A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[brokencrossbar1]

I believe there won't be a 6 Cos census till 2031.

The 2021 one tells us-

Brit only 606,264 39.1%
Irish only 554,415 29.1%
NI only 376,444 19.8%.

Brit and NI 151,327 8%
Irish and NI 33,581 1.8%
Irish, British and NI 28,051 1.5%
Brit and Irish 11,760 0.6%.

Others 141,328.

Assuming
Brit/BritNI = No voters 757k
Ir/IrNI yes voters = 577k.

We need that gap closed in 2031 if we hope to persuade SofS to go for a Referendum.

The NI onlys will be the deciders.

On top of that before that you will have a GE here and at least 1 more Stormont election next year.  The results of this will show where the Nationalist/Republican political situation is.  You would expect the current seats to be retained (perhaps 1-2 at risk) but there may be opportunities to cut into the Unionist seats if the right campaign is run.  Gregory Campbells seat will be under severe pressure unless the UUP don't run a candidate.  There is a real opportunity given his small majority.  Sammy Wilson is not a guarantee and Sorcha Eastwood could be challenged.  All it would take would be for 1 of those seats to switch green and the balance of power shifts.  I think if you have a majority 'green' in HC and Stormont then the pressure grows on the SoS to call a poll.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

East Derry was a missed open goal by SF last time. The TUV almost certainly won't run next time so I reckon Gregory or whoever the candidate is should be safe. Cara Hunter the SDLP candidate is also pretty well known and a good mla so gets a good vote where as I couldn't even tell you who was standing for SF so that doesn't help nationalism get behind a single candidate. Upper Bann Carla is probably to the right of even the TUV so again will get a free run and should win, the nationalist vote here rarely gets motivated which defo doesn't help. There was actually a half chance of SF coming thru the middle in North Antrim last time but with junior gone I reckon the seat is Allisters until he drops. Can't see gains for nationalism next time. Alliance though have a chance in East Antrim, maybe East Belfast if they are lucky. Eastwood will be toast in LV as there will be some deal done for a single unionist

[RadioGAAGAA]

No, stop your "strawman"(copyright snapchap) stuff.

Be nice if the Party that trumpets loudest for Irish unity would join in and help, or at least give  some outline of what they'd like a UI to be.

It would, but again, wouldn't it be far more important/useful/significant if the actual government was to do so?

Realistically, the timeframe of a unification effort will cross multiple election cycles.

Therefore all major parties in the Dail should be involved  to ensure stability of the process and not just the current government... which could leave to frameworks being chopped and changed with changing governments.

[Rossfan]

As I said earlier, something like the Forum back in the 1980s or an All Party Committee.

[Franko]

As I said earlier, something like the Forum back in the 1980s or an All Party Committee.

Who should set this up?

[Rossfan]

70% of 26 County folks want to keep the Tricolour and Anthem in a UI.

[Rossfan]

From Irish Times

" the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll (September 2026), the Irish-unity findings were:

68% agreed that the Government should begin preparations for possible Irish unity.

19% disagreed, with 13% giving no opinion.

57% wanted referendums on Irish unity by the end of the decade, versus 25% opposed and 17% undecided.

64% said they were concerned about the potential costs of Irish unity; 22% were not concerned and 14% undecided.

Only 17% would consider changes such as a new flag, new anthem or joining the Commonwealth to make unity more acceptable to unionists; 70% would not.

The poll was based on 1,200 face-to-face interviews across the Republic, conducted on 21–22 September 2026, with an estimated margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.

What about Northern Ireland?

The Irish Times' poll-of-polls, updated today, puts Northern Ireland at approximately:

35% in favour of a united Ireland

48% in favour of remaining in the UK

17% don't know/unsure

Those are averages of relevant polls over the preceding three years, rather than the result of a single poll."

[Franko]

From Irish Times

" the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll (September 2026), the Irish-unity findings were:

68% agreed that the Government should begin preparations for possible Irish unity.

