A higher percentage of Irish want to see a united Ireland and fewer oppose the idea a new Irish Times poll has revealed.
Sixty-four per cent want to see a United Ireland down narrowly from higher numbers in the 1980s but those against a united Ireland has shrunk to just 8 per cent from more than double that.
Twenty eight per cent, mostly young people, have no opinion, a figure that has also doubled.
There was other good news for proponents of a united Ireland with 56 per cent saying that a 32 county Ireland constituted the Irish nation with only 27 per cent saying the 26 counties, a drop of 11 per cent in the latter number.
That news will be heartening to political parties such as Sinn Fein who have pushed a 32 county identity hard.It also comes after decades of revisionist commentary seeking to define the Irish nation as the 26 counties.
Read more news on Irish politics
Meanwhile on the question of whether Northern Ireland is Irish or British 46 per cent say it is both 30 per cent said it is Irish, 9 per cent said it is British and the rest had no opinion.
As for the date for a united Ireland the vast majority do not believe it will happen in the next 25 years.
In terms of seeing the North as Irish and hoping for unity those polled in Dublin and Munster were far less inclined to believe in unity compared to those in Connacht and the three Ulster counties in the irish Republic.
Thirty-five per cent stated Northern Ireland would never be reunited with the South, 6 per cent thought it would be reunited in 10 years, 16 per cent by 25 years, 15 per cent in 50 years, 8 per cent said in 100 years and 20 per cent had no opinion.
Under the Good Friday agreement the political mechanism now exists to hold a referendum in Northern ireland on retaining the border. Nationalists state that demographics are moving strongly in their direction but unionists say that polls in the North show many Catholics prefer the status quo.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Dec 02, 2012, 01:36 AM EST
Wee Will Hamilton has his nose out of joint because the Irish stood up to English oppression and his forebearers crouched down and begged forgiveness from an english king. The scottish Lairds turned their collective backs on the people. Robbie Burns had them pegged " A parcel of rogues in a nation". And you have the temerity wee Willy to castigate the Irish. It would serve you well to tone down your anti Irish/Scottish rhetoric.
Will Hamilton | Dec 01, 2012, 07:57 AM EST
The British did not create partition. The border came into being because a large number of Irish did not want to be ruled by Rome. Considering the banana republic that has resulted here since Independence it looks like they were on the right track. I don't know anybody in Ireland who spends any part of their average week worrying about the North. Most people couldn't care less and certainly wouldn't pay more tax to achieve it. The tax take in the 26 county Republic of Botched doesn't pay for itself as it is.
puffin | Nov 29, 2012, 02:50 PM EST
Don't see anything newsworthy in this poll,as we were so to speak
seamus60 | Nov 29, 2012, 10:41 AM EST
What one wants and what one can afford are completely differant on this occassion. Lets not forget that what the people want doesn`t really matter all that much either. The British have once again been allowed to cover their backs by means of final say regardless. The Gov of the 26 have even pulled their own teeth on the issue. Remember articles 2&3.
citizen69 | Nov 29, 2012, 01:20 AM EST
@seanomelb: Ok, no problem. Thanks
seanomelb | Nov 29, 2012, 12:13 AM EST
I was not referring to you citizen69. My post should have read "The anti nationalist posters below" sorry for the confusion.
mamaginnty | Nov 28, 2012, 04:00 PM EST
Cillowen you are such an eejit. Sinn Feín are second to FG. with supporters, Labour are finished just like FF. Fear of Gerry my ass. Tis you who show the fear...and hatred.
ancavker | Nov 28, 2012, 02:31 PM EST
tayandcake: What do we do with Wales??
citizen69 | Nov 28, 2012, 01:01 PM EST
@IrelandNorth: I think you made a mis-calculation when you state that the 27% of the citizens of the Republic who do not regard NI as part of the Irish nation works out at an average of 1% per county! It's an average of 27% per county. Obviously in some counties the percentage would be higher and in others, lower. @Seanomelb: Please don't call me anti-nationalist, i'm nothing of the sort.
