A United Ireland

thiarfearr

Could there be moves in the background to facilitate a united Ireland? Projects like the all Ireland energy market and the south investing in infrastructure in the north, Tourism Ireland and the closer links between the PSNI and the Gardai recently point to further integration, aside from the historical All-Ireland initiatives.
Demographics are also changing with Catholics on course to outnumber Protestants in the not too distant future (although not entirely indicitave of nationalist/unionist position). Also with the prospect of Scottish Independence, it would leave England (or London at least) carrying two depressed, costly regions in Wales and Northern Ireland, in the (albeit currently unlikely) event that the Scots vote for independence. While Wales and England have historically been tied together, how would the English public feel about having to carry the North, as it question would surely come up upon Scotland leaving the Union, especially given all the trouble it has caused them up until recently. It's also in all the major Irish political parties aims to unite Ireland again.

I think there could be moves in the background to slowly integrate north and south slowly over time.

Border-Rat

It's all but a foregone conclusion. It's not really a 'conspiracy theory'. Less discussed in the mainstream is the ongoing activities of the PIRA. They're making millions a year by laundering fuel, then the profits are used to buy Protestant-owned businesses and farms. I've suspected though for a while that the 1990's ceasefire had some CIA involvement. I wouldn't be surprised if they have Sinn Fein set up as satelite clients to rule over all (United) 32 Counties. I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton used reunification to get herself elected.

Tzar Chasm

while there may come a time where the majority of tne north would vote for a seperation from britain, I think tne majority mod in the south would be to let them get on with being their own state

Monty Burnz

Border-Rat wrote: »

It's all but a foregone conclusion. It's not really a 'conspiracy theory'. Less discussed in the mainstream is the ongoing activities of the PIRA. They're making millions a year by laundering fuel, then the profits are used to buy Protestant-owned businesses and farms. I've suspected though for a while that the 1990's ceasefire had some CIA involvement. I wouldn't be surprised if they have Sinn Fein set up as satelite clients to rule over all (United) 32 Counties. I wouldn't be surprised if Hillary Clinton used reunification to get herself elected.

I don't really see it happening. I imagine no more than 20% of people in NI are interested in pitching their lot in with the bankrupt republic.

Torakx

One thing i noticed living up the north in Derry was that alot of the prodestants saw themselves as english or thats how it seemed.
I lived for a year or so in a prodestant estate and later a few years in derry city itself outside the catholic estates.

If the UK pulled NI out, it would be chaos.
What would you do with all the "english" people.
A portion im am positive would want to move to england.

The UK spent a very long time integrating their people and customs into the north of this country.

As nice as it might sound to have a whole country, it seems unrealistic to me.
Also as monty mentioned, the republic(or what appears to be one :P)
is not doing so well financially.
We have sold our lot to outside interests and probably cant support the extra from the north.

todolist

Ireland north and south is totally Anglicized.I can't see any difference between people on this island to people on the British mainland.If those middle class idiots De Valera and Collins had better things to do All Ireland would be part of the British family where it belongs.

Conor30

Torakx wrote: »

One thing i noticed living up the north in Derry was that alot of the prodestants saw themselves as english or thats how it seemed.
I lived for a year or so in a prodestant estate and later a few years in derry city itself outside the catholic estates.

If the UK pulled NI out, it would be chaos.
What would you do with all the "english" people.
A portion im am positive would want to move to england.

The UK spent a very long time integrating their people and customs into the north of this country.

As nice as it might sound to have a whole country, it seems unrealistic to me.
Also as monty mentioned, the republic(or what appears to be one :P)
is not doing so well financially.
We have sold our lot to outside interests and probably cant support the extra from the north.

Eh, British is not the same thing as English! They're not English, since they aren't from and don't live in England. The majority of people in Northern Ireland view themselves as both Irish and British.

Conor30

todolist wrote: »

Ireland north and south is totally Anglicized.I can't see any difference between people on this island to people on the British mainland.If those middle class idiots De Valera and Collins had better things to do All Ireland would be part of the British family where it belongs.

Ignorant post. There are lots of cultural differences. There are naturally similarities too. This happens when two countries were united for many years and also lie together in close proximity. Doesn't mean they have to be the same country. That's why some Scots, Catalonians and Belgians want separate countries.

burgermasters

todolist wrote: »

Ireland north and south is totally Anglicized.I can't see any difference between people on this island to people on the British mainland.If those middle class idiots De Valera and Collins had better things to do All Ireland would be part of the British family where it belongs.

i find this very insulting

thiarfearr

todolist wrote: »

If those middle class idiots De Valera and Collins had better things to do All Ireland would be part of the British family where it belongs.

