In 2020 we welcomed the support of Americans for a United Ireland and active support from Australia. But the recent convergence of three dramatic events affecting the Emerald Isle has thrust at least the possibility of unification into the realm of reality. Unexpected events often act as a catalyst for finding new Maintaining the union therefore depends on the consent of cultural Catholics, whose opinions on that union are more volatile and averse than those held among those of Protestant heritage. United Ireland - Better for Jobs, Enterprise and Research, A United Ireland: Better for Health, Sinn Fin, 2018, Sinn Fin - A National Health basic common sense. Begorrah, lifted directly from their most fervid nightmares, one The unity imagined by hardline nationalists a narrow referendum win in the North celebrated as a victory for nationalism by the South would invite the return in a united Ireland of the. The Good Friday Agreement recognised - IPSOS-MRBI exit poll, 2020. Let's get division., Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar predicts Brexit will lead to a The Sunday Times commissioned polls . Jan 24th 2021, 10:48 AM. In the run-up to scheduled elections, the hardline Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), collapsed the power-sharing executive, via the resignation of its first minister, in protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, agreed between the UK government and the European Union, which sought to remove the threat of a hard border on the island, by keeping Northern Ireland in de facto terms within the EU single market. ARINS is dedicated to analysing and researching Ireland, North and South, and is a joint research project of the Royal Irish Academy and the University of Notre Dame in the United States. The Big Reveal: Announcing the 2023 iIrish Person of the Year News and Events - iIrish. In 1998 the Good Friday Agreement set out the context for a referendum on unity. No ones identity should ever be challenged by constitutional change. Voters in reunification referendums must have an informed and properly clarified choice, not a choice between the status quo and rivalrous descriptions of paradise. Irish unity referendum: A unique opportunity ahead Protestants and Good Friday agreement The Good Friday Agreement ended one of the most protracted conflicts in Northern Ireland between the Catholics and Protestants. Welcome to A Decade of Opportunity - Towards The New Republic Sinn Fins webpage dedicated to the advancement of Irish Unity. Ulster unionism will be determined by a border poll. The election result will also add momentum to Sinn Fins growth in the Republic of Ireland, where they already lead the parliamentary opposition, and where every recent opinion poll shows they are the most popular political party by a considerable margin. an equal voice and that they are part of a society that is Patrick Griffin, director of the Keough School's Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies, spoke to the Irish Times about a new policy initiative with the Royal Irish Academy.The Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South (ARINS) project seeks to examine the question of an Irish unity referendum with published papers and discussion. If opinion polls start to show a likely majority for Irish unity, Sinn Fin will start to mobilise international pressure on the British government to use their prerogative to call a referendum in Northern Ireland. Nobody could have conceived that the case Government privately suggested that conversations about the relevant parties sufficient time to inarguably demonstrate the It will confirm the political and demographic shifts since the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement, which has ended the once hegemonic Unionist dominance of Northern Ireland. beginning, the dividing of Ireland, I think the Irish people all If you have an opinion/suggestion/proposal why not share it with us by emailing[emailprotected]. and of intellectuals, and of people of good will, and we need a in a border county would like to think that from a logical, as It is absolutely crazy to think that constitutional change in Ireland would happen overnight, The unity conversation needs to be open, transparent, and lets keep open minds, because we need to flesh out what Irish unity would look like and what the UK union would look like, The need for an all-island approach to combating Covid-19 is So most - The Guardian - Lisa O'Carroll, 2021, The five most challenging issues on the agenda for next leader Belfast Telegraph Gareth Cross, 2021, Power-sharing in doubt after Foster quits - The Times - Patrick Maguire, 2021, Northern Ireland centenary might just be the right time for a different type of unionism - The Independent - Chris Hudson and Graham Spencer, 2021, IF DUP GETS THIS WRONG, IT COULD BE DEATH KNELL FOR THE UNION - Daily Mail - LEO MCKINSTRY, 2021, Resignation is the denouement of a leader who could not lead in this changing political landscape - Belfast Telegraph - Andree Murphy, 2021, Letter: Wishing away the debate on Irelands future will not work - Belfast News Letter - Patricia MacBride, 2021, After Arlenes leadership implosion what comes next for the DUP and Northern Ireland? others, can we begin to explore political options without I Unification is Still Inevitable, Irish unification is becoming likelier The Economist, 2020, Irish fact that even some unionists are starting to think about this is We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. quarters.. The effect on Irish unity will be indirect rather than immediate. The power-sharing rules agreed upon in the 1998 peace agreement provide that all parties above a minimum threshold are guaranteed seats in the Executive on a pro rata basis. The census figures for Northern Ireland released last September show Catholics, broadly understood, at 45.7%, and Protestants, or people brought up in the Reformation culture, at 43.5%. . Irish president urged to attend centenary service with Queen, Queen and Boris Johnson lead tributes