68 Comments

• ancavker | Aug 10, 2012, 11:06 AM EDT

  bythebore: Never been to northern Ireland?? What a laugh!! Born on the border, have a House on the border, and own a bit of land on the other side of the border.

• ysek888 | Jun 20, 2012, 01:54 AM EDT

  Bythebay why don't you buzz off as you have nothing useful, or intelligent to say. At least Georgedillon and Greensod are having a constructive discussion.

• Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 03:25 PM EDT

  Pittsburghkid, there is no South. It's called Ireland. Catholics and Protestants in Ireland as well as other religions don't want to join with Northern Ireland UK. Catholics in the US don't want to join with Mexico because they're Catholic. Wake up.

• Bythebay | Jun 17, 2012, 03:22 PM EDT

  ancaver, citizen69, you've never been to Northern Ireland or Ireland and don't have a clue. People in Northern Ireland can be unionists and be Irish, can be Protestant and be Irish, can be nationalists and be Protestant, can be nationalists and be English, etc. No one size fits all. They are not confused, you are.

• Pittsburghkid | Jun 17, 2012, 02:14 PM EDT

  Even the Catholic Irish in the North don't want to join up with the nonsense in the South.

• Bythebay | Jun 16, 2012, 04:35 PM EDT

  There is Northern Ireland UK and Ireland, two separate and distinct countries. There is no desire in either to unite now or in future. Those abroad who wish it so badly are sorely mistaken. If they were so interested in Ireland they would not have left, their ancestors would not have left. They made their choice and have no impact on the matter.

• Bythebay | Jun 16, 2012, 03:33 PM EDT

  ancaver, girl another US phony version of Irish history. Northern Ireland UK was created because Michael Collins agreed to it and signed the Treaty. You've never even been to Ireland, and never learned accurate Irih history, just the delusional US version. Wrong, and wrong again, as usual.

• Kilsally | Jun 15, 2012, 07:04 PM EDT

  Northern Irish self-government is here to stay. There is no will for a United Ireland particularly since the South couldnt afford it.

• citizen69 | Jun 15, 2012, 04:58 PM EDT

  No confusion ancavker... Unionists call themselves British.

• ancavker | Jun 15, 2012, 03:28 PM EDT

  The unionists get all confused about what they call themselves, but the reality is that the English call themselves English and the Scots Scots, they don't get all convoluted. The old British catch basin does not really work any more.

• ancavker | Jun 15, 2012, 03:25 PM EDT

  bythebore: The 6 county state was established before Collins signed the treaty. Nothing sadder than those who live in Ireland and claim to know Irish history. Hit the books boy.

• Bythebay | Jun 15, 2012, 02:25 PM EDT

  For those apparently confused, there are 9 counties in the Province of Ulster, 6 of those counties are Northern Ireland UK, the remaining 3 in Ireland. Northern Ireland UK is the result of Michael Collins signing the treaty agreeing to it in 1922. Thirty years of IRA Provo Terrorism didn't change it either.

• sirpeter | Jun 15, 2012, 01:24 PM EDT

  Who would be stupid enough to believe a poll taken by the Belfast/Unionist Telegraph anyway.That rag is about as fair as an Afrikaner newspaper.I mean what a time to do a poll.If 32% said they would agree in 20 years time and this in Ireland's and Europe's present climate.I laugh when they say ONLY 32%.Even though I take this poll with a pinch of salt.It's obvious the Billy boys must be getting nervous.I could easily see a 20% swing or more in favour in 20 years.I give it 20 to 30 years maximum to a UI.

• ciaradexy | Jun 15, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

  Barneyjo, What are you waffling about? You said people from NI are English. If they're not from England, then they're not English. Don't be ridiculous! I have never met a person from NI who referred to themselves as English and I bet you haven't either so you're just making rubbish up. Citizen, Ulster consists of 9 counties. There are many people of both religions who consider themselves Irish/British/ Northern Irish. The religious aspect comes into it for a fraction of people. Sirp, you are well aware Im not a yank! Well aware!

