What might Ireland be like if it was still part of the UK?

Augmerson · 02-06-2013 03:47AM #1

No RTE.
Motorways everywhere.
Possibly have Irish clubs in the Premier League.
Wetherspoons all over the place.

Anything else?

Festy · 02-06-2013 03:51AM

Low dole :pac:

Augmerson · 02-06-2013 03:52AM

Festy wrote: »

Low dole :pac:

Wetherspoons though. Be grand like.

sinnerboy · 02-06-2013 03:56AM

More railtrack . Curry houses. Hospitals. Pound shops. Icelands. Red post boxes. Speed signs still in miles.

grizzly · 02-06-2013 03:58AM

Northern Ireland?

charlemont · 02-06-2013 04:00AM

Pakistani's everywhere probably outnumbering us.
Loyalism being shoved in our faces.
Council tower blocks.
British army RN RAF bases.

Augmerson · 02-06-2013 04:01AM

charlemont wrote: »

Pakistani's everywhere probably outnumbering us.
Loyalism being shoved in our faces.
Council tower blocks.
British army RN RAF bases.

You make it sound like a bad thing.

Ihatecuddles-old · 02-06-2013 04:01AM

Peas in the chipper..

charlemont · 02-06-2013 04:03AM

Augmerson wrote: »

You make it sound like a bad thing.

I'd probably be in jail for terrorism if we were still in the Union.:pac:

DEFTLEFTHAND · 02-06-2013 04:11AM

Somewhat better than Scotland. :pac:

In fairness the British really tried with Ireland after the Act of Union, they wanted to make Dublin the second city of the Empire. They eventually took onboard our grievances and passed Home Rule in 14, the stepping stone to independence, remember they also had the unionist crowd in the North raging at the same time with their own little act of defiance. The 1916 Rising killed any potential peaceful resolution to this countries strife.

BOHtox · 02-06-2013 04:21AM

We'd all be english speaking, using English ways of life, using English technology, playing English sports and supporting English football teams... oh wait

dodderangler · 02-06-2013 04:27AM

Augmerson wrote: »

You make it sound like a bad thing.

You make it sound like it'd be a good thing?!

carlmango11 · 02-06-2013 04:59AM

Augmerson wrote: »

Motorways everywhere.

Doubt it. England has motorways everywhere because it has ~10 times our population. If you compare Ireland with somewhere more similar population-wise, such as Scotland, you'll see we're actually doing quite well. Better, actually.

Jimoslimos · 02-06-2013 05:17AM

Augmerson wrote: »

Possibly have Irish clubs in the Premier League.

What? You mean like those mighty European footballing powerhouses, Linfield and Glentoran?

02-06-2013 05:28AM

A nasty insurgency problem for the past 100 years
German bomb damage in Cork, Drogheda rail viaduct replaced and other WWII effects.

Galwayguy35 · 02-06-2013 05:42AM

It would probably just look like a bigger version of NI, better roads but less social welfare.

Maybe flag protests in Galway.:(

dsmythy · 02-06-2013 08:25AM

Scotland.

Festy · 02-06-2013 08:30AM

Better looking

wildefalcon · 02-06-2013 08:36AM

Working health system?

Building regulations?

Less County Councils?

Less crap houses like Priory Hall?

Cheaper road tax?

Dearer Petrol?

Worse schools?

Sunnyisland · 02-06-2013 08:38AM

What might Ireland be like if it was still part of the UK?

Syria.

keano_afc · 02-06-2013 08:57AM

Deleted User wrote: »

A nasty insurgency problem for the past 100 years
German bomb damage in Cork, Drogheda rail viaduct replaced and other WWII effects.

Well you've got my vote.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 02-06-2013 09:08AM

Remember Churchill proclaimed that Dev denied the Irish the chance to show their ancient valour in his VE Day speech.

When times were desperate he asked Dev for the treaty ports and assistance in the war. In return he said he would give the 6 counties to the free state in the aftermath, they'd force through Unionist opposition and all. Dev refused the proposal.

Toby Take a Bow · 02-06-2013 09:09AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

Somewhat better than Scotland. :pac:

In fairness the British really tried with Ireland after the Act of Union, they wanted to make Dublin the second city of the Empire. They eventually took onboard our grievances and passed Home Rule in 14, the stepping stone to independence, remember they also had the unionist crowd in the North raging at the same time with their own little act of defiance. The 1916 Rising killed any potential peaceful resolution to this countries strife.

