Lord Pom Percy

If Irish Catholics one day made up 60% of Nth. Ireland and say 55% of them wanted the North to be joined to the South, therefore the majority of the population of Nth Ireland supports it would you also support it then?

JAJ

55% of 60% only comes to a vote total of 33%.
Assuming that Protestants and others in Northern Ireland would overwhelmingly support the Union, that would be nowhere near enough.

Clearly no-one is suggesting that Northern Ireland should stay British against its will. However, a vote of 50%+1 of those voting should not be sufficient for a fundamental, irreversible change of constitutional status.

Guggler

Back in the twenties, and even now, partition must surely have seemed a reasonable and equitable option.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to speculate that Ulster unionists, in the event of a united Ireland, would adopt the attitude that says 'Well, you guys did not, for the last 38 years, allow a stable Northern Ireland, so here's a wee bit of your own back, fellas'.

Guggler

Auld Beardy Gerry is great with these 'photo-op' statements but, moments later off-camera, he lets us know with a smirk and only too clearly that he would have no time for us Brits in a united Ireland (he pays only lip service to 'equality of respect for cultural identity'). No, we're not buying it Gerry and we're not going away, you know. We've been there since the 5th century in the ancient kingdom of Dalriada and have every bit as much right to be there as youse yins, indeed more so where the ancient province of Ulster is concerned. Indeed, a case might be made that Unionists should be lobbying for the return of the three 'lost' counties of Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

Guggler

Ulster unionists want nothing to do with the Republic of Ireland, other than the cultivation and maintenance of the kind of normal relations that should apply between two countries that share the same land border. So, shite on the 20%, we'll take the 2% any day.

Manc

under EU laws those in the north that wish to live in a Republic of Ireland can do so legally by moving 50 miles south

adiestubbs

The most northerly part of the island of Ireland is in the Republic, so interestingly, those from Northern ireland can head north to the Republic. Not sure why they would, especially unionists anyways. And as they share a land border of about 200miles then they would only require to step over the border rather than travel the fifty miles.

Ade S

adiestubbs

[/QUOTE]

But surely the reason that these parts of Ulster were not amalgamated into Northern Ireland originally still remain. That they have large catholic populations and small protestant populations. In fact, that would bring a united Ireland closer, because if they were, your majority would cease immediately and they coudl vote all nine counties into the Republic. Besides, im sure (quite rightly) that the Republic would resist. Im a unionist with a small "u" but i think it wiser to consolidate what you have at present!!

Ade S

adiestubbs

Actually, throughout the years many from the republic have travelled to Northern Ireland, almost all from the catholic nationalist or republican tradition. Ironically, they would have moved there seeking work in the more prosperous Northern Ireland because it was part of the UK, and thus recieved the work and social security benefits that go with being in the UK. But then, having arrived, most (but not all) would have probably voted for a united Ireland, Strange.

The following famous republicans not even from the island of Ireland

Hugh Doherty (glasgow)
Patrick Doherty (glasgow)
Seán Mac Stíofáin (born John Stephenson, London)

Sinn Fein Northern Ireland MEP not from Northern Ireland

Bairbre de Brún (or Barbara Brown, Dublin)

TrishP

I can be asked many times on a daily basis about the fact that I'm 'Irish', Canadians don't hear my accent as being from ther North, they only hear Irish - it gets very wearing after a while, so it's easiest to agree. I do spend time trying to educate people who want to listen and learn, eg in one of the local schools I was asked to take part in the social studies module by coming into the school so the kids could ask me about where I grew up. However, for most of the locals here, it's the novelty factor of meeting someone from Ireland (they don't care what bit) and they aren't that interested in learning about the country and the politics. Canadians in general aren't that well informed as to what's going on outside their own country, so Ni is a dim and distant name to them only.

As I have the right, if I choose (and I haven't, so far, as I can't really be bothered than for any political reason), to get an Irish passport, it doesn't really matter at the end of the day. NI's troubles have been perpetuated by people who insist on calling themselves one thing or the other - it truly doesn't matter and isn't relevant in the great scheme of life!

Guggler

But surely the reason that these parts of Ulster were not amalgamated into Northern Ireland originally still remain. That they have large catholic populations and small protestant populations. In fact, that would bring a united Ireland closer, because if they were, your majority would cease immediately and they coudl vote all nine counties into the Republic. Besides, im sure (quite rightly) that the Republic would resist. Im a unionist with a small "u" but i think it wiser to consolidate what you have at present!!

Ade S[/QUOTE]


You're absolutely correct, of course. I was just making the point, albeit tongue-in-cheek and a bit facetiously, that when it comes to making territorial claims, two can play at that game.

Guggler

Boy, did we ever get a right laugh back in the seventies when yon fella Stephenson, complete with an obvious London accent, was trying hard to come up with a southern brogue. Priceless!!

adiestubbs

There are different debates about his past. Some say his mother was an "irish" protestant from Belfast, others that he had absolutley no irish connections whatsoever.

Lord Pom Percy

Anyone see the film the Wind that shakes the Barley, those Black Tan British soldiers were very brutal.

Slam Thunderhide

Having grown up in Belfast and experienced sectarianism first hand i realise there is no quick fix solution. I find the older i get the more wearisome become the arguments.All the opinions expressed on this thread are valid no matter which side you are looking from.I know only two things for sure,the solution to the Irish problem will never be found at the end of an Armalite (i had eight long years to think about it) and Ireland will be one nation some day,it is inevitable.