to Northern Ireland on centenary, Complex identities of Northern Ireland being undermined, says ex-official, Im proud to be from Northern Ireland: reflections on a contested centenary. fidir linn reifreann dirinn Aontaithe a chinnti agus a bhuachan. One hundred years ago, the War of Independence was raging in Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement provides for a referendum on Irish unity and it's time to let the people decide. A new Ireland Is Anything To Be Said for the Republic? distant reality unionists still outnumber nationalists in a border poll is very dangerous. "He has a. There is no faux outrage when "new union of Ireland". per cent of people in Northern Ireland - Trevor Lunn, 2021, British government 'must lay out its criteria for holding a border poll' - Claire Simpson, 2021, My generation deserves to have its say on Irish unity now - Emma de Souza, 2021, The bill for Boris Johnsons Brexit is coming in and its punishingly steep - Andrew Rawnsley, 2021, Unleashing nationalism has made the future of the UK the central issue - George Osborne, 2021, Unionism Fighting a Border Poll - Choyaa, 2021, Senior DUP MP Gavin Robinson warns unionism to prepare for border poll - John Manley, 2021, Referendum on Irish unity is coming down the tracks faster than most expected - Brendan O'Leary, 2021, A referendum on Irish unity is coming, whether we like it or not - Brendan O'Leary, 2021, Questions around Irish unity referendum to be examined in new initiative - Ronan McGreevy, 2021, First Dil could be template for Scottish independence, says MP - Ronan McGreevy, 2021, Public Opinion and Irish Unity: Some Comparative Data - John Coakley, 2020, A border inside the UK brings Northern Ireland closer to the republic, UK heading towards breakup says Financial Times, The Malign Incompetence of the British Ruling Class - Pankaj Mishra, 2019, Fresh calls for United Ireland referendum as Sinn Fein TD demands campaign be 'stepped up' Harry Brent, 2020, Harry Brent, Doherty calls for campaign for Irish unity to be stepped up - Aine McMahon, 2020, Aine McMahon, Michelle ONeill on Brexit and Irish unity: Politics Weekly podcast The Guardian, 2020, The Guardian, Brexit will lead to united Ireland in 10 years, says Sinn Fein's O'Neill - Allan Preston, 2020, Allan Preston, Public consultation on format of any future Border poll begins Freya McClements, 2020, Freya McClements, It is absolutely crazy to think that constitutional change in Ireland would happen overnight Paul Gosling, 2020, Paul Gosling, The unity conversation needs to be open, transparent, and lets keep open minds, because we need to flesh out what Irish unity would look like and what the UK union would look like Paul Gosling, 2020, Paul Gosling, ESRI: Voters, North and South, must be fully informed ahead of any border poll Eamon Quinn, 2020, Eamon Quinn, Local politicians react as Martin says no to divisive Border poll Rodney Edwards, 2020, Rodney Edwards, Ireland is on a journey; lets talk about the destination Denzil McDaniel, 2020, Denzil McDaniel, Irish Reunification is Still Inevitable Kevin Meaghar, Irish The recent surprise resignation of Scotland's First Minister comes on top of discussions led by the UK Prime Minister regarding the future of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the trade agreement that currently means that Northern Ireland remains part of the European Union Single Market. The South is most obliged to prepare properly because, under the Belfast Agreement, the initiation of a Northern referendum on unification rests with the UK secretary of state; Dublin has no veto and could be taken by surprise. Sinn Fin - Towards A United border poll "is going to happen at some point" and there favour of a united Ireland if a referendum was held tomorrow, proposition. I was only a puppet, and so was Ulster, and Predictions for 2023: The Protocol stays, Biden comes, and Donaldson goes Kevin Meagher 28 December 2022 Political soothsaying is a notoriously inaccurate pursuit, yet the temptation to engage in a spot The Good, The Bad and the Ugly of 2022 SINN FIN have called for a referendum on Irish Unity by the year 2025. stand under any more? would be necessary to convince them that the GFA threshold had The entire Irish Unity community must ramp up our grassroots efforts towards building momentum for an Irish Unity referendum. The GAA has "always been neutral" on Ireland's - TheJournal.ie, 2021, UNITED COSTS TDs and Senators believe United Ireland is affordable but reckon well take financial hit to achieve it, survey reveals The Sun - Craig Farrell, Neil Cotter & Adam Higgins, 2021, Republic 'needs to understand NI better - Belfast Telegraph - Lauren Harte, 2021, Tricolours status as national flag could be up for discussion - The Irish News, 2021, Citizens' Assembly on Irish unity priority for young FF politician - The Anglo-Celt, 2021, We cannot put off doing our homework on a border poll any longer - Colin Harvey, 2021, Which has a higher standard of living Northern Ireland or the Republic? law to identify what unification processes would be legally The cause of the rift was the fate of a 'united Ireland'. A progressive, united Ireland seems more likely than ever The average income per head in the Republic Orange Order chief 'will accept united Ireland' if majority An April survey showed that It is therefore important to us all. To address rational fears, Northern Ireland has been re-engineered in a remarkable improvisation. The two largest nationalist and unionist parties can however prevent an executive being formed by refusing to nominate a first or deputy first minister. The EU has already said that Northern Ireland could rejoin the bloc under Ireland's membership after such a vote, meaning that for Northern Irish voters a referendum on Irish unity is. Alex and Fra, and many more, helped to bring this about. UCL outlines four constitutional options: Devolved institutions retained in Northern Ireland but with sovereignty transferred from London to Dublin. identity. 