They really tried what? The Act of Union wasn't about addressing Irish grievances, it was about securing British power. And they completely dragged their heals on Home Rule.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 02-06-2013 09:27AM

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

They really tried what? The Act of Union wasn't about addressing Irish grievances, it was about securing British power. And they completely dragged their heals on Home Rule.

They developed Dublin and tried to make it their second stronghold, You're right in saying that the Act of Union was about consolidating power in the British Isles.

Ireland wasn't capable of running itself in the 1800s, Controlled dem was still the practice.

The biggest mistake Britain ever made was not dealing with the Famine properly, they made a show of themselves worldwide. International papers reported on it. Only 2000 pounds given in aid.

Britain could have tied up Ireland for good at that time if they'd given widespread relief.

KingOfFairview · 02-06-2013 09:39AM

Probably a lot fewer victims of paedophile priests. Irish language almost gone entirely. More prods. Left/right political split. Submarine bases on the west coast. Smaller population. The savage eye would run about 5 mins shorter.

Toby Take a Bow · 02-06-2013 09:50AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

They developed Dublin and tried to make it their second stronghold, You're right in saying that the Act of Union was about consolidating power in the British Isles.

Ireland wasn't capable of running itself in the 1800s, Controlled dem was still the practice.

The biggest mistake Britain ever made was not dealing with the Famine properly, they made a show of themselves worldwide. International papers reported on it. Only 2000 pounds given in aid.

Britain could have tied up Ireland for good at that time if they'd given widespread relief.

You may be right about developing Dublin, but it seems odd that they were developing this place and yet we managed to completely avoid the industrial revolution. And not only that, but many of our own industries shut down right after the Act of Union.

Britain was never going to 'tie' up Ireland, certainly not in the same way as Scotland and Wales. The amount of rebellions prior to the Famine would suggest that.

Peregrine · 02-06-2013 10:08AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

They developed Dublin and tried to make it their second stronghold, You're right in saying that the Act of Union was about consolidating power in the British Isles.

Well they went about the wrong way of developing Dublin. Act of Union has catastrophic effects on Dublin's economy. Parliamentarians left to London, sold most of their house in Dublin, money was gone for any development and Georgian town houses fell apart after being turned into slums.

If they hadn't abolished the College Green Parliament and played their cards right during the famine, Ireland might still have been in the union.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 02-06-2013 10:23AM

Toby Take a Bow wrote: »

You may be right about developing Dublin, but it seems odd that they were developing this place and yet we managed to completely avoid the industrial revolution. And not only that, but many of our own industries shut down right after the Act of Union.

Britain was never going to 'tie' up Ireland, certainly not in the same way as Scotland and Wales. The amount of rebellions prior to the Famine would suggest that.

The Industrial revolution could have took hold at a later date, look at the ship building enterprises in the north which could have been better served in Dublin or Cork.

Remember the Irish were viewed upon as wild animals yet to be tamed, they kept them away from industry for a reason. Members of Parliament listened to Redmond and Dillon and fell asleep. The grand goal of Westminster in the late 1800s was to develop the country as a whole. Home Rule was years away, and any bills which passed the Commons were shot down by the House Of Lords.

Gladstone admitted his desire to see Ireland become an equal empire recipient without HR.

CRM Ireland · 02-06-2013 10:29AM

carlmango11 wrote: »

Doubt it. England has motorways everywhere because it has ~10 times our population. If you compare Ireland with somewhere more similar population-wise, such as Scotland, you'll see we're actually doing quite well. Better, actually.

Ireland doing better than Scotland? You wish.

Scotland has better roads, much more stunningly beautiful, much cheaper place to live, free health service, guilt free abortions where you dont have to pretend to be suicidal (Thats what will maybe happen here) because you dont want a child with some random after a drunken night out, cheaper home energy, a much much much more competitive market for pretty much every single service such as internet, telephones, insurance....

You would be able to go into a shop with about 90% less "Im Irish buy me" crap emblazoned all over everything.

Most importantly of all, you would have Irn Bru available in nearly every shop in the country!

Alba Gu Brath!

KingOfFairview · 02-06-2013 10:37AM

Ireland would have had a very hard time industrialising, we have no significant coal or iron.

Annasopra · 02-06-2013 10:42AM

NHS

Decent public services provided through local council rates

Less catholic influence over schools/hospitals/public policy

Pro choice

A less conservative population

Less cancerous nationalism

What might Ireland be like if it was still part of the UK?

Comments