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Home Page > News > The time for Irish unity is now -- economically, politically it makes perfect sense

The time for Irish unity is now -- economically, politically it makes perfect sense

A small island divided into two economies makes no sense in the modern world

MARC COLEMAN,

IrishCentral Contributing Writer

Published Friday, February 1, 2013, 7:13 AM

Updated Friday, February 1, 2013, 9:41 AM

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Could a United Ireland be the answer for Ireland's recovery?

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The danger that in the absence of a positive vision for reunification, and given the legacy of violence and sectarianism, reunification may be seen as a “victory” for one side over the other in a sectarian head count. If anything, victory must be a victory of Protestants: Their emergence from a neglected dysfunctional statelet that is merely an afterthought for Westminster politicians into a united vibrant new Ireland which they will shape as they have before.

Irish nationalism and culture is unthinkable without the great contribution of Irish Protestants. From Grattan to Wolfe Tone to Parnell, protestants created our national drive for independents. Douglas Hyde revived the Irish language. From Swift to Yeats to Beckett, Irish protestants have spread our culture around the world.

It is now time for them to complete their mission and re-unify Ireland. Not using the dead language of sectarian conflict. But a new vibrant and pluralist one built on a growing population, economies of scale, the advantage of links with Britain and the Euro zone and a reformed mindset political institutions.

In 1904 when contemplating the state of Israel Zionist leader Theodor Herzl said “If you will it, it is no dream”. If the dream of Irish unity is cleansed on sectarianism and head count logic – and willed forward by the huge realisable economic gains – it will be no dream, but a reality by the middle of this century.

*Marc Coleman is a broadcaster, journalist and author and these are his personal views www.marccoleman.ie

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117 Comments

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IrelandNorth | Feb 10, 2013, 03:51 PM EST

puffin! The devil is in the "only". A 45% - 55% 'Northern Irish only' could only mean neither a United Kingdom nor a United Ireland - but an independent NI! Perhaps that's the Aristotelian golden mean, (or the Buddhist middle path)? But compare and contrast the results of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency's Household Surrvey, 2011 and the British Broadcasting Corporation commissioned Ipsos/MORI Attitudes survey, 2013 on the same or similar questions, and ask yourself, why the dramatic discrepancies in less than a year? A statistical gerrymandering - perchance?

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STEVENSTAR | Feb 10, 2013, 02:43 PM EST

AS AN IRISHMAN LIVING HERE IN IRELAND IT ANNOYS ME TO HEAR THESE OPINIONS FROM AMERICANS ABOUT MY COUNTRY AND WHAT WE DO OR DONT DO IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS .. I COULDNT CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR COUNTRY AND ID LIKE YOU TO STOP INTERFERING IN MINE ...!!!

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curtisjohnson | Feb 10, 2013, 11:39 AM EST

@puffy – “it is not for an American to say,we allo vote with our hip pocket at the end of the day,did you vote Democrat” So hopefully the english and welsh (as well as the residents of Devon and Cornwall) begin to vote their pockets and dump the occupied statelet.

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Willie Frazer | Feb 09, 2013, 11:30 PM EST

Thats it Puffin, a think ye are trying tae take a hand af me and am not going to fall for it.Im not the kind af a person that takes easily to winding up and a have better things tae do.What would you know about 1926, nothing ,admit it ,you are just hashing and giving protestant,dacent protestant people of Ireland a bad name.You belong in Balllymacool estate along with them other fixers and trouble makers.

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puffin | Feb 09, 2013, 04:24 PM EST

MARC I think if you think that Northern Prods will make any difference to the governance of a unitary state you are mistaken,in 1926 protestants made 10% of the Republic,where are they now,in a unitary state Prods would 11% of the Population sounds familiar, from an economic point of view 2 billion euro to party with,you might as well it won't be about much longer

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puffin | Feb 09, 2013, 03:08 PM EST

Ireland North for the sake of argument lets split Norther Irish only,50~50 give or take 5% does that change any thing

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IrelandNorth | Feb 09, 2013, 03:00 PM EST

