FabSwingers.com forum: United Ireland

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Watching the news over the weekend and yes a United Ireland is definitely on the cards thank god. I do feel if it was definitely to happen it will still take a few years just like the good Friday agreement took years to materialise.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Would be very surprised to see such a thing in my life time. The financial implications alone are a stumbling block. Who funds the 10billion they get from Westminster. Not even addressing the bigotry and hatred on both side, deep rooted on both sides.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

So true.

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By *errySubMan
over a year ago

Co L/Derry

It will and should be down to a democratic vote....

And as was seen with Brexit, who can really preduct how that will go.

There is the voting with the heart but then the voting for reality and I think so much of that will come down to the financial implications.

The money from Westminster will be important but I think the biggest factor in the North will be the NHS and benefits.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Watching the news over the weekend and yes a United Ireland is definitely on the cards thank god. I do feel if it was definitely to happen it will still take a few years just like the good Friday agreement took years to materialise. "

Crazy if it happens.. We will all be paying 50% income tax to fund it, if you think times are hard now wait for a United Ireland

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"It will and should be down to a democratic vote....

The money from Westminster will be important but I think the biggest factor in the North will be the NHS and benefits."

True. Not many in N. Ireland would want to give that up...they have the best of both worlds at the moment. Sadly also, a United Ireland would never, ever be truly at peace.

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By *igertigerCouple (MM)
over a year ago

nr Letterkenny

Westminster would be glad to see the back of NI. Westminster will gladly pay to see it happen too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Was a chat about this on matt coopers show this evening about a talk that took place over the weekend regarding a united Ireland, interesting listen

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think a border poll will happen, and happen in the very near future.

People in the middle ground are slowly starting to realise that post Brexit the Brits haven’t got our best interests at heart (and they never had)

The British establishment despise Unionists/Loyalists and are more than happy to throw them under the bus/use them when it’s expedient to do so. Scratch the surface and it’s clear to see they don’t care about their aspirations to remain in the UK.

The trajectory is towards Irish unity, census results, demographic changes, election results are all favouring Irish Nationalism.

The NHS is being decimated (waiting lists are much worse in the north than the south) and the subvention figures being bandied about are always grossly exaggerated.

NI as a state is a complete failure - watch this space

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No thanks

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By *ubal1Man
over a year ago

Newry Down

I, like most other people in Ireland have more urgent and pressing issues to deal with for the next few years: energy and food costs; unprecedented and frightening inflation; car fuel and insurance costs; and most pressing of all-getting verified!

It, a so-called United Ireland will happen in due course, but it is probably decades away.

A lot of water will flow under the bridge before it will be given serious consideration; the stats are too finely balanced at present.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Just because the Catholic head count in the North has over taken the Protestant head count doesn't mean a United Ireland is just round the corner. I'm a Catholic. Hmmm well I say I'am, very loosely. I was baptised and went to Catholic schools. Doesn't mean I want a united Ireland. I'd say I'm not on my own with that opinion, in the so called Catholic society.

Id say the few people before me who have said in their posts, that Westminster would be happy to give "THE NORTH" back, wouldn't be far wrong.

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By *hyeyesMan
over a year ago

meath

Reunification is definitely gonna happen within the next 50 years . We have got the numbers

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Reunification is definitely gonna happen within the next 50 years . We have got the numbers "

But is the desire there in those numbers

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By *illbillMan
over a year ago

dublin

Brexit has proved something to to British that was obvious in Ireland. That being partition is not only a tragedy and a failure but not compatible with a modern 21st century world. The reasoning to set up the enclave are no longer relevant. The term irish unity should be branded as reunion. Partition has held Ireland back and been a thorn in the arse of Britain for too . Long. Its time to being about reunion.

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

"It will and should be down to a democratic vote....

And as was seen with Brexit, who can really preduct how that will go.

There is the voting with the heart but then the voting for reality and I think so much of that will come down to the financial implications.

The money from Westminster will be important but I think the biggest factor in the North will be the NHS and benefits."

Will there be an opposition party against it here in the 26 counties

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By *aptain Caveman41Man
over a year ago

Home

Do people actually understand what a United Ireland actually means and not the shite sinn fein is spouting are people OK with orange marches in all the cities in the country. Our national anthem will have to change, the unionists will be in the dail and may hold power some day. United Ireland means all in we will have to accept the unionists traditions as they will have to accept ours.

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

Crazy if it happens.. We will all be paying 50% income tax to fund it, if you think times are hard now wait for a United Ireland

It's like what everyone said before trump got in. Once he was elected it wasn't so bad after all.in no way will we ever pay 50% income tax. Thsts just ridiculous.

European, the UK and Ireland ha e a part to play in softening the costs of unification plus irish America would help. Business heads could make the country a better place fir all plus having unionists having a say would really shake up the political system on this island which is what's badly needed. A new ireland. Not an ireland you all think itll become

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By *rsmiley69Man
over a year ago

Cavan Monaghan

From someone that lives close to the border id be happy with things as they are for now, benefits of cheaper heating oil ect, no charges on deliveries from uk if you use a friend’s northern address and plenty more benefits

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By *illbillMan
over a year ago

dublin

"Do people actually understand what a United Ireland actually means and not the shite sinn fein is spouting are people OK with orange marches in all the cities in the country. Our national anthem will have to change, the unionists will be in the dail and may hold power some day. United Ireland means all in we will have to accept the unionists traditions as they will have to accept ours. "
unionists parties will be in the Dail. Its unlikely they could ever be the ruling party.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

while I'd like to see a united Ireland in peace I can't see it happening tbh. Would it be possible that Northern Ireland becomes an independent republic and joins the EU?

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By *aptain Caveman41Man
over a year ago

Home

"Do people actually understand what a United Ireland actually means and not the shite sinn fein is spouting are people OK with orange marches in all the cities in the country. Our national anthem will have to change, the unionists will be in the dail and may hold power some day. United Ireland means all in we will have to accept the unionists traditions as they will have to accept ours. unionists parties will be in the Dail. Its unlikely they could ever be the ruling party. "
are you sure, there's a hell of a lot of protestant people living in the Republic who may want to vote for them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people actually understand what a United Ireland actually means and not the shite sinn fein is spouting are people OK with orange marches in all the cities in the country. Our national anthem will have to change, the unionists will be in the dail and may hold power some day. United Ireland means all in we will have to accept the unionists traditions as they will have to accept ours. unionists parties will be in the Dail. Its unlikely they could ever be the ruling party. are you sure, there's a hell of a lot of protestant people living in the Republic who may want to vote for them. "

Your getting Protestant and unionist mixed up. In the same way people and the media get Catholic and republican mixed up.

