A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[Snapchap]

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/09/02/michael-mcdowell-andy-burnham-is-right-holding-a-poll-to-test-the-waters-on-unity-should-be-off-the-table/

Good article from a man in favour of unity.

Here's an even better one. From a man who's actually done some spadework in promoting reunification:
"https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/brian-feeney-sooner-or-later-the-answer-to-our-problems-has-to-be-a-border-poll-DEMNDE6HQVGF5EPBG577EWGQTE/"


"...In the last decade, southern governments – now it seems the forever government of FFG – increasingly distanced themselves from northern nationalists, epitomised by Micheál Martin's stance.

The louder the clamour for a referendum, the more it drives Martin bananas, he says.

Of course it's nonsense that a reunification referendum is a matter for the proconsul of the day.
It will only be called "if it seems likely" a majority want reunification. That means a prime minister has decided to end the UK, which is a very big deal indeed.

However, there is a danger of conflating demand for a border poll with the need to prepare for one which is going to happen.
No one is arguing or demanding one before the next British and Irish elections, but that's no reason not to prepare for one – primarily the job of the Irish government, and Martin refuses to do it because a successful poll is the end of Fianna Fáil.

In the meantime, no, there's no "route to some sort of progress we can all buy into", because, like Belgium and other divided states, a large proportion of the population doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the state, let alone how to run it.
What makes the prospect of a crisis more acute, is the culpable ignorance of the British prime minister and the taoiseach's refusal to prepare for constitutional change, equally unforgivable."

Martin isn't refusing to prepare for reunification.

There is a sovereign fund with over 12bn and growing explicitly for the reunification tab. The most senior civil servant is working on the Shared Ireland initiative full time.

MM is a wet fart, but Feeny is wrong here

He went on a bitter rant just last week about how talk of planning for border polls "drives him bananas" and, again, was not "tripped up" when he refused to say he was a persuader for unity. Rather, his comments have been in step with every utterance he's ever made about it. In the same interview, he suggested that reconciliation be a pre-requisite for a border poll - a position totally at odds with the GFA with the sole aim of making a border poll absolutely unachievable. If the same pre-condition was laid down for the GFA referendum, it still wouldn't have been signed to this day. He is also on record as insisting, repeatedly, that his "shared Ireland" fund is not about prepping for unity. If anything, as Brian Feeney has pointed out, it essentially duplicates much of the work that is already supposed to be done by the GFA's NSMC.

The only body that can make the necessary preparations for a border poll and who can make plans for an Ireland post-border poll that will carry any real weight in the conversion, is the Irish Government. And Micheal Martin has made it repeatedly clear that he wants nothing to do with it.

[Rossfan]

"Border poll" will be in the 6 Cos organised by the Sec of State on behalf of the Brit Government.

[Armagh18]

https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/09/02/michael-mcdowell-andy-burnham-is-right-holding-a-poll-to-test-the-waters-on-unity-should-be-off-the-table/

Good article from a man in favour of unity.

Here's an even better one. From a man who's actually done some spadework in promoting reunification:
"https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/brian-feeney-sooner-or-later-the-answer-to-our-problems-has-to-be-a-border-poll-DEMNDE6HQVGF5EPBG577EWGQTE/"


"...In the last decade, southern governments – now it seems the forever government of FFG – increasingly distanced themselves from northern nationalists, epitomised by Micheál Martin's stance.

The louder the clamour for a referendum, the more it drives Martin bananas, he says.

Of course it's nonsense that a reunification referendum is a matter for the proconsul of the day.
It will only be called "if it seems likely" a majority want reunification. That means a prime minister has decided to end the UK, which is a very big deal indeed.

However, there is a danger of conflating demand for a border poll with the need to prepare for one which is going to happen.
No one is arguing or demanding one before the next British and Irish elections, but that's no reason not to prepare for one – primarily the job of the Irish government, and Martin refuses to do it because a successful poll is the end of Fianna Fáil.