• ancavker | Jun 15, 2012, 09:44 AM EDT

  I do not think anyone here, myself included, thinks an independent Scotland, means a UI. But what it would mean is a real look at what remains of the UK. A UK consisting of England (Wales does not matter), and northern Ireland makes no sense, and the north offers absolutely nothing to the English, it is a massive drain. To think they will continue on with this arrangement with Scotland gone, is wishful thinking. Even if Scotland does not go in 2014, they will get devo max, and eventually independence. As far as the queen, only the Scots can reconcile a desire for independence, devo max, with their obsession with the queen and royalty. Their celebration of the jubilee is not indicative of whether they would support independence or not. And yes there is still a strong strain of anti-Catholic sectarianism in Scotland. Ironically it will be many of the descendants of the Irish who settled in Scotland who will vote no for it. As far as the British thing goes, well from what I see and hear from my many trips there, is "British is what is on my passport, but I am English, Scots.

• citizen69 | Jun 15, 2012, 07:36 AM EDT

  Barneyjo, Ulster Protestants don't see themselves as being English, they see themselves as British.

• barneyjo | Jun 15, 2012, 05:18 AM EDT

  Dano - that process started 30 years ago and continues to this day, and in both communities in NI. Why do you think we have a Government that we DONT deserve :)!!

• DanOLoingsigh | Jun 15, 2012, 03:49 AM EDT

  Gearoid4 – God loves an optimist...some form of Marshal-type plan may be forthcoming...but what if it doesn’t? I don’t see a flowering of entrepreneurship up north...more like an exodus by the brightest of the young unionists, leaving a welfare dependant, disgruntled bunch to provide for...

• DanOLoingsigh | Jun 15, 2012, 03:45 AM EDT

  SAirish - Some good history...I quite liked the idea of the 'Saxon queen Boudicca' though...can we keep her in the story?

• sirpeter | Jun 15, 2012, 03:17 AM EDT

  ciaradexy.Are you American? I didn't think you were.Surly you know when i say Celtic and Rangers want to kill each other it's a figure of speech.I understand Americans taking everything they read literally but an Irish person?

• SAirish | Jun 15, 2012, 02:50 AM EDT

  A small point of history revision for some of the commentators here. The Anglo-Saxons invaded England after the Romans left in the fourth century AD. Before and during the Roman occupation, the people in England were celts and were known as Romano British or Ancient Britons. This is why people in Wales speak a different language to English, which was brought in by the Anglo - Saxons and known as Old English. Over the centuries the language did change a lot mainly due to the Norman French influence. Thus English and German do sound different.

• barneyjo | Jun 14, 2012, 07:22 PM EDT

  @Ciaradexy - "the people of NI are not from England therefore they are not English" It may surprise you to learn that no-one has bothered to tell them that up to this point. Perhaps you want the job!! :)

• ciaradexy | Jun 14, 2012, 05:46 PM EDT

  Gearoid, every single survey and poll undertaken during my lifetime has proven that there will not be a united Ireland. It is not what the majority want! FallsR, why the heck would Ireland and Scotland unite? What a ridiculous notion! I dont know where you are from the the Irish do not criticise the English. Most of us have friends and family in England so why would we? Now that we are pretty much out of the Euro's, there are plenty of us rooting for England now as they are our nearest neighbours and plenty of English people were rooting for Ireland. Irish people are not obsessed with religion either! seriously, you need to get out more!

• FallsRNat | Jun 14, 2012, 05:01 PM EDT

  i doubt whether an independent Scotland will unite with Ireland, Ulster yes, as that's where the Ulstermen hail from, the Church of Scotland is the true protestant religion, not in anyway related to the Church of England, Ireland or Wales which are anglican. The Scottish govt has aleady tried to pressure HMRC into accepting the CVA for Rangers, their colours are firmly tied to this mast, the poor Oirish still criticise the English, ironically whom are along with the Welsh not obsessed with religious allegience as in Ireland/Scotland, Scotland has been a chilly house for catholics, in wilol become alot colder when they become independent

• RedBranch | Jun 14, 2012, 03:19 PM EDT

  Ah yes Sirpeter the Romans certainly overran all those English Saxons with ease. There's a lovely statue to the Saxon queen Boudicca by Westminster Bridge, She's tall Tutonic lassie, probably spoke with a clipped germanic accent, 'You swinehund Romanums ja!' Not at all like those Celts & Picts north of the wall!