You can be one with being the other .

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Definitely agree with you there.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Well said ??????

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Well said. Fair play.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It's a hard sell. And ultimately, who's paying for it?

Personally don't want to see it happen. It would be a disaster; politically, socially, economically.

We'd be paying the costs of it for near to 4 or 5 generations.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Crazy if it happens.. We will all be paying 50% income tax to fund it, if you think times are hard now wait for a United Ireland

It's like what everyone said before trump got in. Once he was elected it wasn't so bad after all.in no way will we ever pay 50% income tax. Thsts just ridiculous.

It's not all that long ago in the 80s we were paying 50% income tax because of recession,, don't fool yourself into thinking we wouldn't plunge into a recession if there was a united Ireland, the money has to come from somewhere and it will come from the tax payer as always..

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By *abbingMan
over a year ago

Belfast

I think its an inevitability post brexit

The cost issue would be a big barrier to unification - but there's colossal inefficiency in NI.....for example there's 11 councils for a population less than greater Manchester - the amount of duplication is ridiculous.

That said i think brexit has made a border poll significantly more probable and shifted the voting preference of large numbers who were quite content with the way things were before the brexit happened.

But I think even if there was a vote for a united Ireland, afterwards there would need to be a minimum of a decade long transition given the huge numbers employed by the UK civil service and tied into the favorable pension schemes.

In order to bring unionism on the journey I think you'd probably also be looking at NI retaining some sort of a devolved administration with a degree of independence to pave the way for longer term arrangements.

So even if the vote happened and unification was the preferred way forward - I'd expect the process to take decades to complete, given the huge degree of change to key things like currency, health service, education, public sector jobs etc

Going for a quick transition or a 50%+1 winner takes all vote like Briexit did, would be a recipe for disaster!

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

Crazy if it happens.. We will all be paying 50% income tax to fund it, if you think times are hard now wait for a United Ireland

It's like what everyone said before trump got in. Once he was elected it wasn't so bad after all.in no way will we ever pay 50% income tax. Thsts just ridiculous.

You are comparing apples and oranges. The imf, European Union,ireland and Britain would all have a psrt to play in making sure its a soft transition. It won't be right, yous have a united ireland, now deal with it, your on your own. Massive investment would be made for it to work plus very long term loans that would be taken that'll have very low interestsover very long periods. Foolish to thing ireland would just be left on its own to fund the north.

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By *exman1975Man
over a year ago

country

We nowhere near ready for it yet in my opinion both sides up there more polarised than ever and pushing it from down here just won't work

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By *etergemmaCouple
over a year ago

South Dublin Area

Ultimately the people north of the border will decide and from what i see looking from the outside in. It doesn't look likely they would, even reading the comments here.

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By *antra MassageMan
over a year ago

South Side.

Is it necessary? Personally, i dont think it is, and a simple vote might not get a YES. I cant see any advantage to UK citizens becomin Irish citizens, but i can see a lot of disadvantages.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

[Removed by poster at 05/10/22 09:03:29]

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"Is it necessary? Personally, i dont think it is, and a simple vote might not get a YES. I cant see any advantage to UK citizens becomin Irish citizens, but i can see a lot of disadvantages. "

A large number of people in the north are already Irish citizens.

Also, the economy in the north has been heading in one direction only for the last hundred years, and that has been downward, only saved over the last while by the famous protocol. The six northern counties that would go on to become the northern state accounted for 65% of the economic output of Ireland just before partition. The southern state now outperforms the north by a huge margin. Every available measure points to a higher standard of living south of the border.

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By *ustBoWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in Co. Down

" Every available measure points to a higher standard of living south of the border. "

I completely disagree with that statement having lived down south for most of my life and I moved up here in the last 10 years .I find the complete opposite .Yes the wages are less but you can survive on them.The NHS is not perfect but at least you can see a gp and get meds without worrying that you can't pay for them like down south. Car tax and food etc is cheaper up here. So no the standard of living is definitely not less up here than down south at all. In fact it was the cost of living down south was the reason I ended up moving years ago.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

" Every available measure points to a higher standard of living south of the border.

Cost of living and standard of living are not completely the same thing.

http://qpol.qub.ac.uk/comparing-living-standards-north-and-south/

There's a link in that to a peer reviewed study by Bergin/McGuinness that's worth wading through.

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By *artyHardMan
over a year ago

North

Exhibit A…WEST BRIT

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

We could just change the name to The United Kingdom of Great Britain and all of Ireland

Then we're sorted

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By *ustBoWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in Co. Down

" Every available measure points to a higher standard of living south of the border.

Cost of living and standard of living are not completely the same thing.

http://qpol.qub.ac.uk/comparing-living-standards-north-and-south/

There's a link in that to a peer reviewed study by Bergin/McGuinness that's worth wading through.

Thanks but I don't need to read a link to let me know if you can't afford to live than your standard of living will drop as well.As far as I'm concerned both are intricately linked to each other.But that's just my opinion on the matter and that won't mean much to anyone else

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By *ubal1Man
over a year ago

Newry Down

As a result of the recent demographic crossover point that has now been reached, although this point was predicted many decades ago; the issue of a so-called United Ireland is again to the fore.

The cultural differences between protestants and Catholics; unionist and nationalist; republicans and loyalists; are fading into the past as cultural identity is being slowly homogenised because of media influences, travel abroad, etc.

The differences between each if these groups are much less pronounced that was the case even fifty years ago.

There may be a single body for governing this small island off the west coast of Europe, but other supra national bodies will by that stage, be very much more influential on Irish cittizens' lives.

The romantic notion of a united Ireland for some, that is a nightmare for others will eventually become a superfluous irrelevance in the face of other European and world institutions that will have a more profound and enduring effect on our lives.

Brussels is already extremely influential!

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By *ealitybitesMan
over a year ago

Belfast

"As a result of the recent demographic crossover point that has now been reached, although this point was predicted many decades ago; the issue of a so-called United Ireland is again to the fore.

The differences between each if these groups are much less pronounced that was the case even fifty years ago.

There may be a single body for governing this small island off the west coast of Europe, but other supra national bodies will by that stage, be very much more influential on Irish cittizens' lives.