19% disagreed, with 13% giving no opinion.

57% wanted referendums on Irish unity by the end of the decade, versus 25% opposed and 17% undecided.

64% said they were concerned about the potential costs of Irish unity; 22% were not concerned and 14% undecided.

Only 17% would consider changes such as a new flag, new anthem or joining the Commonwealth to make unity more acceptable to unionists; 70% would not.

The poll was based on 1,200 face-to-face interviews across the Republic, conducted on 21–22 September 2026, with an estimated margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.

What about Northern Ireland?

The Irish Times' poll-of-polls, updated today, puts Northern Ireland at approximately:

35% in favour of a united Ireland

48% in favour of remaining in the UK

17% don't know/unsure

Those are averages of relevant polls over the preceding three years, rather than the result of a single poll."

Meehole is at odds with 68% of the electorate it would seem.

[Liberation]

We need a 32 County referendum.

[AustinPowers]

From Irish Times

" the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll (September 2026), the Irish-unity findings were:

68% agreed that the Government should begin preparations for possible Irish unity.

19% disagreed, with 13% giving no opinion.

57% wanted referendums on Irish unity by the end of the decade, versus 25% opposed and 17% undecided.

64% said they were concerned about the potential costs of Irish unity; 22% were not concerned and 14% undecided.

Only 17% would consider changes such as a new flag, new anthem or joining the Commonwealth to make unity more acceptable to unionists; 70% would not.

The poll was based on 1,200 face-to-face interviews across the Republic, conducted on 21–22 September 2026, with an estimated margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.

What about Northern Ireland?

The Irish Times' poll-of-polls, updated today, puts Northern Ireland at approximately:

35% in favour of a united Ireland

48% in favour of remaining in the UK

17% don't know/unsure

Those are averages of relevant polls over the preceding three years, rather than the result of a single poll."

Meehole is at odds with 68% of the electorate it would seem.

But but but, reconciliation 

[JPGJOHNNYG]

That 35% UI will include the polls from NILT and Liverpool uni which are as useful as a chocolate teapot

[LC]

From Irish Times

" the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll (September 2026), the Irish-unity findings were:

68% agreed that the Government should begin preparations for possible Irish unity.

19% disagreed, with 13% giving no opinion.

57% wanted referendums on Irish unity by the end of the decade, versus 25% opposed and 17% undecided.

64% said they were concerned about the potential costs of Irish unity; 22% were not concerned and 14% undecided.

Only 17% would consider changes such as a new flag, new anthem or joining the Commonwealth to make unity more acceptable to unionists; 70% would not.

The poll was based on 1,200 face-to-face interviews across the Republic, conducted on 21–22 September 2026, with an estimated margin of error of ±2.8 percentage points.

What about Northern Ireland?

The Irish Times' poll-of-polls, updated today, puts Northern Ireland at approximately:

35% in favour of a united Ireland

48% in favour of remaining in the UK

17% don't know/unsure

Those are averages of relevant polls over the preceding three years, rather than the result of a single poll."

No surprise.

[dec]

Only 17% would consider changes such as a new flag, new anthem or joining the Commonwealth to make unity more acceptable to unionists; 70% would not.

If only 17% would be willing to change mostly cosmetic stuff there is little chance that changes sufficient to convince any meaningful amount of Unionists would be considered.

[Tubberman]

Only 17% would consider changes such as a new flag, new anthem or joining the Commonwealth to make unity more acceptable to unionists; 70% would not.

If only 17% would be willing to change mostly cosmetic stuff there is little chance that changes sufficient to convince any meaningful amount of Unionists would be considered.

Well you don't start negotiations by revealing what you'd really be willing to concede.
Very few would say at this point that they'd be willing to give up the flag or Amhrán na bhFiann, but if that was the compromise for an overall deal with X,Y and Z, then maybe people would consider it worthwhile.

[Rossfan]

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spotlight-research/what-would-united-ireland-look-some-lessons-germany