End of the United Ireland dream or is it?

[nigelnire]

Many people in the Republic of Ireland and some northern nationalists claim to want a United Ireland. This has been their dream for many years, however it is now further away than ever due to the dire economic situation/ Collapse of the economy the Republic of Ireland finds itself in.
Could the solution to this be The Republic of Ireland re joining the United Kingdom? That way Ireland would be reunited again and of course like other parts of the UK have its own regional assembly and in reality be running its own affairs.

[Tiberios]

No. I seriously doubt it. I'd say there's as much chance of the Republic of Ireland reuniting with Britian as Iceland reuniting with Denmark, which would never happen.

[Their Law]

The United Kingdom blew it's last chance at keeping the entirety of Ireland within the UK when it refused to pass the catholic emancipation laws the first time round. I can't see what your saying occurring even in the distant future. Well not within the context of the UK. For one Ireland is a republic and the UK is a monarchy.

[Azog 150]

The United Kingdom blew it's last chance at keeping the entirety of Ireland within the UK when it refused to pass the catholic emancipation laws the first time round. I can't see what your saying occurring even in the distant future. Well not within the context of the UK. For one Ireland is a republic and the UK is a monarchy.

Catholic Emancipation was in 1838. Don't you mean Home Rule?

But yeah, its completely unrealistic to expect the Irish to want to unite with Britain, and to expect Britain to want to take on the economic dead-weight that is Ireland and deal with the inevitable violence that would ensue.

[Armenum]

Can't Northern Ireland have a referendum like Scotland did?

[Their Law]

Can't Northern Ireland have a referendum like Scotland did?

It did.

[nigelnire]

Can't Northern Ireland have a referendum like Scotland did?

If you mean a border poll on whether Northern Ireland would remain part of the uk yes there is provision for that. It is a myth that all Northern Irish Catholics want a United Ireland. In a Border poll I would say given the current economic situation in the Republic that many would not want to take the severe financial hit joining that state would entail. Yes many do vote for Nationalist /Republican parties but in a border poll the Question “Would I be worse off” would be key.
I would expect at least 70-75 % of the people in Northern Ireland would vote to remain within the United Kingdom if such a poll was to take place. In fact I would welcome such a poll.
Only the deluded believe that the Irish economy could sustain taking on another 1.7 million citizens’ when the Republic is virtually bankrupt. The Republic of Ireland re joining the United Kingdom may sound farfetched but its nowhere near as crazy as the idea of a united Ireland.
Re The Republic of Ireland being a Republic that would no longer be the case if they rejoined the UK.

[Azog 150]

The Republic of Ireland re joining the United Kingdom may sound farfetched but its nowhere near as crazy as the idea of a united Ireland.

In purely practical terms maybe you are right that it would be the best thing (For Ireland at least).

But there is too much bloody history, bad memories, grudges and ill-feelings on Ireland's part for that ever to become reality. From a British point of view it wouldn't be very good practically speaking either. Northern Ireland is already enough of an economic dead weight as it is without the added burden of the Republic. On top of that, there is the inevitable violence that would ensue that Britain simply doesn't want to have to deal with.

[Their Law]

In practical terms maybe you are right that it would be the best thing (For Ireland at least).

But there is too much bloody history, bad memories, grudges and ill-feelings on Ireland's part for that ever to become reality. From a British point of view it wouldn't be very good practically speaking either. Northern Ireland is already enough of an economic dead weight as it is without the added burden of the Republic. On top of that, there is the inevitable violence that would ensue that Britain simply doesn't want to have to deal with.

The only way i can see it remotely happening is if the UK went the way of Germany and became federal in nature. That said we'd still need to do the following at least:

1) Remove the UK head of state from their religious capacity.
2) Reform the voting system, i highly doubt Irish citizens would want our antiquated mess of a system (with good reason)
3) Local rule of Ireland to be guaranteed legally.
4) People to learn that holding a historical grudge is pointless.
5) Both EIRE and UK have to have a relatively stable economy.

Whilst i will profess to actually liking the idea of the two countries becoming one again, i highly doubt it will happen unless the 'union' would create a new state instead of UK+ EIRE = UK. And it would HAVE to be an partnership not a submission.