Brussels is already extremely influential!"

What about Letterkenny? How influential is it?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sure why doesn’t the South just swallow their pride and have a poll to be brought back into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ? Why is it everyone jumps on the Irish unity wagon and continually berate Irish unionists on this pipe dream of become some sort of New Ireland”.

The only person who can call a border poll is the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland sees that there is an appetite for it. There may be an appetite for within nationalism but there certainly isn’t in unionism so it would be a wholly unlawful poll when the rules of consent of the Good Friday Agreement are brought into play

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Can’t see it happening anytime soon. I get why it’s such a huge subject and been from down south I’ve never had to deal with what went on first hand. Is it really worth the inevitable violence and probable deaths if it did happen?

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

"Sure why doesn’t the South just swallow their pride and have a poll to be brought back into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ? Why is it everyone jumps on the Irish unity wagon and continually berate Irish unionists on this pipe dream of become some sort of New Ireland”.

Don't see how such poll could be considered unlawful. Good Friday agreement clearly outlines the process to trigger a referendum. The poll itself and its outcome is a democratic process, whatever the majority of the people wants, will happen.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think a majority needs to be 60/40 at least not 51/49 and the likes, even with a 60/40 majority there would be violence either way, not sure where this push for a United Ireland has come from, everything was working just fine why rock the boat now..

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

What makes you think the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland wouldn't lawfully allow a border poll. He's not a unionist. He's a Conservative MP. The brits may well want the North off their books at this stage.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 09/10/22 10:29:38]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Controversial issue.

I liked the point made earlier about the differences between Catholicism and nationalism not them being the same thing, many people don't realize their are many protest ant nationalists, and the movement was started by protestants. The real issue is always going to be hatred and bigotry. The hatred and bigotry ingrained in the traditions of the orange order "should", prevent any of their "traditions", from happening on this Whole island. They are the equivalent of the KKK, pure and simple. Making room for them in a Real Republic will be a huge challenge, but it will eventually happen.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Controversial issue.

They already march in Donegal every July. They’re a dying breed anyway, thankfully. The average age in any given lodge is even higher than fab

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

I think Brexit and the Northern Ireland protocol have brought on talks about it. It's not imminent. It will take a fair time (years) until a border poll will be held.

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By *aywhatnowMan
over a year ago

North County

We might need a United Ireland to qualify for the euros after that draw

????

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By *sbotangoMan
over a year ago

Close by

Speaking as a unionist it would be impossible for a unionist (British citizen) to sit in an Irish parliament or vote in an Irish election as they would have to become an Irish citizen within a united ireland. Some unionist s May decide to do that but would cease to be unionists in any real sense. Therefore unionists ie British citizens in a united ireland would have no political representation so their future would be very precarious to say the least

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By *illow and FionnCouple
over a year ago

Cork

Amazing that we can have a thread about a politically emotive issue like a United Ireland but my thread on worst opening lines gets deleted

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By *illow and FionnCouple
over a year ago

Cork

"Speaking as a unionist it would be impossible for a unionist (British citizen) to sit in an Irish parliament or vote in an Irish election as they would have to become an Irish citizen within a united ireland. Some unionist s May decide to do that but would cease to be unionists in any real sense. Therefore unionists ie British citizens in a united ireland would have no political representation so their future would be very precarious to say the least

And that's exactly was the British Government tried to do to the whole island of Ireland

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By *illow and FionnCouple
over a year ago

Cork

"We might need a United Ireland to qualify for the euros after that draw

???? "

It's so annoying we don't have a one soccer team. I mean we do it very successfully with the rugby team

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By *sbotangoMan
over a year ago

Close by

"We might need a United Ireland to qualify for the euros after that draw

????

It's so annoying we don't have a one soccer team. I mean we do it very successfully with the rugby team"

Have never been a rugby supporter exactly for that reason.

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

I'm just wondering if there would be such a thing as Unionist if there was a united Ireland

I'd imagine that you would have to remain a British citizen while voting in elections just like people in NI do with Irish passports

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By *sbotangoMan
over a year ago

Close by

I'm just wondering if there would be such a thing as Unionist if there was a united Ireland

I'd imagine that you would have to remain a British citizen while voting in elections just like people in NI do with Irish passports "

The best we could hope for would be to retain our voting rights within Westminster so that we could at least have some political representation.

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

I'm just wondering if there would be such a thing as Unionist if there was a united Ireland

I'd imagine that you would have to remain a British citizen while voting in elections just like people in NI do with Irish passports

The best we could hope for would be to retain our voting rights within Westminster so that we could at least have some political representation. "

What about having a system ( not much thought into this ) of a guaranteed number of unionist or nationist seats like having all the elected reps meant to be in stormont at present being voted to be in The Dail

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By *sbotangoMan
over a year ago

Close by

Certainly id have no interest in voting for a “unionist “ in irish election. By that definition they wouldn’t be a unionist anymore as they would be sitting in an Irish parliament. The only way id see it working would be to have a separate election for those who would describe themselves as unionists. Ie anyone who has a British passport. They would then have the opportunity to vote for a representative from their community whether it be a DUP or UUP representative and they would then effectively become the secretary orf state for the former Northern Ireland and automatically have position within the current British government of the day similar to the the current secretary state for Northern Ireland.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"Certainly id have no interest in voting for a “unionist “ in irish election. By that definition they wouldn’t be a unionist anymore as they would be sitting in an Irish parliament. The only way id see it working would be to have a separate election for those who would describe themselves as unionists. Ie anyone who has a British passport. They would then have the opportunity to vote for a representative from their community whether it be a DUP or UUP representative and they would then effectively become the secretary orf state for the former Northern Ireland and automatically have position within the current British government of the day similar to the the current secretary state for Northern Ireland."

I trust then in that context that the DUP would at least have to drop the D from their name as they would then be acting in defiance of democracy?

Unionist politicians spoke for decades about wanting republicans to accept democracy, not that it was a particularly strong concept in the six counties to begin with, but now you're saying that you won't accept democracy if it doesn't go your way.