IrelandNorth | Nov 28, 2012, 09:25 AM EST
Whilst 35% did think Ireland would never be reunited, 45% did think that it would be in an ave of 46 yrs, (36 yrs later than my predictive deadline of the centenary of partition!) While 69% are willing to pay higher taxes for a reunited Ireland, only 64% actually hope for one. Putting púnts where pius political platitudes are is always very convincing. But 5% willing to pay higher taxes for something they would prefer not to see or have no opinion about is difficult to understand? Twice as many respondents considered the whole 32 counties of the entire island of Ireland to constitute the complete nation as did not. 27% in the 26 counties (ie ave 1% per county) thought otherwise. The Irish Times/Ipsos/MRBI poll was described as a 'national' (sic) survey despite be conducted only in the 26 counties. It referred to Rory Mc Ilroy declaring for the 'UK' (sic) instead of GB. Leinster/Munster respondents saw NI as more dual nationality, while FF supporters see them as Irish and are more pro-unity sooner than FG/Lab, differences between supporters and voters notwithstanding. SF less so ironically! Survey pitched in terms of people rather than territory. With the high % of no opinions amongst 18-34 yr olds, one must question the sense of conducting an opinion poll amongst subjects with no opinions? Hmmm!
Seanmor | Nov 27, 2012, 11:44 PM EST
cillowen: My respect for the queen of England (the country in which I was born) does NOT diminish in any way my desire to see the Irish nation Reunited, having been administered as a single political entity under England for 7½ centuries before Partition was imposed by Westminister in 1920.
TayandCake | Nov 27, 2012, 07:03 PM EST
Ireland should unite with Scotland to form Pan Celtica
Gordan Duggan | Nov 27, 2012, 05:51 PM EST
Join up with Norn Ireland? We're not that mad!
seanomelb | Nov 27, 2012, 05:18 PM EST
The anti nationalists posting below are gumsucking whiners who cannot see the forest for the trees.
citizen69 | Nov 27, 2012, 04:37 PM EST
Interesting to see what the people of the Republic think. Of course Sinn Fein aligned Irish Central will try to skew the figures by claiming support for a United Ireland is growing when in fact the original article/poll makes no such claim. In this article I.C. state "Irish Times survey shows growing support for a United Ireland" while a few line later it contradicts itself by stating "Sixty-four per cent want to see a United Ireland, down from higher numbers in the 1980s". It's heartening to read that fewer citizens of the Republic now see Northern Ireland as solely Irish (30%) while almost half the people recognize it as British & Irish. Interesting that more Fine Gael voters want a United Ireland than Sinn Fein voters. Also SF voters were more likely to think a United Ireland will never happen... Not a lot of confidence in the SF leadership then!
hooligan6a | Nov 27, 2012, 03:30 PM EST
jonnymac12, Since you called Ireland a Banana Republic, I will assume you are a Brit. So if you are, you should really learn the language. The word is spelled hold not hole. Hole is only half a word. The first part is ass and that is what you are.
kubs | Nov 27, 2012, 12:40 PM EST
Irish want to unite & Texas wants to secede. Anyone in Cork or Donegal hankerin' to learn how to drawl?
cillowen | Nov 27, 2012, 12:34 PM EST
The FEAR of Gerry is so great in the south that prompted the survey. The southies go gaga for the queen and what she dishes out - wee dock-en-dore's medals. So many quislings abound.
TayandCake | Nov 27, 2012, 11:59 AM EST
"protestant Northern Ireland", so its all about religion then is is Johnnymac. You're just an ape tearing up the picture of God.
Helen Ferone | Nov 27, 2012, 11:17 AM EST
It's about time Ireland is united as one country, not a country divided with civil unrest always looming about in N. Ireland. Didn't they have enough of the british rule? Go back in history and see what they have done to this country or have they already forgotten the treatment they received, and couldn't even own their own property.
johnnymac12 | Nov 27, 2012, 11:14 AM EST
What other result could be expected from a republican biased newspaper holding a poll in the bankrupt banana republic. Why didn't they also hole one in the protestant Northern Ireland. Typical propaganda exercise by terrorist supporting media.