[Azog 150]

The only way i can see it remotely happening is if the UK went the way of Germany and became federal in nature. That said we'd still need to do the following at least:

1) Remove the UK head of state from their religious capacity.
2) Reform the voting system, i highly doubt Irish citizens would want our antiquated mess of a system (with good reason)
3) Local rule of Ireland to be guaranteed legally.
4) People to learn that holding a historical grudge is pointless.
5) Both EIRE and UK have to have a relatively stable economy.

Whilst i will profess to actually liking the idea of the two countries becoming one again, i highly doubt it will happen unless the 'union' would create a new state instead of UK+ EIRE = UK. And it would HAVE to be an partnership not a submission.

Good points.

The UK and Ireland would also need to sort out currency issues (Pound or Euro), and foreign policy issues (Ireland is a neutral non-NATO state, the UK is a NATO state that has been known to use its military)

[Claudius Gothicus]

Let's be honest the Irish cultural identity and the British cultural identity are in a direct contradiction.

What I mean is, Irish people take great pride on their costumes and the symbolic meaning of those costumes. One of those ''symbols'' is freedom, and specifically freedom from the Brits for the most part they have constructed their culture and nation around opposing britishness and doing it through irishness...

It's pretty obvious that history(recent and mildly old one) played a big part in making the Irish people take pride on not being absorbed by the Big Island next door.

[Their Law]

Let's be honest the Irish cultural identity and the British cultural identity are in a direct contradiction.

What I mean is, Irish people take great pride on their costumes and the symbolic meaning of those costumes. One of those ''symbols'' is freedom, and specifically freedom from the Brits for the most part they have constructed their culture and nation around opposing britishness and doing it through irishness...

It's pretty obvious that history(recent and mildly old one) played a big part in making the Irish people take pride on not being absorbed by the Big Island next door.

This is probably THE biggest obstacle to any hypothetical union. Hence why i can't see it happening for a long long time. But it is worth remembering that the UK and EIRE at present have a very close relationship and whilst i can't speak for any EIRE members there's very little if any animosity towards Ireland in the UK. Culturally the Irish and British have a lot more in common then either is willing to admit.

But really the UK has only itself to blame on this, the way in which the Irish were viewed and treated by some of the UK's establishment was obscene. But that is in the past and i don't really understand people holding grudges for something that happened 100's of years ago.

[Claudius Gothicus]

What the UK assimilating the Republic? you gotta be kidding... the UK has gotten itself into a financial black hole and you want them to make it even bigger?

[Their Law]

What the UK assimilating the Republic? you gotta be kidding... the UK has gotten itself into a financial black hole and you want them to make it even bigger?

Indeed, it's purely a theoretical discussion to be honest. And any merging of the countries would have to not be the UK simply absorbing EIRE, as i doubt that would play well with Irish citizens.

[Sphere]

Another considerable impediment is the two different currencies, revenues and spending couldn't be pooled in the first place unless the pound or euro was adopted by the other side. Really though, at this point with the complete freedom of travel and commerce there isn't a substaintial material driver towards unification. There might be political drivers, but it is not like east and west Germany where families were split as well as the two economies.

[Dr. Croccer]

The Irish economy would have to change massively, most likely to it's own detriment, whilst the British would have another financial blackhole. The IRA and other dissents would go complete ape and I doubt the Orangemen would love it as well.

[Poach]

Would the British want this? What would we gain? A country with debt and an economy that has crumbled? Unrest and violence?

Also, as far as name changes go, we'd simply revert to "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland", instead of "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" that we are now.

[PhilipO'Hayda]

I wouldit want to be apart of the UK because of this.

The English are great for putting money in to all cultures but the celtic cultures. which is way we had a huge war to kick off with.

[Their Law]

I wouldit want to be apart of the UK because of this.

The English are great for putting money in to all cultures but the celtic cultures. which is way we had a huge war to kick off with.

Wait, all David Mitchell said was that he questions the responsibility of the state to artificially fund a language which very few people actually speak. It wasn't declaration of war on Celtic culture and i fully support his viewpoint on that topic.

[removeduser_487563287433]

I don't think there's any call for it - this isn't the first time The Republic has weathered economic catastrophe through independence. Although an Irish MP recently did call for reunification, this is a fringe view from the Republic.