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By *LIVEANDKICKING100Man
over a year ago

DUBLIN

Westminster funds Northern Ireland to the tune of £15B/year. Where does the Irish State get this money from to support NI? Do the people of Northern Ireland want to pay higher income tax, usc, property tax and Insurance levies. Do they want to pay more for their cars, white goods and food? Do they want to join the other 1m already on hospital waiting lists? Do the PSNI get to stay armed, become part of the Gardai but keep their higher salaries. Do the Gardai then get pay rises to align with their former PSNI colleagues? What happens to the Unionist para military threat? Leave NI out of the Republic. Its a basket case. There is no value to Ireland in getting it back. Westminster wanted to keep it at the Treaty time. Let them keep it now.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"Westminster funds Northern Ireland to the tune of £15B/year. Where does the Irish State get this money from to support NI? Do the people of Northern Ireland want to pay higher income tax, usc, property tax and Insurance levies. Do they want to pay more for their cars, white goods and food? Do they want to join the other 1m already on hospital waiting lists? Do the PSNI get to stay armed, become part of the Gardai but keep their higher salaries. Do the Gardai then get pay rises to align with their former PSNI colleagues? What happens to the Unionist para military threat? Leave NI out of the Republic. Its a basket case. There is no value to Ireland in getting it back. Westminster wanted to keep it at the Treaty time. Let them keep it now."

Your £158 billion figure has no basis in reality and I don't know whether you just made it up to shock people or you've been mislead by someone.

The figure you're looking for, ar the last count, was something around £10billion. However, this includes pension payments of around £3 billion which the British exchequer will still be responsible for, as well as billions in contributions to the British military, royal family, etc. The reality is that the actual figure will be somewhere in the ballpark of 3 to 5 billion. It's impossible to be precise since the British exchequer doesn't give out precise figures for the six counties.

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

Your £158 billion figure has no basis in reality and I don't know whether you just made it up to shock people or you've been mislead by someone.

I think he meant 15 billion, the 8 is actually a B, specsaver stuff Michael

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

Your £158 billion figure has no basis in reality and I don't know whether you just made it up to shock people or you've been mislead by someone.

I think he meant 15 billion, the 8 is actually a B, specsaver stuff Michael

Ah ffs!

I'm blind!

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

Your £158 billion figure has no basis in reality and I don't know whether you just made it up to shock people or you've been mislead by someone.

I think he meant 15 billion, the 8 is actually a B, specsaver stuff Michael

Ah ffs!

I'm blind!

Well you were warned that would happen if you didnt stop

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

Your £158 billion figure has no basis in reality and I don't know whether you just made it up to shock people or you've been mislead by someone.

I think he meant 15 billion, the 8 is actually a B, specsaver stuff Michael

Ah ffs!

I'm blind!

Yer grand, I know now for certain that I can send you my unfiltered mug shot without scaring the life outta you.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

Your £158 billion figure has no basis in reality and I don't know whether you just made it up to shock people or you've been mislead by someone.

I think he meant 15 billion, the 8 is actually a B, specsaver stuff Michael

Ah ffs!

I'm blind!

Yer grand, I know now for certain that I can send you my unfiltered mug shot without scaring the life outta you.

The anticipation is rising, among other things

...and now we wait!

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By *immyK67Couple
over a year ago

Dublin

Crazy if it happens.. We will all be paying 50% income tax to fund it, if you think times are hard now wait for a United Ireland

Nonsense for starters it will take at least 20 years to complete the handover , the money will be funded by both the UK & the EU as it will be in their best interests also to have the island of ireland united

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By *immyK67Couple
over a year ago

Dublin

"Do people actually understand what a United Ireland actually means and not the shite sinn fein is spouting are people OK with orange marches in all the cities in the country. Our national anthem will have to change, the unionists will be in the dail and may hold power some day. United Ireland means all in we will have to accept the unionists traditions as they will have to accept ours. unionists parties will be in the Dail. Its unlikely they could ever be the ruling party. are you sure, there's a hell of a lot of protestant people living in the Republic who may want to vote for them. "

Seriously pal just because your a protestant doesnt mean ur a unionist and even if every protestant voted unionism it would still be a big minority

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By *immyK67Couple
over a year ago

Dublin

The same way nationalist had to become british citizens to take up seats in the uk parliament

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Crazy if it happens.. We will all be paying 50% income tax to fund it, if you think times are hard now wait for a United Ireland

There is no such thing as free money in this life, the bulk of the finance for NI will come from taxpayers in the Republic if a United Ireland ever happens, UK and EU will have minimual involvement in financing NI why would they when the dopes in the so called free state will foot the bill

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By *ixie and dixie2022Couple
over a year ago

villiage

Do people want a united ireland we do

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By *LIVEANDKICKING100Man
over a year ago

DUBLIN

[Removed by poster at 10/04/23 12:44:24]

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By *LIVEANDKICKING100Man
over a year ago

DUBLIN

"[Removed by poster at 10/04/23 12:44:24]"

Read the post again-I actually said £15B-not £158. My figures come from Gov.UK website,-google it for yourself:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/record-15-billion-per-year-for-northern-ireland

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people want a united ireland we do "

It's a hard no from me. Not least because I think I'd be better off financially staying as part of the UK.

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"Do people want a united ireland we do "

Genuinely haven't a clue

So much to be discussed and decided on and could only make a decision based on an agreement afterwards

Its a nice romantic notion

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people want a united ireland we do "

No things are working just fine as they are

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

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By *antra MassageMan
over a year ago

South Side.

No, this call for a united ireland is driven by emotion,and romantic notions. There is no need for it. The UK is doing its own thing , not too well at the moment, but could improve in the next decade. The ROI, has bumbled along, and really has only found its feet in the last 40 years. Our alliance with Europe is more important, than merging with a bankrupt, dysfunctional province. Post Brexit, our strategic aim must be to retain American investment, and our export markets in Europe .

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By *indenMan
over a year ago

Naas which is South West of Dublin

I would imagine the practicality would outweigh the romanticism for most.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"No, this call for a united ireland is driven by emotion,and romantic notions. There is no need for it. The UK is doing its own thing , not too well at the moment, but could improve in the next decade. The ROI, has bumbled along, and really has only found its feet in the last 40 years. Our alliance with Europe is more important, than merging with a bankrupt, dysfunctional province. Post Brexit, our strategic aim must be to retain American investment, and our export markets in Europe . "

Leaving romanticism aside completely, just before partition was imposed, the three counties around Belfast accounted for most of the industrial and economic output of the entire country. The entire northern economy is now a small fraction of the economy of the 26 counties.

