South Wales and didn't speak Welsh. They hated each other. (For those that are going to troll about phones on submarines, we lived in barracks when alongside).

[@joekavanagh7171]

I think Scotland will go independent first, and if that happens, Irish unity can't be far behind. The fields of Tyrone are just as green as those of Cavan.

[@TheShiningOne_-_]

Nah, they're greener ✋😊🖖

[@rabburns1382]

My cousin is the youngest of 12. She's a NI Protestant from a VERY VERY Protestant father. There seems to be an understanding abroad, that only Catholic families had large families. Not so.

[@peterflanagan5901]

🇮🇪🇪🇺☘️united ireland

[@vilamor007]

Atrocities on both sides James, innocent people jailed for nothing, love the programme 👍

[@tomphoto5809]

that's so true the RUC & The British Army were in cahoots 24-7 just appalling !

[@pipa8471]

Fully agree with you both sides were bad

[@jonoessex]

One side was carrying out a terrorist campaign the other a counter terrorist campaign in which they behaved enormously better than the other side.

[@eggyfart4738]

If Catholics had been given civil rights in the first place the troubles would never have happened. Crimes of the likes of the UVF and UDA are are not projected enough over here

[@jonoessex]

@@eggyfart4738 Reforms were introduced to deal with Catholic greivances before the troubles started e.g setting up an ombudsman to deal with complaints about discrimination. The loyalists have been given a lot of coverage in Britian.

[@johnthompson16]

As an englishman living in Belgium I cannot help but equate the history of England & the island of Ireland with Russia & Ukraine, with USA & Mexico...etc..

[@maureenurquhart]

And England and Scotland Soar Alba and Erin go Bragh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮

[@mariocroatia9321]

Or Serbia vs Croatia.Serbs have tormented Croats for a long time

[@BonMooney]

In 1976 my Northern Irish Catholic father was stopped for a minor traffic offence in Stoke on Trent. And detained for 9 days in the police cells why they "checked his background". He had done nothing to deserve that apart from having an Irish accent.

[@smithy2402]

9 Days !!! ...That's Awful, Hey You Certainly Look Irish Girl...

[@sklenars]

When I lived in England during the 70's, the paranoia was palpable. My Irish accent was a signal for immediate identification as a possible terrorist. Even though I worked at a Government communication centre and was fully clean sheeted, I was ejected from a rail station waiting room by the station master once he heard my response to his asking what train I was waiting for. It was in the early hours of a very cold frosty winters day. Instead of warming myself by the roaring log fire I was made to walk the darkened streets until my train was due. If I had refused his order he threatened to call the police. Another time I was followed to the toilet by a pub landlord on the pretext of cleaning because I had ordered a pint of the black stuff. I had many more bad experiences which made me think how easy it is to manipulate the publics mind by a Government decree that all Irish in the UK were possible terrorists. All this did was to alienate the Irish who were going about their daily lives trying to earn a living. From all this harassment only 2 convictions were achieved which were of a common criminal nature and nothing to do with the IRA.

[@hyzenthlay7151]

Star Trek The Next Generation did predict the reunification in 2024,in an episode that had that part censored in the UK

[@captricharddee3634]

The Also predicted that The Kardashians would be trouble.

[@paulmidsussex3409]

Star Trek also predicted a nuclear third world war and we appear to be hurtling towards that.

[@Hahaheeheehoho]

Star Trek is never wrong,live long and prosper🙂

[@iainrae6159]

Imagine there are many in N.Ireland who are non religious and tired of religious fractions.

[@mijicmugendo]

Nothing to do with religion. Irish people in NI where forced to be part of the uk because the British refused to go hime when Ireland was liberated

[@collydub1987]

Yes, but the issue with that for unionism is that parties like the DUP are not progressive, to say the least. An awful lot of non religious people in the north are quite liberal and therefore they can't see themselves agreeing with the DUP. This is especially true of anyone under 30 and are non religious. This means they often end up voting for SF or Alliance.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

@@mijicmugendo Your name seems apt.

[@rachel.mcgowan]

A lot of people who describe themselves as Catholic or Protestant do so purely on the grounds of upbringing or perceived community background, they aren't necessarily religiously observant at all.

[@The_Scum-Boss_Awards]

Religious fractions ... Like two fifths?

[@marcusdunne1495]

this has made my day lol

[@chatham43]

......what a sad day it must have been.....

[@marcusdunne1495]

@@chatham43 best day and all you poor old proddies must me crying 😢 😭 hahahahaha

[@TheAikenHead]

"Demographic is destiny" - James O'Brien.

[@rolandhawken6628]

The will is destiny not Demography

[@mrrt2317]

Would be great to see a united Ireland living in harmony.

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

And how would that happen?

[@MALEXI10]

Why? In what way could you possibly have a harmonious "united" Ireland when every trace of Britishness and British conservatism would be lost. You do know that it was the Irish Republic that surrendered and ultimately created both jurisdictions? Slightly ironic, don't you think?