• Gearoid4 | Jun 14, 2012, 03:07 PM EDT

  @Ciaradexy, An artificially contrived majority which is only a minority on the Island of Ireland. That is how the northern state was constructed. Consent is the key to any further political changes but accepting the status quo is no answer to the problems of this Island. One must think outside the narrow boxes that too many people find themselves in.

• ciaradexy | Jun 14, 2012, 03:05 PM EDT

  Barneyjo, the people of NI are not from England therefore they are not English! learn your geography!

• ciaradexy | Jun 14, 2012, 03:03 PM EDT

  Sirpete, I was at a Rangers V Aberdeen match with the other half who is a supporter of both and I have been to a Celtic V Rangers match. Yeah there was chanting and slagging etc but there was no killings!

• ciaradexy | Jun 14, 2012, 03:01 PM EDT

  Gearoid!!! The majority in NI do not want a United Ireland! There are no benefits for them or us so leave them be!

• Gearoid4 | Jun 14, 2012, 02:01 PM EDT

  Thanks for your question,Dan, as it is very much appreciated. I will start by commenting on the current economic situations pertaining to both jurisdictions on the Island of Ireland. The southern state has only enjoyed intermittent short periods of economic growth during it's history. The recent so-called "Celtic Tiger" was only a mirage for the majority of the population there and benefited only a select few. The financial black hole which ensued is being paid for by the embattled tax-payers. Meanwhile the distorted economy of the north, is kept alive by the monetary life-line supplied by the Westminster government. It holds up a public sector which is bloated and is really a false economy. The private sector is underfunded and puny by comparison. In effect the northern economy has been under-performing for the best part of 50 years or more. The annual subvention(£5 billion), is going to be replaced by a cut in corporation tax, but this will be offset by harsh cutbacks which are already taking place. The education and health sectors are in crisis due to severe financial savings having to be made and redundancies etc. A united Ireland in an economic and political sense, could optimize the potential entrepreneurial genius of the Irish population which has been frustrated due to the constrictions imposed by partition. Also the duplication and wasteful expenditure caused by bodies in the health,education, farming food and hospitality sectors would be eliminated. The unionist population could also also be secure on the strength of their representation i.e 20% of the Irish population, as opposed to being less than 3% of the UK population. The initial financial shortfalls in the advent of an United Ireland, could be substantially aided by a "Marshal Plan" like package, which could be contributed to by Europe, US, UK and Ireland.

• DanOLoingsigh | Jun 14, 2012, 09:58 AM EDT

  Gearoid4 – Can you quantify what all these extra benefits are that a UI would reap…There are no import-export barriers between the two parts, one or other would need to take on a change of currency and a new legislation framework to start with…the large UK subvention would be lost, replaced by support from the hard-pressed RoI taxpayers…the EU structural funds are now spent elsewhere…remember Irish state employees had to take a cut in wages in 1924, the new FS being unable to afford the salary bill without UK support..

• SAirish | Jun 14, 2012, 03:32 AM EDT

  I believe that people are getting overly excited about what will happen if Scotland leaves the union. There is a perception that somehow that will mean a united Ireland. If one out of four countries leave the union the remaining three will carry on, what else would they do? Providing of course that England is one of the remaining countries. The latest You Gov Opinion poll, which came out about two weeks ago, puts people in favor of separation in Scotland at 32%. The SNP have been in power for five years, four of which were as a minority administration and they have still not made any inroads in persuading people to back separation. If the SNP do not make any headway by the end of this year or in a year from now at the latest, they have no chance of winning the separation debate. The SNP and Unionist campaigns will largely cancel each other out. If Ireland did not take a fall then then SNP would have a better chance of winning the debate, this now to the SNP's disadvantage.

• sirpeter | Jun 13, 2012, 11:04 PM EDT

  Curitiba.Glasgow Rangers and Celtic supporters want to kill each other.In Roman times the Saxon was a pushover until they met the Scots.Why the hell do you think they built Hadrian's Wall?And never went near Ireland?The Romans probably met a few Scots and Irish knocking lumps out of each other with hatchets all in good sport and knew it would take half the Roman army to keep us in order.

