In the thread below, after Sinn Fein won the largest number of seats in the 2022 Assembly election, I asked if this will pave the way for Ireland's reunification:
Thread 193132
Then a few days ago, Mary Lou McDonald became Northern Ireland's First Minister, and is the first nationalist to take that role.
She also said this:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/mary-lou-mcdonald-says-irish-unity-within-touching-distance-as-sinn-fein-assumes-first-minister-post/
Mary Lou McDonald says ‘Irish unity within touching distance’ as Sinn Féin assumes first minister post
McDonald also alluded to pushing a referendum for reunification in the future, during her recent meeting with Sunak.
Of course, there are some hurdles. Sunak dismissed the idea as not constitutional. But it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over the coming years.
@vivify saidThey’ll need to convince Dublin as well as Westminster not to mention a big lump of loyalists
In the thread below, after Sinn Fein won the largest number of seats in the 2022 Assembly election, I asked if this will pave the way for Ireland's reunification:
Thread 193132
Then a few days ago, Mary Lou McDonald became Northern Ireland's First Minister, and is the first nationalist to take that role.
She also said this:
https://www.independent. ...[text shortened]... s not constitutional. But it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over the coming years.
Having a simple majority in Stormont does not mean much in terms of unification ( it’s a good sign ) but there are also restrictions on the rules and structure of unification referendums laid out in the Good Friday Agreement.
I would love to see Ireland United under the auspices of the EU, Brexit threw a spanner in the works but ultimately new generations will move inexorably toward a peaceful unification and extremists on both sides will be left twiddling their thumbs.
@vivify saidI always liked the Irish (both of them) hopefully they can sink their differences and unify.
In the thread below, after Sinn Fein won the largest number of seats in the 2022 Assembly election, I asked if this will pave the way for Ireland's reunification:
Thread 193132
Then a few days ago, Mary Lou McDonald became Northern Ireland's First Minister, and is the first nationalist to take that role.
She also said this:
https://www.independent. ...[text shortened]... s not constitutional. But it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out over the coming years.
@shavixmir saidYeah When you think of the struggle a nation of 60+ had with a million republicans I don’t think Dublin will fancy about the same number of 17th century proddies rocking up at their body politic.
Yeah... Dublin just can't wait to inherit the protestant crazies from up North...
But I’m confident that they are a dying breed and the majority in the north will come to see themselves as European Irish if not just Irish.
Can’t wait to see the look on the faces of the Tory right when that happens
@kevcvs57 saidOh, auld animosities die hard.
Yeah When you think of the struggle a nation of 60+ had with a million republicans I don’t think Dublin will fancy about the same number of 17th century proddies rocking up at their body politic.
But I’m confident that they are a dying breed and the majority in the north will come to see themselves as European Irish if not just Irish.
Can’t wait to see the look on the faces of the Tory right when that happens
You're talking generations before anything like that happens.
I remember an interview in the 80's with some republican from Ireland (not the North) who was explaining why they were in favour of unification in words only, but they didn't really pursue the ambition with any real intent. Because, their words, not mine, nobody is waiting for a million Ian Paisley's to show up at the door.