I've finally achieved bi-location. Puffin thinks I'm a Democrat Yank. Realist thinks I'm a Connolly Hse narrator. Rather than me not mentioning Northern Ireland (NI) only status, I've already posted that BBC/Ipsos/MORI, 2013 completely ignored this designation entirely, forcing respondents into either/or but not both camps. So much so that that 20% Northern Irish only (2011) are probably the same as said they wouldn't vote at all in 2013, being deprived of their identity of choice. Whilst there was commendable overlap in 2011, the main designations were British only (40%)/Irish only (25%)/Northern Ireland only 21%), and 14% none/neither/other/not stated. I actually agreed with your 'hip pocket' hypothesis.

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puffin | Feb 09, 2013, 02:19 PM EST

Wullie the ye try te tak the hamely tongue,but ye are nae mackin much o it,the richt spellen o nobody is naebady

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Jcs | Feb 09, 2013, 02:12 PM EST

I do believe that the land that was stolen, yes stolen from the Irish by the British and planted with their own pedigree, should now be returned to the Irish and let the Irish determine its future.If those people still living on this stolen land insist on wanting to be British, simple, go live in Britain and let the Irish enjoy the freedom of their own country.

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Realist | Feb 09, 2013, 08:42 AM EST

IrelandNorth: Lol….are you in tears my friend? She protests too much. Opting for a British only identity is not the limit of those who are pro the status quo and remaining with the United Kingdom. There was also 21% in the 2011 census that opted for a Northern Irish identity (you didn’t mention that I notice). If you assume they are also pro status quo (not unreasonable as Sinn Fein supporters, like you, cannot bring themselves to use the term “Northern Ireland” never mind “Northern Irish”), together, that makes 61%. Then add a few percent of the pragmatic Irish only identity category and there you have your 65%. Shooting the messenger because you can’t handle the message only further erodes your own credibility. I suggest you go back to Connolly House and ask for a better “narrative”. But then, you know this already, don’t you?

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puffin | Feb 09, 2013, 08:23 AM EST

I don't think Willie likes me.

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Willie Frazer | Feb 08, 2013, 10:12 PM EST

Mr Puffin ....who do you think you are like, me a decent wee man fae Glenane in Co Antrim, doin nobody nae harm, and you are on here spouting about my religious beliefs.Caught on, Caught on in under gods name, caught on tae what.You try tae desecrate the name of William Frazer you tinker wherever ye are from an I will bring the wrath of the lord himself upon your door.You and your acronyms you filthy scoundrel.Protestant good protestant people wish all souls who ever they may be to RIP, rest in peace but a can tell you are not a good protestant boy Mr Puffin.Damm your soul to the confines of the dark and may you be turned into a pillar of salt,I wud rather hiv my catholic fenian neibors any day rather than your type of protestanism Mr Puffin and aye indeed a united Ireland with my beloved Ulster.

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Willie Frazer | Feb 08, 2013, 10:11 PM EST

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puffin | Feb 08, 2013, 04:35 PM EST

Ireland north calm down,some people who vote for nationalist parties,prefer the link to the UK might even have an emotional attachment, or prefer British civil service pensions, it is not for an American to say,we allo vote with our hip pocket at the end of the day,did you vote Democrat

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IrelandNorth | Feb 08, 2013, 02:28 PM EST

If the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NIS&RA) Household Survey (HS), 2011 reported 40% identifying as British only, (and presumably pro-United Kingdom (UK)), how can the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) claim in their recently commissioned Ipsos/MORI opinion poll that 65% are for the UK status quo (a 25% discrepancy only one year later)? If the NIS&RA HS reported 25% identifying as Irish only (and presumable United Irelander's (UIers)), how do the latter claim only 17% are for a UI? And what are BBC/Ipsos/MORIs unaccounted for 19% actually for, the Independent Northern Ireland (INI) that was excluded from consideration? NIS&RAs HS reported only 7% of Prods for a UI and 1% of RCs for the UK. BBC/Ipsos/MORI have some explaining to do as to what the unaccounted for 28% of RCs and 6% of Prods are for.

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