• sirpeter | Jun 13, 2012, 10:34 PM EDT

  barneyjo.That's the whole problem. How do you convince a mentally delusional people that everybody in England,Scotland and Wales consider them Irish because they see the poison of British colonialism in their own back yard and they don't like it.They hate the NI people with a passion.As they hated West Brit landlords in the 19th century, which in reality was the cause of a million dead by starvation.Manchester,Liverpool and London consider them Irish like the rest of the world do.Of course they had to be Scottish planters.A stubborn shower of sh*ts like ourselves.

• Curitiba | Jun 13, 2012, 06:58 PM EDT

  Probably the wrong time to pose the "United Ireland" question to the electorate. Perhaps the way forward would be a Celtic Union between Scotland and the whole of Ireland. After all, both traditions in Ireland have very close links to Scotland. Gaidhlig is just another dialect of Gaeilge, the Irish having colonised the place in antiquity, most of NI's Protestants' ancestors hail from Scotland, plus their traditional language Ulster Scots is from, yes you've guessed it, not England. Both have small populations and share a lot of other cultural traits. Plus Glasgow Rangers and Celtic supporters take a (bit too much) interest in Irish affairs. The combined population of this new country would be about 11 or 12 million. i would say this would give a new lease of life to Celtic culture if this union took place!

• barneyjo | Jun 13, 2012, 06:26 PM EDT

  I fail to fully comprehend why so many posters here are still content to gloss over one very stark fact. And that is that upwards of one million citizens in Northern Ireland regard both themselves and their place as being just as English as Manchester, Liverpool or London. They do not see themselves as either a people or place apart from the rest of the United Kingdom. So the question remains; how to pursuade all those people to enter into a new dispensation that is so totally anatmema to them? By force of arms? Already been tried;hasnt worked. So where now. As regards Scottish Devolution, I would have been in the camp that said that it was inevitable; until two weeks ago. I had to travel through towns and villages in western Scotland on my way to Glasgow. Town after tow, village after village were festooned with Union Jacks and pictures of the Queen in advance of the Jubilee celebrations. What I saw gave me real cause to doubt as to whether there is actually enough support to vote Scotland out of the Union. Right now, my money would be on a "no" vote!!

• Gearoid4 | Jun 13, 2012, 05:23 PM EDT

  As Ancavker states, the likely exit of Scotland from the UK in 2014 could be a game-changer regarding the future configuration of this amorphous political entity. Recession does not look likely to be diminishing anytime soon there. Cameron is rather like a bull in a china shop with regards to Scottish intentions and Alex Salmon, the present head of the Scottish Administration is a very canny and experienced politician. Pro-British unionists in "northern" Ireland have always stressed their close kinship and ties with their counterparts in Scotland. How will the prospect of Scottish Independence play out in the loyalist/unionist strongholds. It begs a lot of questions that will be challenging and may not provide comforting answers. Some will come back and point to the present bail-out conditions that the IMF/EMF are imposing on the Republic of Ireland as an impediment to Irish unity. But at least the Southern Administration are dealing with their economic problems, albeit with unpopular severe cutbacks. At the end of the day, Ireland would reap a lot more benefits as a single political unit, than as an Island nation, disastrously divided against itself.

• RedBranch | Jun 13, 2012, 03:18 PM EDT

  'I will survive' could be adopted by NI as its national anthem (a bit more hip than the current Derry / Londonderry Air). After all its singer Gloria Gaynor could well have Ulster roots as she wants gay people to embrace Christ and that her status as a gay icon allows her to lead them to Him. Sounds pretty Free Presbyterian to me.