Doubt it, Ireland has always been separatist, would have come about eventually, the only relatively peaceful time was the 19th century and Home Rule was being pushed politically instead of militarily then. If the arch duke wasn't shot in Serbia and WW1 didn't break there would have been civil war in Ireland, with the Unionist fighting the British forces, its interesting to think about.

Duckworth_Luas

todolist wrote: »

Ireland north and south is totally Anglicized.

But you're Americanized?:rolleyes:

JustinDee

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

But you're Americanized?:rolleyes:

Touché!

Nice delivery lol

getz

Torakx wrote: »

One thing i noticed living up the north in Derry was that alot of the prodestants saw themselves as english or thats how it seemed.
I lived for a year or so in a prodestant estate and later a few years in derry city itself outside the catholic estates.

If the UK pulled NI out, it would be chaos.
What would you do with all the "english" people.
A portion im am positive would want to move to england.

The UK spent a very long time integrating their people and customs into the north of this country.

As nice as it might sound to have a whole country, it seems unrealistic to me.
Also as monty mentioned, the republic(or what appears to be one :P)
is not doing so well financially.
We have sold our lot to outside interests and probably cant support the extra from the north.

northern ireland so far has kept a stable population,with little movement, unlike the republic who has been losing its young and skilled,we dont want another rush of people from northern ireland,i am a great believer in the saying,if you make your own bed ,something ireland has never been able to forfill

Torakx

I understand Conor British is not English.
However the estates i lived in were covered in English flags from the lamp posts all down the main roads and on peoples houses sometimes too.

It really was like living in little England.
The comparison in Derry city was quite noticeable in the cathlic area.
Run down, Irish flags etc.

Coming from that, i would find it hard to believe those people with the English flags would want to stick around in a state not controlled by England.
I saw everyone there as being from northern Ireland and my self from the south.

They thought of me as being from the free states and themselves either Irish or british( to me aka english).
I also found strangely enough that the fashion there was more english than what i was used to in dublin before moving.
It was a little strange at first.Getting used to all the pink shirts and earrings, as this wasnt popular in the south at the time until a few years later.

I would agree with you also Getz,although it might be questionable who made the bed we lie in.

neil_hosey

todolist wrote: »

Ireland north and south is totally Anglicized.I can't see any difference between people on this island to people on the British mainland.If those middle class idiots De Valera and Collins had better things to do All Ireland would be part of the British family where it belongs.

i got sick in my mouth a little bit reading that.. bleh..

Border-Rat

Monty Burnz wrote: »

I don't really see it happening. I imagine no more than 20% of people in NI are interested in pitching their lot in with the bankrupt republic.

Well, you imagine wrong and as an Irish citizen in the 6 Counties I can say with confidence that you are wrong. The fact that the mandate has been given to Sinn Fein is an inconvenient truth when it comes to anglophile fantasy it seems.

todolist

Ireland as we know it is a British creation.The law,language,Parliamentary system.Even the GAA wouldn't exist without the British who established the counties of Ireland.

ECF

It does seem strange that they release a census, on how people in the six counties identify themselves, at the same time as the protests about the removal of the Union flag. Traditionally Irish media has largely ignored or downplayed the national issue. There is possibly something going on in the background but the real truth or real agenda is nonetheless concealed I would assume.

Tzar Chasm

have to say that i am truly heartened by the reports on the demographic shift up north.
now I don't mean the loyalist/unionist/protestant portion decreasing below 50% or the related increase in nationalist/republican/catholic populations

the bit that brings me hope is the 20 odd percent who, when polled with whatever loaded questions they use to pigeonhole people up north,
responded

c) don't give a rattling fcuk

Tabnabs

Border-Rat wrote: »

Well, you imagine wrong and as an Irish citizen in the 6 Counties I can say with confidence that you are wrong. The fact that the mandate has been given to Sinn Fein is an inconvenient truth when it comes to anglophile fantasy it seems.

And yet, the recent census shows you may not be so right after all...

The 2011 census shows some interesting results concerning identity:

• 40% of usual residents had a British only national identity
• 25% had Irish only national identity
• 21% had Northern Irish only national identity

• 48% of people included British as a national identity
• 29% included Northern Irish as a national identity
• 28 % included Irish as a national identity

• 59% hold a UK passport
• 21% hold an Ireland passport
• 19% hold no passport

25% is a very small number indeed.

ECF

Statistics mean little in terms of this survey. Northern Nationalists are known to boycott any such censuses. Of course there is also the untrustworthy nature of establishment media.

What remains for speculation is why there is currently a focus on these issues at present. Timing is probably more important than content.