By every single measure, the north has been in decline between partition and the protocol.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not"

But for some of us, they are working just fine as is.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not"

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI

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By *indenMan
over a year ago

Naas which is South West of Dublin

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI"

How do you know that?

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By *ay_Gatsby_D4Man
over a year ago

City Centre, Dublin

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI

How do you know that?"

It’s the internet, you just project your assumptions and biases on other people and they’re automatically correct

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI"

Do we all not get to vote on it eventually like The Good Friday Agreement or only people that have something to do with it

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI"

I'd imagine it would impact the people in the south too and not just those in NI, no?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Why should people in the Republic have any say in what happens to NI after all the people of the Republic sold out the people of the 6 counties and left them to fend for themselves after partition so only people in NI should decide their own fate

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By *indenMan
over a year ago

Naas which is South West of Dublin

"Why should people in the Republic have any say in what happens to NI after all the people of the Republic sold out the people of the 6 counties and left them to fend for themselves after partition so only people in NI should decide their own fate "

You’re right, anyone who was involved in the original partition should be excluded from having a say this time…..

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

And what about Westminster

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

A potential united ireland would have an effect on taxpayers in the Republic (who would need to bail out the insolvent north) and so they deserve the right to vote too. They can't just unilaterally decide they want to integrate with a country without explicit consent.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And what about Westminster "

They should have huge say as they are bankrolling NI

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

According to people here the Republic won't have to pay for anything, UK and EU will find everything

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

And what about Westminster

They should have huge say as they are bankrolling NI "

So not just the people in NI then

What about all the funding that NI gets from us ....doesn't that entitle us to a say

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And what about Westminster

They should have huge say as they are bankrolling NI

So not just the people in NI then

What about all the funding that NI gets from us ....doesn't that entitle us to a say "

NI is solely financed by the UK taxpayer as it is part of the UK not ROI

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

Ireland needs to be able to balance the books internally. No doubt there will be subsidies and grants, but that won't last forever and won't cover the full cost.

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI"

You know nothing about me or where I live other than a location on here. That's all I am saying on this along with you are wrong!

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By *asual777Man
over a year ago

i travel all over

"Do people want a united ireland we do

No things are working just fine as they are

No they are not

Says a woman sitting in an armchair in Co Galway that has zero to do with NI"

If there is a referendum ever , armchair people from wherever in Ireland will vote as it has huge implications for them . Taxes for a start .

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By *eard and BoobsCouple
over a year ago

Portstewart

Never happen in our lifetimes the Irish government won't pick up the tab that the British government currently pays out in benefits and prescriptions not to mention that the tax rate would drastically increase to deal with the higher cost of living

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

"Never happen in our lifetimes the Irish government won't pick up the tab that the British government currently pays out in benefits and prescriptions not to mention that the tax rate would drastically increase to deal with the higher cost of living "

Well either the benefits that the North enjoy (like free heathcare) need to dissappear (making it so they won't vote for reunification)... or the cost will be exorbitant for the Republic (making it so THEY won't vote for it).

I've no idea how to square that circle.

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By *eard and BoobsCouple
over a year ago

Portstewart

I've no idea how to square that circle."

Healthcare isn't free that's what taxes are paid for

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

Healthcare In NI is free at the point of use. That's something we can't afford here in the Republic. It's only affordable in NI because its paid for by UK taxpayers. That funding will disappear in a united ireland.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Almost 100,000 people employed by the NHS and the Northern Ireland Civil Service alone. Over a quarter of all employees in NI employed in the public sector, totalling almost a quarter of a million people.

That alone will be a handling

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The frightening thing is there are 5 million people in the Republic and only 2 in the North,, if a referendum were to happen a united ireland would pass by sheer numbers in the Republic would vote for it, completely unfair on the people in NI who should have complete say in this

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Almost 100,000 people employed by the NHS and the Northern Ireland Civil Service alone. Over a quarter of all employees in NI employed in the public sector, totalling almost a quarter of a million people.

That alone will be a handling"

THe English tax payer is funding this and good luck to them because the Republic couldn't afford it in a million years

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"The frightening thing is there are 5 million people in the Republic and only 2 in the North,, if a referendum were to happen a united ireland would pass by sheer numbers in the Republic would vote for it, completely unfair on the people in NI who should have complete say in this "

The Good Friday agreement had to be passed on both sides of the border

I also think that a majority won't be good enough for some people and that they'll insist on a 2 thirds majority or of the number of the overall voters on the register and not just those that voted

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

That alone will be a handling

THe English tax payer is funding this and good luck to them because the Republic couldn't afford it in a million years"

The UK taxpayers surely?

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

The thing everyone isn't getting. Eventually there is going to be a untied Ireland. It just doesn't stop if there was a referendum next year and the outcome was a no vote. The nationalists and republicans will keep chipping away untill it'll happen. That's the reality of it.

All this talk about we can't afford it. In a new Ireland everyone will just have to put their heads together and find ways of creating new wealth which inturn creates new taxes that helps pays for it along with investment from the EU, UK and possibly America. Who knows, maybe some debt write off to help with a new Ireland but the fact of the matter is, there will be a united Ireland one day so we'll just have to get used to the idea it's going to happen and look at the positives and start planning for it instead all the negative talk about not being able to afford it.

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out "

Exactly! Common sense tells you there'll be agreements made so a untied Ireland isnt going to bankrupt us or put us into recession. A united Ireland will be welcomed the world over and only positives can come from it IMO.

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

No. NI should not have complete say. They need to vote yes. As does the Republic. Both sides need to independently agree, not 1 vote, 2 seperate votes.

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out

That's wishful thinking IMO

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out "

Sure it's not an insurmountable problem.. but it will take a lot of compromise. I know if I was in NI I would think twice about losing benefits like the NHS. It would take a lot to vote to lose that.

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out

Sure it's not an insurmountable problem.. but it will take a lot of compromise. I know if I was in NI I would think twice about losing benefits like the NHS. It would take a lot to vote to lose that."

Maybe both sides could end up with a health service like The NHS

I know....I know ....but lets aim high

Also I'd imagine some sort of fund would be set up by The EU / Britain / U.S to use if reunification came about

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background…. "

Is there any particular reason

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out

That's wishful thinking IMO"

True, but imagine the possibilities in an untied Ireland.

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By *oxic1998Woman
over a year ago

Belfast

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason "

I'd be homeless for a start.....rents and house prices would go up......companies would close because they couldn't afford to pay the same wages they do down south. If the NHS is taken away then I couldn't even afford to see a doctor....

