Republic of Ireland as part of the UK?

Shortly after the GFA agreement was signed, Protestants in Donegal were surveyed. 86% identified as Irish, 9% identified with NI. I’d say the number identifying as Irish has only increased now so long after the troubles.

So even in the largest border county decades ago, less than 10% of the Protestant minority had affinity for NI. The number of Protestants has decreased since then as well. So beyond even a tiny minority of the Protestant population I doubt there is any support beyond a literal handful of people. I’ve never heard it even mentioned once in my life.

Here’s a quote from the survey

Ian McCracken, a retired schoolteacher who now works for a community development group, is emphatic about his identity.

“From early days I was never aware of being anything other than Irish Presbyterian,” McCracken says. “There’s a very strong identity with being Irish coming through from our Protestant community in Donegal.”

Recently, McCracken led a group of Irish Protestants to Belfast to meet with a group of Northern Ireland Protestants. “There was a gulf between the two groups in our way of thinking, which really shouldn’t have been there since we’re all Protestant. The Protestant in Donegal has as much if not more in common with his fellow Roman Catholic Donegal person than they would have with the Protestant in Northern Ireland.”

A challenging question would be, what way would people vote, if the Brits said, ok, we will give you a United Ireland, from Jan 01st 2027, but only if you give up something as well, you become part of the commonwealth and a new flag?

So its a fully united ireland, that’s an appeased republican group

with a partially appeased loyalist faction as its part of the commonwealth.

And a new flag

If a United Ireland happens, we will probably have to reconsider things anyway. As it will be a country of 7million with 1.1m loyalists.
So how badly do you want this united (32 county) Ireland? In this scenario, we would effectively be another Canada, Australia or New Zealand!

Indeed this is a far more challenging question. If there was a real dialogue and a settlement whereby a large majority of Unionists and loyalists were happy with reunification with a new flag, a new Anthem, a public holiday for the 12th, recognition of Ulster Scot’s, being able to do the odd March, get more players on the Irish rugby team etc., able to keep the British passport (and kids also), and a grant if they wish to relocate to Great Britain then grand I will vote for it even if there is a financial cost.

I would not vote for a United Ireland if a large majority of unionists were not in favour as this will end up as a shitshow.

God, you'd have to wonder why?

If there was to be a vote on reunification of the six counties, what would the offer be to the loyalists to get them to vote for it? I’m always hearing SF on about law need to start debating this. So what is there offer, nothing to the unionists, or what?

Good no , the uk is a much worse country at the moment .

even reunification with NI is a generation or two away at least thankfully ,

What would be the benefits? When you look at the way the UK treats their regional cities especially in Northern England how do you think they're going to treat Dublin let alone Cork Limerick or Galway?

I'd say Ireland joining the UK would be about as popular as suggesting in England that it should become a French region. It's just not really a topic of discussion

absolutely not our ancestors fought long and hard for independence and after all that work for nothing they would come back from the dead and slap us all in the face , I’ve 3 family members that where in the rising my great granddad and his 2 brothers

we wouldn’t, we would effectively be another India or South Africa. Ie no change to our constitutional set up at all, but the option to take part in (and maybe even host) the commonwealth games, which is the only advantage I can see. I also see no disadvantages which is why, if it appeases unionists a bit, I think is worth looking in to.