[@RobertK1993]

@@MALEXI10 British conservatism is anti Catholic bigotry and Protestant supremacy you want a sectarian orange chimpanzee NI so where Catholics have no rights buddy

[@BigStew993]

​@@MALEXI10Nobody's trying to take the proddies Union Jacks away. But a United Ireland is a likely future. Northern Ireland was built on shaky foundations, it was never meant to last

[@eddieburke1404]

If you were born in Ireland, any part of Ireland, you are IRISH. If you were born in Britain ie England, Scotland and Wales your British. After the sectarian separation of Ireland in 1922 it became the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Get the difference ! As regards terrorism on these Islands I think the biggest and most culpable terrorist is Endland and Britain by not a country mile but a country 1,000 miles.

[@josephlyons6637]

Eddie, i was born in england to irish parents. We were brought up as irish. Thousands like me all over the world. If your parents are irish, your irish. Does not matter where you are born. Is James Connoly not irish then??? And St Patrick??

[@AJM-GariochQuine]

I beg to differ. In 2012, just 31 per cent of Scots said they were Scottish, not British. But a decade later, that figure has risen to 44 per cent, a 13-point increase. The number saying they are more Scottish than British now sits at 28 per cent, putting the overall figure of Scots who identify primarily as Scottish at 72 per cent, up from 57 per cent in 2012. Only 4% of Scots identify as more British than Scottish.

[@awtistiaeth4699]

Hi."If you were born in Britain ie England, Scotland and Wales your British". My British what? Please finish the sentence. Ta/Diolch

[@edmund184]

Patrick Magee was brought up in Norwhich. That makes him English.

[@matomatic4599]

I don't think Catholics outnumbering protestants is that significant a factor anymore when it comes to Irish reunification. Religious divides are less important in 2022. The unusual situation Brexit has put Northern Ireland in (sort of being part of the EU trade block, sort of being part of the UK) is a much more pertinent factor, most pragmatists in northern Ireland see a better economic future as fully part of the EU and in turn see their future as part of the Republic of Ireland.

[@roisinmalone3015]

Of course it is a significant factor. The Catholics are Irish. They are now the majority and things will continue to go this way. Plus new groups that have moved to Northern Ireland also favour unification re rights etc. Young people are massively in favour of unification. The island is already reuniting economically. Northern Ireland was set up to always ensure a Protestant majority loyal to the crown That is gone now and so inevitabily will the statelet go too Reunification was always inevitable, Brexit just sped it up.

[@BigHenFor]

It is still significant because certain people still consider it significant, and their motivations for doing so as well. Once the Tories started using the DUP to try to destroy the NI Protocol, that was them pocketing a box of matches and a tin of lighter fuel. The tinder is too damp because the very real economic benefit of the protocol is palpable. But there are still arsonists around, and a lot of them are on this side of the water. The Brexit cultists have no scruples, and what would be more distracting than a flare-up? Hopefully, people in Northern Ireland will remove the tinder lying around, and stymie the bigots. If left alone, Northern Ireland can make a rational decision based on their needs and wants, whether they want to stay or not. But are the Westminster lot to be trusted to let them do that? Not really, based on the historical record. Not only demographics is destiny, but Geography too.

[@caitlinbrennan9039]

Saying religion doesn’t matter is ludicrous because being irish and catholic in NI is completely tied

[@Tonydjjokerit]

@@BigHenFor Fortunately the US will have a say on that. No Brexiteer will dare take on the US!

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

Considering Northern Ireland was literally created to be a Protestant country for a Protestant people and at the time of the creation they outnumbered catholics by about 2-1 yea this is a pretty big deal while it's not definitive it is yet another sign that the tide is turning

[@shaunryan6]

NI voted to stay in the EU so in the light of the change in population is it time for a referendum on Irish unity.

[@johnking6624]

When it comes to Northern Ireland I honestly believe that the wonderful Dave Allen got it exactly right. He said that, if all the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland were atheists- they would be able to live together like Christians.

[@ZoogaZig]

That worked really well in the former Yugoslavia and how they treated Albanians, among others.

[@ln5747]

That's total nonsense and shows that neither him nor you understand the conflict.

[@ZoogaZig]

@@ln5747 I was being sarcastic.

[@superfitme4695]

That would make sense if it was simply a religious conflict. It isn't... it is very much political

[@talkspaawt6394]

Completely untrue... British people have extremely different morales and political opinions. Two absolute parallels. Coming from someone that lives in Belfast, British and Irish people have two complete polar opposite ideologies, infact it's nothing to do with Catholic & Protestant and that's been propaganda spun by the media over the last century.