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By *loscouplegl3Couple
over a year ago

Gloucester

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out "

Eastern Germany is still lagging way behind West Germany even after 30 years of Federal assistance. It’s also the hot bed of political loonies.

A rushed reunification in Ireland would be an economic and social disaster for all involved!

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

How thou?

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By *ealitybitesMan
over a year ago

Belfast

I don't come from a strong republican background. A very middle of the road background in fact but as it stands I've no real desire to see a United Ireland just for practical reasons alone.

I've spent my entire life struggling to make ends meet and that's without having to even think about luxuries such as private health insurance or having to pay to see my doctor.

I've also seen all the absolute bs surrounding talks about arranging to talk about having talks so anyone that thinks it would ever be a smooth changeover is living in Narnia.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I assume all the same tax/ funding problems were discussed before the reunification of Germany

How has that worked out

You say it's not an insurmountable problem and it will take a lot of compromise. Have you ever seen the politicians in the North. Compromise is the only common ground between them as in none of them are capable of compromise.

As for problems not being insurmountable yeah that's good how long has stormont been abandoned. Until there is a complete sea change in people's outlook in the North its never going to happen.

As for me in the south until that sea change happens I personally will never vote for it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

That alone will be a handling

THe English tax payer is funding this and good luck to them because the Republic couldn't afford it in a million years

The UK taxpayers surely?"

The English tax payer is keeping Scotland and Wales afloat no to mention NI

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By *ustBoWoman
over a year ago

Somewhere in Co. Down

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Pretty much this.These are some of the reasons I had to move from the south as I could no longer afford to live down there without getting in debt. So no I don't see how a united Ireland would be feasible for most people financially.I love both the north and the south but I cannot see how it will ever work being united .

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By *onnrodMan
over a year ago

moira

"The thing everyone isn't getting. Eventually there is going to be a untied Ireland. It just doesn't stop if there was a referendum next year and the outcome was a no vote. The nationalists and republicans will keep chipping away untill it'll happen. That's the reality of it.

You should write fantasy fiction.

So many assertions about what MIGHT happen, what COULD happen, without any recognition about the current state of decision making north and south of the border.

Hell, I'm from a unionist background but even I'd vote for this green tinged disneyland you speak of.

If only the transition wasn't going to be handled by the other Mickey Mouse operations we currently have to deal with, Stormont and the dail. Two states or one, the politicians will always find a way to fuck us all over whilst lining their own pockets and at the minute people in the north have more to lose than they have to gain (in my humble opinion based on 48 years living in the north)....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason "

Because people living in NI have good lives now it's not like 40 years ago when catholics were 2nd class citizens, equality in jobs and housing is what they wanted and that's what they got, that's how the troubles flared up initially, war is over, people have matured or passed away, such is life, a simple phrase sums it up nicely "if it ain't broke don't fix it"

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By *hyeyesMan
over a year ago

meath

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Northern Ireland is a failed state . It's been in a bloody conflict for half it's existance. We are on the road to reunification ,fact

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Whether your for it or against it or on the fence , it has to be discussed , the reality is at some point a vote will come , and we need to have some ideas of what the plans are after any result , either way …. We can’t have another Brexit we’re the result comes and then no one really knows what happens next

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By *andytownMan
over a year ago

Gods Own Country

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Northern Ireland is a failed state . It's been in a bloody conflict for half it's existance. We are on the road to reunification ,fact "

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Northern Ireland is a failed state . It's been in a bloody conflict for half it's existance. We are on the road to reunification ,fact "

Let's assume you're right that NI is a failed state. Why the hell would the Republic want to join with that disaster and let them drag it down to.

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By *onnrodMan
over a year ago

moira

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Northern Ireland is a failed state. It's been in a bloody conflict for half it's existance. We are on the road to reunification ,fact "

A punchline trolled out by someone who doesn't even live here, try explaining why it's a failed state instead of puking out the same rhetoric that teenagers use when they want to be Che Guevara.

Oh and 30 years out of 100 isn't half unless you consider the present sporadic cowardly attacks by dissidents to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago, and which doesn't reflect the attitudes of the overwhelming majority of people living here.

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

In fairness the Republic of Ireland is in existence since 1922

We are a failed state in so many ways so lets not throw stones out of the greenhouse yet

We cant feed or house all our people

Everyone is not treated fairly and equally especially women and children

Our health service is falling apart

Huge amount of government depts are useless and not fit for purpose

Government have sold us out and enriched themselves at the same time

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

[Removed by poster at 13/04/23 10:20:04]

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"In fairness the Republic of Ireland is in existence since 1922

We are a failed state in so many ways so lets not throw stones out of the greenhouse yet

We cant feed or house all our people

Everyone is not treated fairly and equally especially women and children

Our health service is falling apart

Huge amount of government depts are useless and not fit for purpose

Government have sold us out and enriched themselves at the same time

The republic as currently constituted came into existence in 1949. While you could argue that it effectively existed since 1937, you can't argue that it existed since 1922.

I agree mostly with your substantive points all the same.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Northern Ireland is a failed state. It's been in a bloody conflict for half it's existance. We are on the road to reunification ,fact

A punchline trolled out by someone who doesn't even live here, try explaining why it's a failed state instead of puking out the same rhetoric that teenagers use when they want to be Che Guevara.

Leaving the current micro groups aside, and agreeing with you about how they do not reflect the thinking of the vast majority, to say that the violence was only for that defined period is wrong. The initial years after partition had a lot of violence, as had periods during the forties, and again during the late fifties and early sixties.

Two points on the "failed state" comment...

The state was constructed in order to preserve protestant/unionist majority in perpetuity. After 100 years this is obviously failing. MLAs identifying as unionist are no longer the majority in Stormont. The number of people identifying as being from a catholic background will very soon be the majority. If you don't believe me just take a look at the details from the 2011 census, and the younger age profiles reported in it. We don't have the full demographic details from the most recent census but we'll see them soon.

As regards democracy, political unionism has shown that it is mostly unwilling to share power. Sunningdale didn't collapse because of republican violence but because of hardline unionism in the form of the UWC, Paisley and the like. The good friday agreement also caused huge divisions in political unionism as a result of power sharing, which has been rumbling on top this very day. Jim Allister has stated clearly that he has no intention of sharing power with republicans so the DUP, whether they want to our not, and it's fairly clear they don't want to, will try and hold their hardliners will might go to the TUV by giving two fingers to power sharing.