• ancavker | Jun 13, 2012, 03:07 PM EDT

  SA: You say the UK cannot legally force the north out, that is rubbish, they can do what they want. Also as far as Scottish separation, the sentiment from what I have seen is closer to 40% (and I spend a fair amount of time there on business), and we still have another 1.5 year or so until the referendum, and the longer the UK stays in recession (and it will) the more attractive independence will become for Scotland. Even if they vote to stay, they will get what is referred to as devo max, which is as close to real independence as you can get. When the Scots have a few years of that under their belts, I believe they will than cut the final strings, and opt for real independence. If this happens, there is no way south England (and that is where the power and money is) will continue to subsidize the economic and otherwise basket case known as northern Ireland. As far as Wales, well it's Wales, and who cares. Nice enough place, can't quite figure the people out.

• aloistmartin | Jun 13, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT

  Peterson@ I. can see right through your flimsy Zionist veils. The same Fate awaits the United Kingdom that befell the Soviet Union ! Pack your cheap Danish tinned Ham Sandwich, your Lunchbox and your Visa, William of Orange ! The Protestant Bourgeois Monarchy will have to find someplace else to Barter her fast Depreciating Family Jewels ! For Ireland and for the People !

• Bythebay | Jun 13, 2012, 02:39 PM EDT

  peterson, said like someone not living in Ireland!

• peterson | Jun 13, 2012, 02:11 PM EDT

  In order to survive, Ireland must unite. Common northerners, get a life. Forgive and forget !!

• Bythebay | Jun 13, 2012, 01:20 PM EDT

  There are those unwilling to accept IDEALOGICALLY those in Northern Ireland UK DO NOT WANT a United Ireland, not based on economics or other factors. Voters in Ireland don't want it either. It's Northern Ireland, NOT Northern Irish. Northern Irish are in the northern part of Ireland.

• sirpeter | Jun 13, 2012, 11:57 AM EDT

  Some people here place to much fate in Democracy.It is quite obvious at this stage that we have an extremely active Banktocracy in the Western World.The only time you see Democracy in action is when the people give a collective shove and we haven't seen that in a long long time.Fiscal Union is happening one way or the other.A new more efficient fiscal Europe is the plan.There is no change without shocks and that's what we all are seeing all over Europe in the last few years.All manufactured by the Banktocracy.The UK entered its worst recession since World War II in 2008.In 2012,first quarter,the UK economy entered a double-dip recession after a decline in GDP of 0.2%.The UK is no more immune than the rest of Europe and fiscal efficiency is the game of the future.There is no Nationalism or Unionism or Borders in a Banktocracy and the financial centers in London and Europe won't be long telling the NI Assembly to disassemble and consolidate with Dublin when the time is right weather the people like it or not.Democracy and the people have a choice my ass.I give it another 25 or 30 years and then Belfast County Council will be rattleling around in Stormont ringing Dublin for another few lorry loads of tarmac for the road beyond the Gerry (I really was in the RA) Adams and the Billy (Why didn't ye shoot the Catholics) Craig statues.

• Bythebay | Jun 13, 2012, 11:35 AM EDT

  Exactly as I've been saying to those of you with pipe dreams of a so-called United Ireland. It's not going to happen, neither Northern Ireland nor Ireland want it. Move on.

• SAirish | Jun 13, 2012, 09:56 AM EDT

  If Scotland leaves the union, the UK will carry on as England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The UK Government cannot legally force NI to leave the UK unless the majority of people there wish that. On existing opinion polls showing only 32%, in Scotland, in favor of separation, it is unlikely that Scotland will go its own way. After one year of campaigning the SNP have made no headway in persuading people to back them on separation. Also only 5% of people in Wales favor separation.

• ancavker | Jun 13, 2012, 09:31 AM EDT

  If Scotland leaves the union, it will be just a matter of time before England dumps the 6 counties, the north, northern Ireland, ulster whatever you want to call it.

• Aughavey | Jun 13, 2012, 08:20 AM EDT

  Think you folk have missed the elephant in the room. The British and Irish government have `Ulsterised` the problem via the NI Assembly and I don`t think either want to change that. Also those campaigning for a United Ireland fail to factor in that Belfast rule is likely here to stay, the DUP being called `Ulster Nationalists` from time to time.