[@philipmatthewoconnor]

Two worrying Trends for Unionists: 1. Accelerating Collapse of Protestant Population ~70% 1921 when NI created ~60% 2001 as ‘Founding Generation’ largely still in place >40% 2021 as ‘Founding Generation’ die off, Family Sizes decreases, Young Emigrate or Identify as NI 2. Catholics identifying as British or NI only Irish has reversed sharply since Brexit ~40% 2011 (when Identity Q was first asked) ~30% 2021

[@aengusryan5948]

It is so wonderful to hear this even being talked about these days. The possibility of an Irish unification. The Republic of Ireland is a thriving country (not without it's problems of course) and the 2nd Richest Countries in the World per capita, think of the possibilities for all members of the Island if we had our northern lands back. Potential for more trade, higher standards of living and the possibility to put hundreds of years of British involvement and misery behind us.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

and what of the British loyalists and RUC like factions that want to remain to the crown and alway have?

[@aengusryan5948]

@mckenzie.latham91 they will need to adapt & reconcile themselves to life in a united ireland. There is the option of armed resistance of course, but to what end. Once the link to the UK is broken it won't ever be re-established, and an independent NI is not economically feasible.

[@jimwest7107]

@@aengusryan5948 They will still declare themselves British or at least non-Irish. A United Ireland will have to respect that still.

[@aengusryan5948]

@jimwest7107 I'm sure they will, no problem. As long as the country is united and under one government they can declare themselves anything they like.

[@aengusryan5948]

@@mckenzie.latham91 it may come down to that, the ROI will need to arm up and deal with them

[@andyn3532]

I think rhe uk has been fractured for a long time bit I think it's coming to a point where we need to keep religious beliefs out of politics as we know from history religion is like the match to the powder keg.

[@mijicmugendo]

The problems in NI have noting do do with religion. Its a legacy of British imperialism

[@pipa8471]

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

[@saoirseclarnimhuiris7910]

Is é mo laoch é. Mairtíreach laoch na hÉireann. Go dtuga sé suaimhneas dó! 💚🇮🇪

[@dsharpshotz3937]

brexit id say was the beginning of the end of the uk id say. delayed like everything due to covid but its surly coming

[@McNallyF]

Sad but possibility true. Would have preferred it ending with Scottish or Irish independence. Oh well, can't have everything.

[@richardlewis7498]

nah tony blair was the beginning if the end of UK

[@dannymac1793]

Ireland voted for this in 1918, but Britain decided to appease the minority on the island and draw a line through Ulster.

[@Petronium123]

independence for me but not for thee

[@cmccaffs8191]

Would love to see Scotland get their independence first. It would be funny to see the flag lose it's Scotland blue. The painters would have to go out and repaint all the kerbs and lamp posts to just red and white. Up Tyrone lol.

[@seankavanagh7625]

I'd accept that. But if Wales got their independence before we reunified I would be genuinely seething.

[@lauralishes1]

Northern Ireland should reunite with Ireland if that's what they want. Scotland should be able to vote on independence again after Brexit, the SNP are the largest political party in Scotland and also win most of the Scottish seats in Westminster. Support for independence in under 35s is close to 70% and only falls in the higher age groups, kind of like Brexit but the opposite way around. The old people ruining it for the younger generation again, just like they did with the EU. Wales, Scotland and NI should join together and leave little England with the governemt only England vote for but keep imposing on the rest of the UK.

[@bazzacuda_]

Lol. I bet if there was a referendum of N.I. Wales and Scotland on whether England should be ejected from the union, I think you'd get a yes vote.

[@johnbest4513]

If you believe little England which is actually a vast collection of about a dozen regions each with as much power as Wales, will accept being threatened by this Celtic Union, you are sadly mistaken. If you want to return to war in Britain, this is how you get it. The English at the peak of their power compromised and created a Union with Ireland and Scotland, next time there will be no compromise.

[@nichotto]

Don’t forget Cornwall ? Although those numpties voted for Brexit.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

You assume that Ireland wants to be "reunited". As things stand, they are different peoples and the north is not necessarily as welcome as you might think. As for old people ruining it, maybe the old people are the wise ones, they've seen what goes on.

[@lauralishes1]

@@LiveFromLondon2 you must've missed the part where I said "if that's what they want"

[@eggyfart4738]

Scouser here of Irish Catholic Stock, Hopefully both communities can grow together and put all that sectarian nonsense aside in a Unified and Politically Competent United Ireland, The DUP may want to hinder that but there are decent Protestants who'll be able to see the light, your all Irish regardless of Religion so should come together under one Flag 🇮🇪

[@McNallyF]

Lets hope mate. Only takes 1 in a 1000 to make life awful for the rest.

[@MiloManning05]

I’m Irish and would prefer the republic to rejoin the uk

[@nickcorleone8709]

More chance of the Somalians closing their community centre in Granby Street, Toxteth

[@bluechip297]

@@MiloManning05 Ha, ha. Trolling is an art. You lack the talent.

[@seanmckillen9090]

Well said from a pool fan🤔