It's a disfunctional state at best and it's time to try something new.

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

Interesting set of words. Don't you think if the Brits weren't killing innocent people on the streets at will in places such as Ballymurphy, Derry and other locations in the North along with intimidating, bullying and throwing innocent people and children (15-18 yr olds) in jail during interment then maybe there wouldn't have had an uprising of the Irish fighting back. Some would say the main protagonists were the British army and loyalists.

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British?

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

It's a disfunctional state at best and it's time to try something new.

Unionists are going to have to get used to the fact a united Ireland is going to happen and wether they like it or not, will have to live with it or get swept aside in the electorate. The new generation are going to see to this, not republicans.

In the next 30 years in politics in Ireland we are going to see big changes. Ireland has changed and the whole political scene all over the island will do too and all this will lead to a new Ireland.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British? "

Nancy, Nancy, calm down. I'm fairly sure by "main protagonists" he meant ALL the main players

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

And on the 7th day He created The Irish

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British? "

I'll also say this, and respectfully bow out. Without engaging in whataboutery,it might be good to acknowledge suffering occurred on all sides. That innocents of all colours were affected by inexplicable and senseless loss, and no one group deserved it more than another. People died. Families were horrifically ripped apart. No-one has a monopoly on the loss of a loved one and the irrevocable repercussions wrought upon those left behind

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

I'd be in full agreement with most of that.

I would disagree that it was inexplicable though. Conflicts like this happen all over the world for very similar reasons, usually where empires have come and gone and drawn lines on maps that weren't there before.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'd be in full agreement with most of that.

Inexplicable at the time Mick to those who experienced the loss of a loved one, especially young children who lost parents. A 4 year old whose father was burnt alive doesn't have much understanding of conflict.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

I'd be in full agreement with most of that.

No, that's fair comment.

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By *onnrodMan
over a year ago

moira

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

Interesting set of words. "

Yes, and you should look up what they mean before launching into an ignorant rant. Protagonist vs Antagonist.

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By *onnrodMan
over a year ago

moira

It's a disfunctional state at best and it's time to try something new.

In the next 30 years in politics in Ireland we are going to see big changes. Ireland has changed and the whole political scene all over the island will do too and all this will lead to a new Ireland. "

I guess I can't compete with your crystal ball so I'll bow out as these threads almost never reach common agreement.

Oh, before I go, can you PM me this weekend's euromillions numbers please?

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

It's a disfunctional state at best and it's time to try something new.

In the next 30 years in politics in Ireland we are going to see big changes. Ireland has changed and the whole political scene all over the island will do too and all this will lead to a new Ireland.

I guess I can't compete with your crystal ball so I'll bow out as these threads almost never reach common agreement.

Oh, before I go, can you PM me this weekend's euromillions numbers please?"

To be fair, it's not about crystal balls so much as census returns. If you drill down into the stats from 2001 onwards you'll see the change that's coming down the track.

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British?

Yes, I was to mention thst I was going to bow out with my last post. I see where this thread is going and yo be fair, I think it should be locked. This isn't a place for it IMO. Especially where like myself, I have experience with the conflict in the north and carry the scars of it with close family losing their lives and others got caught up in it all and spent most of their lives in jail. Some innocent I must add! But again, I must point out, of course it's inevitable there's going to be a untied Ireland. It's futile thinking the Irish are just going to give up if a referendum vote is no. Every 7 years from the first vote there has to be another going by the good Friday agreement.

With that said, this will be my last post on here. I wish everyone on here nothing but good health and happiness going forward

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By *ilthyNightsCouple
over a year ago

East / North, Cork

A very interesting debate that highlights a lot of the pertinent points on both sides. No need to lock the thread as far as I can see. The issues playing out here highlight the work to be done and the strength of opinions on both sides. No need to hide from that. Truth and reconciliation.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"A very interesting debate that highlights a lot of the pertinent points on both sides. No need to lock the thread as far as I can see. The issues playing out here highlight the work to be done and the strength of opinions on both sides. No need to hide from that. Truth and reconciliation."

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By *hyeyesMan
over a year ago

meath

"Personaly I hope it never happens, and this is coming from someone with a strong republican background….

Is there any particular reason

Northern Ireland is a failed state. It's been in a bloody conflict for half it's existance. We are on the road to reunification ,fact

A punchline trolled out by someone who doesn't even live here, try explaining why it's a failed state instead of puking out the same rhetoric that teenagers use when they want to be Che Guevara.

Northern Ireland was established with a unionist majority to be a Unionist state . Nationalists are now the majority . That makes it a failed ideological state

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

These threads in all their greatness and wisdom, will never get an agreement as the 6 counties are and always have been used as a barging chip. I grew up in the tail end of the troubles when tensions & trust for what the other side was doing. We are a very long way from that and the sectarianism that was there at the time. I know for myself having strong republican roots, I do not want my kid growing up in what I witnessed and that goes without saying.

The key now for a untied Ireland is to find common ground with the non republican/nationalist people & work to provide a better future for the next generations. It is going to happen as the Britain’s Empires bloody trail of conquest has drew to its end. Ever the people of Britain don’t want the occupied 6 counties. The world knows the truth but saying the truth you become anti-British. I am no way shape or form anti British but I am and always will be A Proud Irish Man

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By *ancy38Woman
over a year ago

galway

"These threads in all their greatness and wisdom, will never get an agreement as the 6 counties are and always have been used as a barging chip. I grew up in the tail end of the troubles when tensions & trust for what the other side was doing. We are a very long way from that and the sectarianism that was there at the time. I know for myself having strong republican roots, I do not want my kid growing up in what I witnessed and that goes without saying.

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

Just thought I’d give my 2cents on the matter lol

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British? "

Nonsense

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British?

Nonsense "

Not nonsense as I have been searched and verbal abused by RUC officers when I was a child & those are the memories that leave tarma in-bedded in my mind.

A simple quote for this thread

“If Man Does Not Learn From History, He Is Doomed To Repeat It”

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You can still call yourself Irish and live in the 6 counties, I don't know what or where this big push for a UI came from, the benefits of remaining in the union outweight that of becoming 1 with the Republic, in this day and age ww3 is only around the corner and I for 1 would rather live in the UK than the Republic, at least in the UK I'd have a chance of living, the Republic has no defence whatsoever and will be destroyed and the laughable thing is the UK will probably come to our aid despite the fact that we have nothing good to say about them

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British?

