A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[Armagh18]

European Movement poll

Support for Irish unity within the EU:

Northern Ireland: 63% in favour, 29% against

Republic of Ireland: 59% in favour, 22% against

There is no way that 63% of the people in Northern Ireland want a united Ireland

If you add the in the EU caveat it mightn't be a million miles away. 63% is optimistic still

[marty34]

FFG have plenty of money - another bike shed scandal. Maybe they should try and re-unite Ireland.

This time in Kerry.

Not bad money for a contracror who can do these. 

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2026/0507/1572156-dail-leaders-questions/

[JPGJOHNNYG]

European Movement poll

Support for Irish unity within the EU:

Northern Ireland: 63% in favour, 29% against

Republic of Ireland: 59% in favour, 22% against

There is no way that 63% of the people in Northern Ireland want a united Ireland

Well if you only listen to the likes of the DUP, Peter Shirlow end even Mick featly then yes it would seem impossible as they just look at the SF/SDLP vote stagnating at 40% for 20 yrs, they conveniently ignore the unionist vote in free fall they ignore the 20% pro EU middle ground being very different to the 5% that voted for the very pro unionist alliance party in the nineties. That 20% middle ground now transfer heavily to nationalists but those lads seem to just think they are still blanket unionists. So under the right circumstances there is already enough there to make the jump. A Reform party landslide at the next general election might just help speed things up

[Rossfan]

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0507/1572193-trains-belfast/

[Armagh18]

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0507/1572193-trains-belfast/

Good news. Just need more on for when we're in Croker now

[Rossfan]

They'll hardly let ye lot on shiny new trains😯😲

[Orior]

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0507/1572193-trains-belfast/

Good news. Just need more on for when we're in Croker now

Should be interesting. NIR put a special train on for Coleraine to go the the Irish Cup final.

[Milltown Row2]

Not going quicker and cost more!

[armaghniac]

They'll hardly let ye lot on shiny new trains😯😲

[Ronnie]

Interesting recent survey by University of Liverpool & comments from Peter Shirlow in Sunday Times if someone has the link.

[DaleCooper]

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/united-ireland-case-rests-on-outdated-view-of-northern-ireland-leading-academic-argues-MUD37MPCRBFILIX3Z4UT3DXTIA/

[weareros]

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/united-ireland-case-rests-on-outdated-view-of-northern-ireland-leading-academic-argues-MUD37MPCRBFILIX3Z4UT3DXTIA/

Will even one nationalist commentator/politician refute Shirlow's bias with some clear facts. His narrative is Arlene Fosteresque. If north under UK rule is doing so well, why does it produce a £16 billion deficit every year, the highest per capita in the whole UK.

[JPGJOHNNYG]

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/united-ireland-case-rests-on-outdated-view-of-northern-ireland-leading-academic-argues-MUD37MPCRBFILIX3Z4UT3DXTIA/

Will even one nationalist commentator/politician refute Shirlow's bias with some clear facts. His narrative is Arlene Fosteresque. If north under UK rule is doing so well, why does it produce a £16 billion deficit every year, the highest per capita in the whole UK.

This

Why does anyone give him the time of the day and why does the Irish news, of all papers print his stuff?

You need to realise that he isn't a neutral commentator. For example Bill white who runs lucid talk, I have no idea what his political persuasion is. Peter on the other hand tours round the country with Lee Reynolds promoting the Union. That in itself is absolutely fine but people need to know that's who he is when he is then on TV constantly repeating the same stuff ie

1. Nationalist vote has stagnated - This is true but in the binary choice of UK v UI then it seems rather mischievous to never mention the massive drop in the Unionist vote.

2. Pretty much all middle ground voters are pro UK. A common thought of his with no backing. The Alliance party are a very very different party to the one from thirty years ago. Their membership is actually pro UI based on a poll by Peters colleague Jon Tonge and election transfers reveal their voters prefer nationalist to Unionist parties by over 2 to 1.

To deliberately miss these points again and again really does call into question his professional impartiality which of course we all know doesn't exist yet he never ever gets grilled on it by the commentators on TV and radio, they just take everything he says as gospel.

[Ronnie]

I'd agree with the gist of that.   We could also argue about the way the survey was crafted but interesting nonetheless..

[Baile Brigín 2]

https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/united-ireland-case-rests-on-outdated-view-of-northern-ireland-leading-academic-argues-MUD37MPCRBFILIX3Z4UT3DXTIA/

So everyone who votes unionist is a unionist, but not everyone who votes nationalist is a nationalist and the undecided are also unionists.