• IrelandNorth | Jun 13, 2012, 07:31 AM EDT

  Would've been more surprised if The Belfast Telegraph had commissioned a lucid(?) survey to predict a United Ireland (UI) - yesterday! British citizenship and a UI are not mutually exclusive. A Reunification of Ireland (RoI) and a UI are not necessarily synonymous. Does the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) not power-share the 92% of voters in NI/Ulster (NI/U) who can't get no satisfaction? Leaving aside the 6/26 artifical ratio, would an opt-out clause county-by-county poll have shown different results. Alas, there is a political-economy of the UK - as also a R/UI! (Best to package an Incorporated Ireland as a plc and float it on the stock exchange, thereby bypassing respective historical baggage.) And we are all European (or blue) Unionists (EUers)- whether we like it or not! (And I don't!) Is not the real question - what was the percentage vote for the Act of Union, 1800/'01? And how can a constitutional fraud be subsequently democratised. The percentage vote for the 26 county proto-republic Free-State in 1922 was uncomfortable close. Hence civil war. What was the percentage vote for the ideologically hegemonised 6 county neo-provincial statelet of NI/U in 1922-25? (Not all Free-Staters are West-Brits!) NI isn't a province. There are Irish Nationalists and British Nationalists, and republicans/loyalists in between. Said survey may have produced radically different results if more moderate political resultions had been factored in, other than the political extremes of codependence or independence.

• DanOLoingsigh | Jun 13, 2012, 03:54 AM EDT

  Given the recent outstanding record of both ‘the political elite and bankers’, we can be sure their ‘plans for reunification’ are practical, affordable and achievable…so… what could possibly go wrong?

• barneyjo | Jun 13, 2012, 03:15 AM EDT

  Ha Ha Ha Ha!! I love reading all the conspiracy theories and variations thereof posted on here. Want to know why there will not be a sovereign 32 county Irish State any time soon? Two reasons; 1)a hefty and sizable Unionist Majority approaching one million souls, dont want it. 2) I would contend that a majority of voters in the ROI dont want it either purely on the basis of affordability. We here in Northern Ireland live in a "Cinderella State" that no one wants to take ownership of. I would remind all that a clear majority of voters supported the premise of the Belfast Agreement which underpins the right of a majority of citizens in Northern Ireland to determine whether or not that province stays within the United Kingdom or seeks to re-unite with the rest of Ireland. And lets face it, neither North or South has anything much to offer the other as an incentive to re-unification right now, unless of course you include debt, debt and more debt. As a Nationalist, I know that prospect doesnt appeal to me!!

• greensod | Jun 12, 2012, 09:30 PM EDT

  Sirpeter:A very astute observation.You are exactly correct.Its been in the making for years.All part of the peace agreement.The only hold up are the free staters having a problem agreeing that Sinn Fein and the boys in the north run the show.Getting the people to buy in is the easy part.England then becomes the second part of the plan.

• aloistmartin | Jun 12, 2012, 08:46 PM EDT

  Old Joke: Two Guys come to your door wearing Dark Green Ski Masks and Black Leather Jackets. And one asks: What are your Opinions On: Unification, European Union, Democracy, and support for Maoist Revolutionaries ? :):):)

• sirpeter | Jun 12, 2012, 08:27 PM EDT

  This poll means absolutely nothing.From what I can see the British taxpayer can't wait to off-load NI.They see it as a drain on their economy and are bitter about it too.I have no doubt the plan for reunification is already in place in London,Dublin and Belfast.The political will is there.And as we well know the political elite and bankers have ways of making it happen when they feel the time is right.The ordinary people are easy to manipulate.

• greensod | Jun 12, 2012, 07:15 PM EDT

  Let me take another shot at this and hopefully I can make my point clear.For the past 80 years the free staters have been in power in the Republic.The results are less than desired.The right party I refere to, is Sinn Feinn,they seem to be doing fine in the six counties where they share power with the party that once was their enemy.I do not mention religion nor do I elude that it should play any part.We are past that stage in our history.George to answer your well taken point.The same type of set up being used in the North would work just as well for all 32 counties.Here is how it would work.Disban both of the current powers,have one open election for all of the counties.This might sound a little over the top,My guess is the results would be a Sinn Fein Government for all of Ireland seated in Tara County Meath,the true capitol of Ireland.The Problem for the people in the six counties has never been a serious issue with religion,but has always been about the free staters,or should I say free traitors.Then get out off the Euro and form a trade and business relationship with the UK and return to the pound sterling.Possibly some would rather we let Europe and the free staters continue on their present path and have Ireland obliterated.Just remember the free staters have sold us out before and are well on their way to doing it again.