Nonsense

Not nonsense as I have been searched and verbal abused by RUC officers when I was a child & those are the memories that leave tarma in-bedded in my mind.

A simple quote for this thread

“If Man Does Not Learn From History, He Is Doomed To Repeat It”"

The same could happen with any police force, I've had bad experiences with Gardaí doesn't mean I hate the Republic of Ireland because of it

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

to be a actual continuation of a conflict the main protagonists abandoned 25 years ago

What would you personally do if you and your family were on the receiving end of all this brutality from the British?

Nonsense

Not nonsense as I have been searched and verbal abused by RUC officers when I was a child & those are the memories that leave tarma in-bedded in my mind.

A simple quote for this thread

“If Man Does Not Learn From History, He Is Doomed To Repeat It”

The same could happen with any police force, I've had bad experiences with Gardaí doesn't mean I hate the Republic of Ireland because of it "

In what way shape or forum have I said I hated the Republic of Ireland? I didn’t say anything about hating anything or anyone.

Right am going back to the 90s here when they still were the RUC are you trying to tell me that a child should be searched and verbal abused and watch on as school bags are searched while having the British army stand pointing guns at us?

It’s tit for tat now we are getting into instead of talking about the issues and the problems. I have no intentions to set out to hurt or call bull shit on stuff but when I know in my hearts of hearts the real reason behind the attack by the then RUC/Royal Irish Guards was because we are Catholic & Irish and to them that is a crime.

Looks at the stats about RUC/UDR collusion and if that doesn’t open your eyes then we’ll hey you can’t teach stupid.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've also had my car taken apart and searched by the army at a routine checkpoint in the early 90s while taking my 7 year old brother bowling for his birthday. We were left standing on the side of the road on a cold dark February night while the very interior panels were taken off my car doors. I'm a protestant from a unionist background. Searches were something everyone endured. As I said up there, no-one has a monopoly on the troubles

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

"I've also had my car taken apart and searched by the army at a routine checkpoint in the early 90s while taking my 7 year old brother bowling for his birthday. We were left standing on the side of the road on a cold dark February night while the very interior panels were taken off my car doors. I'm a protestant from a unionist background. Searches were something everyone endured. As I said up there, no-one has a monopoly on the troubles"

Look I 100% agree with that as I’ve had friends for many years who are Protestant & Unionists and the they have all said to me about what they had suffered too. My point was that I’m a shared future on this island that we need a change in the out look of the future.

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By *ifes2short!!Man
over a year ago

newtownabbey

Wouldnt happen without there being another civil war. Loyalists will go back to the gun if it was to happen. Why would you want that?

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"Wouldnt happen without there being another civil war. Loyalists will go back to the gun if it was to happen. Why would you want that?"

Who's going to arm, train, finance them and provide them with intelligence on targets this time because they won't have the British government/military on their side in the event of them being on the losing side of a democratic vote.

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By *andytownMan
over a year ago

Gods Own Country

No matter how much you beg, borrow or steal.... We aren't having you back

We are happy enough up here with our Black Bush and proper Tayto crisps, away on with yee

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

"No matter how much you beg, borrow or steal.... We aren't having you back

We are happy enough up here with our Black Bush and proper Tayto crisps, away on with yee

You're right about the crisps at least!

I much prefer them to Free Stayto and I'm hoping to replenish my stocks at the weekend

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

"You can still call yourself Irish and live in the 6 counties, I don't know what or where this big push for a UI came from, the benefits of remaining in the union outweight that of becoming 1 with the Republic, in this day and age ww3 is only around the corner and I for 1 would rather live in the UK than the Republic, at least in the UK I'd have a chance of living, the Republic has no defence whatsoever and will be destroyed and the laughable thing is the UK will probably come to our aid despite the fact that we have nothing good to say about them "

What is holding you back moving to the UK? You're young and single, off ye go!

I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd be all relieved knowing you're safe and sound in the UK.

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By *nribanMan
over a year ago

Sligo

Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation.

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

What is holding you back moving to the UK? You're young and single, off ye go!

I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd be all relieved knowing you're safe and sound in the UK.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation."

Fook me, will the fallout stop at the border? *starts looking for properties in Carlingford*

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By *rishOak12Man
over a year ago

"Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation.

Fook me, will the fallout stop at the border? *starts looking for properties in Carlingford*"

The boarder is made from asbestos

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By *og-ManMan
over a year ago

somewhere

"Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation.

Fook me, will the fallout stop at the border? *starts looking for properties in Carlingford*"

Prices doubled yesterday after Joe's visit

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By *onnrodMan
over a year ago

moira

"Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation.

Fook me, will the fallout stop at the border? *starts looking for properties in Carlingford*"

If only someone had told the fallout from Chernobyl that it wasn't allowed across international borders in 1986

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By *oghunter33Woman
over a year ago

on the hill NordWest of

"Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation.

Fook me, will the fallout stop at the border? *starts looking for properties in Carlingford*

If only someone had told the fallout from Chernobyl that it wasn't allowed across international borders in 1986"

There was this Russian threat last year, to eradicate the UK with a Poseidon nuke causing a enormous tsunami. Unfortunately Ireland is in the way...collateral damage ... can't make omelette without breaking eggs ... Mehole was rather upset over it.

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By *ichael McCarthyMan
over a year ago

Lucan

To be fair now, being a victim of fallout is a step down from nuclear bombardment and is somewhat less likely to end in certain death.

As regards Chernobyl, there are still people living in their homes in the Chernobyl exclusion zone as they didn't want to and simply refused to leave. They'll possibly/probably die younger than their life expectancy but they are still alive 37 years later.

My key point here is that if you're in a country that is targeted by nuclear weapons, your chance of survival is much less than if you're in another country that's affected by the nuclear fallout from the targeting of the neighbouring country.

Any other statement is illogical.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Brexit has been the trigger for talk of a UI.

The prospect of a border returning is simply unfathomable.

Ireland is a safer place than Britain in the event of nuclear war.

We have no defence, but we are also no threat.

It's countries that pose nuclear threats to one another that will be targeted with nuclear annihilation.

Fook me, will the fallout stop at the border? *starts looking for properties in Carlingford*

Prices doubled yesterday after Joe's visit "

Shite...maybe Jonesborough then

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