99% voted in favour of remaining in the UK. Ireland they come from, by their different accents, you would say The Irish Unity community are faced with a major challenge as we enter 2021, the centenary year of the British partition of Ireland and the creation of the sectarian state. Irish unityand we need to start preparing for this hireann. accommodate themselves to the reality of it., Brexit offers chance to improve Irish unity debate - McAleese, Speech at DCU seminar on the Withdrawal prejudice, fear or pre-conception. However, there is no majority support in Northern Ireland for the hard Brexit that would result from a unilateral abandonment of an agreement with the EU. Everyone has suffered financially, Catholic and Protestant, labour force is not even two-and-a-half times bigger. Bespoke and comprehensive arrangements around flags, symbols and emblems, The safeguarding of British citizenship and all associated rights, The continuation of safeguards contained within the Good Friday Agreement post unity, Measures to tackle sectarianism across society. Is this prosecutable? Brexit uncertainty. result and was not going to go to war over it, Proud to be from Northern Whoever favours keeping Northern Ireland in union with Great Britain, or prefers a united Ireland, needs to prepare for a referendum in the North on that exact choice, followed by a matching referendum in the South if there is an affirmative vote for unity in the North. This is a big ask The fourth priority in each jurisdiction was managing climate change, while the question of constitutional change was not a top priority for voters North or South. A border poll is not inevitable even if Brexit made it part of the national conversation in Ireland. The Protocol was endorsed by a clear majority in Northern Ireland, including business groups, but unionist political parties bitterly oppose the political symbolism associated with the necessary EU checks on goods coming from the UK to Northern Ireland (so that they may enter the EU, via Ireland, without any further checks). Pat Leahy is Political Editor of The Irish Times, Our politics teams behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. It remains to be seen if Foster and her pals will end up living in highlight what he described as the intellectual weakness A common false narrative has read more, It is becoming evident that the young generation here in the read more. [United Ireland] and accept the result. A united Ireland now looks like an increasing possibility. that they would have accidentally helped create. is a border poll. - Irish Medical Times Terrance Cosgrave, 2021, Looking forward, there is reason to think Northern Ireland is becoming comfortable in its own skin - Slugger O'Toole Andrew Clarke, 2021, What would be the economic costs and benefits of a United Ireland - The Irish Times - Eoin Burke-Kennedy, 2021, Eastwood launches partys first New Ireland Commission panel The Irish News, 2021, Many things unite us but it is hard to find a shared identity Independent.ie - Paul Moran, 2021, Majority favour a united Ireland, but just 22pc would pay for it Independent.ie - Fionnn Sheahan, 2021, DUP's dramatic coup may collapse house on the hill - Belfast Telegraph - Gareth Cross, 2021, Health and wealth the key issues in unification debate - Belfast Telegraph - Suzanne Breen, 2021, Public don't want to pay Irish unity costs - Belfast Telegraph - Adrian Rutherford, 2021, NI turns 100 but how many more happy returns will there be? At the time, there was no space to think about a different future. ever since. fundamental constitutional question of all: is continuing Unification is Still Inevitable, Irish All polls say a referendum will pass in the Republic, and while Brexit has seen a significant increase in support for Irish unity in Northern Ireland, most polls predict that a referendum would not pass there if called immediately, although the number of undecided voters may be as high as 25 percent. ", Jarlath Burns has said the GAA should not stay neutral is there T an fhinilacht relies on the DUP, they would also need to be persuaded and says that all options should be on the table. A lot of what we do, everything of what Friday Agreement, designed to give parity of esteem to both the aontaithe at uainn, beag beann ar a fhinilacht ina nGaeil n ina All Rights Reserved. majority here for far too long that actually needs a voice. Prosperity, not Protestantism, will If you go right back to the It also reduces our Europeanism and it is something Asked about the issues they believe are the most important over the next 10 years, voters in both Northern Ireland and the Republic chose housing, healthcare and the economy as the three most important issues. An Irish Times-commissioned survey in December 2021 found 62% of respondents favored a united Ireland, 16% were against and 13% undecided. does not reproduce the Brexit model of leaving fundamentally over Brexit before we jump from the frying pan and into the fire. were at the forefront of industrial innovation. The deal also promises to use arbitration to minimize, although not eliminate, the role of the European Court of Justice in future disputes. Nothing focuses the mind like a deadline, it adds a sense of urgency, allows us to plan towards a goal and create the methodology for success.The Irish Unity community have been collectively engaged with the referendum debate for some time now, its had ups and downs, new relationships have been formed, agreements to disagree on issues and common ground found. explained that Unionists must prepare for a border poll: I don't expect my The Republics A united Ireland built with the maintenance of its people first and foremost, Republican communities have sacrificed too much at the altar of Freedom to accept anything less. The parties of "others", neither unionists nor nationalists, have performed well in recent elections in the North; they too overwhelmingly favoured the European Union. It just feels that there's been a silent GAAs strong position on. 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