Will Ireland ever be a 32 County Republic?

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

Those in glasshouses, shouldnt throw stones. You are slating the Irish for their lack of passion, whilst Canadians are one of the most docile people on the planet.

And yet, we have a reason to be docile-- our government is one of the least corrupt and our nation is one with a higher rate of overall happiness. So why wouldn't we be? We have no need to prove ourselves to others. We come alive when required and we don't let our government dick us around.. funny thing is, even our worst governments are better than other nation's good governments.

If previous generations took that attitude, we would still be under the thumb of John Bull.

Explain?

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

Legally, we had a claim on the six. We gave that up. The two articles held out a real hope that this conflict could have been put to an end peacefully had Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein bothered persuing them. Now, according to the Irish constitution, the Irish nation consists of just 26 counties. Northern Ireland is British territory and thats that.

Legally? What does that mean? Just because we claimed them doesn't mean we ever had any "right" to them. Do you think the UN would have looked favorably on it if we tried?
A referendum is still all it would take for the Island to become "United". The removal of those two articles was nothing but symbolic.

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

If previous generations decided to just get on with things and not upset their betters, we would still be under British rule.

Well, that's what I was saying-- the world was built on change; things have to be tried in order to be accomplished. But just because violence worked in the past doesn't mean that cannot be changed. Revolution can be produced in other ways, ways without car bombs.

dlofnep wrote: »

You seem to misunderstand the text.

You should probably read article 3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann



And the text of the agreement



We removed a claim by "default" - and entered into a process where Unification would come about if the majority consented. So the real issue is +1. You should be looking at to whether or not nationalists will make up a majority of the population in the north at any point in the future and are willing to reunify. My opinion is that yes, they will.

Think it was two years ago there was meant to be a tipping point of more Catholics than Protestants.
I have no doubt that the second a UK Government is confident that they could get rid of the massive drain on their budget by referendum they'll hold one.

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

We have given up all claims. The constitution may as well lay claim to Mars. Its British soil and theres feck all we can do about it.

*sigh*

Please re-read my post.

m@cc@ wrote: »

A hats off to you guys, not a single bank failure or government intervention in the financial or mortgage sectors during the recession.

I'm not saying our nation is perfect, but we did fare a lot better than.. basically anywhere during this particular recession. Only a few countries managed to keep their heads above board this time around. I'm proud we were one of them.

But we're not perfect, not by a long shot. No country is. But we don't have a lot to be massively angry about.

/apologies if you're not being sarcastic.

liah wrote: »

I'm not saying our nation is perfect, but we did fare a lot better than.. basically anywhere during this particular recession. Only a few countries managed to keep their heads above board this time around. I'm proud we were one of them.

But we're not perfect, not by a long shot. No country is. But we don't have a lot to be massively angry about.

/apologies if you're not being sarcastic.

Are you just a glutton for punishment or is plane ticket too expensive? :pac:

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

So you think we should give away the rest of the country away to foreign powers who want it too?

Yup, the Germans are going to nick all our spuds.

IrishManSaipan wrote: »

I did read it.

What are the mechanisms for bringing about a referendum on a UI?

Do we really want a United Ireland to come about due to a sectarian headcount?

Same mechanism as any other referendum we've ever held.

What else was it going to ever be? Last man standing?

K-9 wrote: »

They may well be, but if it comes to a referendum, there is no guarantee they'll along them lines.



Indeed and this is where self interest and reality comes into the romantic ideal.

Indeed. Anyone who's been lucky enough to be treated over the border on the NHS at our taxpayer's expense may well wonder why anyone in their right mind would vote to lose such a valuable part of their lives.

Look it, whether you like it or not you have people who have been born and bred up north who don't want to have anything to do with the republic
And if you say that this isn't their home they could rightly reply back to you that their family has been their for maybe 200 years or more
Ireland is a nation of mongrels anyway, judging by my galway roots and dark features I would realistically imagine that I have a bit of spanish blood in there somewhere

And the point is, there are loyalists ion the north who could probably trace their history back further than most 'nationalists'
If they can do so they are probably more Irish than most

I really like the idea of a united Ireland for the direct reason that I hate the idea of colonialism

But our little island at this stage is maily made up of two tribes whether you like it or not, neither are going anywhere. So you have to embrace everyting as part of the culture of this island.
Much and all as I dislike Bertie Ahern, he gave Ian Paisley a fantastic gift that was a bowl made from bog oak dug up from the site of the battle of the boyne.
Their history isn't even 'their' history, it's ours...

Probably have drank too much and a rambling but these conversations always remind me of a poem I did in my LC by Heaney called Ceasefire where he quotes Homers Illiad or Odessy and says

'I go down upon my knees and do what must be done
And kiss Achilles hand, the killer of my son'