In the meantime, no, there's no "route to some sort of progress we can all buy into", because, like Belgium and other divided states, a large proportion of the population doesn't believe in the legitimacy of the state, let alone how to run it.
What makes the prospect of a crisis more acute, is the culpable ignorance of the British prime minister and the taoiseach's refusal to prepare for constitutional change, equally unforgivable."

Martin isn't refusing to prepare for reunification.

There is a sovereign fund with over 12bn and growing explicitly for the reunification tab. The most senior civil servant is working on the Shared Ireland initiative full time.

MM is a wet fart, but Feeny is wrong here

He went on a bitter rant just last week about how talk of planning for border polls "drives him bananas" and, again, was not "tripped up" when he refused to say he was a persuader for unity. Rather, his comments have been in step with every utterance he's ever made about it. In the same interview, he suggested that reconciliation be a pre-requisite for a border poll - a position totally at odds with the GFA with the sole aim of making a border poll absolutely unachievable. If the same pre-condition was laid down for the GFA referendum, it still wouldn't have been signed to this day. He is also on record as insisting, repeatedly, that his "shared Ireland" fund is not about prepping for unity. If anything, as Brian Feeney has pointed out, it essentially duplicates much of the work that is already supposed to be done by the GFA's NSMC.

The only body that can make the necessary preparations for a border poll and who can make plans for an Ireland post-border poll that will carry any real weight in the conversion, is the Irish Government. And Micheal Martin has made it repeatedly clear that he wants nothing to do with it.

Be interesting to see who's in charge after Meehole. A halfway decent FF leader and there'll be serious pressure for a border poll within the next decade.

As for reconciliation, you're never going to bring the mongrel class of loyalist along, you can only work with the ordinary decent people and dispel their genuine concerns, clowns like Bryson will only try to incite violence when push comes to shove.

[Substandard]

Bryson's ego will eventually be his downfall.  Noise and distraction when there isn't a lot materially at stake, and at some point he'll be deemed a nuisance/ obstacle to real decisions,  and he'll be steamrolled.
I'm seeing a lot about Carla these days, her and JB/ JA is some unholy alliance.  I'm wondering down the line, how likely is it that she will be either DUP leader, or she will jump ship to the TUV?  There can't be that many years left in Jim All-a-stir?

[Feckitt]

Ah sure FF and the lads can talk about not being ready for a UI for next 30 years.
The Time is Now.
And if Drumcree goes ahead then Northern Ireland is officially finished.  It has never worked on over 100 years and never will. Everyone,  Northern, Southmen, Protestant,  Catholic will be better off in a United Ireland

[Rossfan]

"you're never going to bring the mongrel class of loyalist along, you can only work with the ordinary decent people and dispel their genuine concerns, clowns like Bryson will only try to incite violence when push comes to shove".

Assisted emigration to the Falklands/Malvinas

Question-  6 Cos people can be Irish or British under GFA.
No doubt this would continue after reunification.
But if Scotland becomes independent before reunification there won't be a Brit nationality.
Can you really see an Independent Scotland or England wanting them as citizens?

[LC]

Is there any economic and / or social upside for the 26 to take on the 6 counties?

[Norm-Peterson]

Horrible accents in that area North Armagh. It is interesting how Protestants in places like Armagh and Tyrone don't have the "Ulster Scots" accent that most of county Antrim has. I assume the accents of Armagh may have been more influenced by Ulster Irish dialect rather than Scots language.

The Scottish accent of county Antrim actually neatly fits into what the Dal Riada kingdom was so maybe there is a Scots Gaelic connection with that accent.

[Milltown Row2]

More chance of Scottish independence than Irish at the minute

Someone asked what does it take, 60 40 majority is the reality

When polls show that, then that's a confirmation of a win

SF can't be the party that brings it about, needs to be an independent cross community grouping that has zero links to the past troubles and be able to show the economic benefits..

The place, regardless of what people think here, is divided more than you think, getting enough soft prods to baulk up the votes is still required, because unionist and loyalists won't ever (the clue is in the name)

Maybe my kids generation might bring it about, but if there are agitators still able to stir the bigotry, then it ain't happening