• ancavker | Jun 12, 2012, 04:30 PM EDT

  Sparklet: There is no reason for a nationalist to vote for a UI at this time, or as long as the British government continue to make massive welfare payments to the failed 6 county state. They are like crack addicts, and are addicted to the handouts. That is the tragedy of partition, two failed political statelets.

• citizen69 | Jun 12, 2012, 04:16 PM EDT

  @GeorgeDillon: What the Protestants of Northern Ireland said was that 0% wanted a United Ireland within the next year and 4% would vote for a United Ireland in 20 years. Protestants have absolutely no interest in giving up British citizenship for a United Ireland. These figures show the total failure of Sinn Fein in convincing any Unionists that their culture, faith & traditions would be respected in a single Irish state. In fact Sinn Fein can't even convince all of their own voters of the benefits of unity.

• Nicoletta | Jun 12, 2012, 03:20 PM EDT

  N Irish friends would sing the rebel songs heartily (with the English at my uni joining in!) but ask them about the 6 counties being one with the rest of Ireland and they wouldn't want to know. Who would want to give up free health care, plus the NHS is probably the biggest employer in NI?

• GeorgeDillon | Jun 12, 2012, 02:49 PM EDT

  Greensod: "Put the right party in power in Dublin and that would change in a heart beat." It's more than a particular party being in power. The fact is that no Irish government in recent memory has ever presented a blueprint for a United Ireland. What would it look like? It's clear the Six Counties would not have the same status as Clare or Offaly, so how would the Six Counties be administered, taxed etc? It's to the shame of successive Irish governments that they have never done any thinking on this, largely because they have no interest in it. But even this is moot, since the current Fianna Fail-inspired economic disaster in Ireland makes progress on Unity unthinkable. James Connolly correctly predicted a "carnival of reaction" if Ireland were partitioned. How right he was, though even he could not have foreseen the grubby little statelets that emerged North and South.. Incidentally, Kelly in her article claims to tell us what Catholics think, how come she doesn't tell us what Protestants said?

• slainte9 | Jun 12, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT

  Would somebody please tell these people that they all part of the European Union now and that a united Ireland is a moot point.

• Sparklet | Jun 12, 2012, 01:22 PM EDT

  Greensod, are you suggesting that the Catholics in NIreland are so shallow that they will go with whoever offers them the best deal? No true nationalist would vote against unity, no matter what the Government.

• citizen69 | Jun 12, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT

  Seven percent of the population want to see a united Ireland in the near future. This falls in line with other major opinion polls in the last few years that put the percentage at 15 or below. How clear a message do the bombers need that their war is not wanted? There is an ever shrinking support for a United Ireland and practically none for any kind of armed campaign of violence. Yesterdays men fighting yesterdays war that no-one here wants.

• mastersonjp | Jun 12, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT

  I am amused that somebody suggests that Sinn Fein in Government would improve things in the south. In the same poll in Belfast Telegraph only 8% believed that Northern execitive was doing a good job

• ePHraimAg | Jun 12, 2012, 11:03 AM EDT

  On the James, that The Wells Of Johns Cairopractor Had Only One King with TynDales rushin' letter from 7 PHoenician Kings Vesselage...settled A.D. 63 Minutes. My Litter Bin is a Prison!

• carrickcourt | Jun 12, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT

  I agree with greensod, with the Republic in such a mess why would anyone in Northern Ireland want to join the Republic?

• pilib04 | Jun 12, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT

  Presumably greensod refers to the up and coming Sinn Fein led by Gerry Adams.

• RedBranch | Jun 12, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT

  And the right party would be?

• greensod | Jun 12, 2012, 10:44 AM EDT

  Who in their right minds would want to join the Republic at this time.Put the right party in power in Dublin and that would change in a heart beat.