Sinn Fein wants referendum on Irish unification

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It wouldn't be to Northern Ireland's advantage, or the Republic's for that matter. Economically and politically it would be a disaster for both countries imo.

How do you figure that. UI is united the country. A house divied will fall.

I don't hate Irish Nationalists - don't be stupid.



I know that - but there are vastly different and varying kinds of Irish Nationalism, just as there are very varied strands of Unionism.



A lot of it's tribal support in NI (about "standing up to the Prods/Unionists"). As I say, a lot of their voters might want a UI but not all of them will. And, TBH, you probably wouldn't want to associate with a lot of SF members in hardline areas, put it that way - I sure wouldn't.



And that's exactly their problem - they're being sectarian and tribal about a UI.



It's just not appealing to anyone at the moment, or in the near future. It would be a complete and utter disaster. They would rather that NI remains in the UK. Even a lot of Sinn Féin voters wouldn't want a UI at the moment.

But when you say a UI, it depends on what kind of UI you're talking about. I think the kind of UI that SF and more extreme Nationalists advocate is completely unworkable and would never happen without massive bloodshed and civil war. If you're on about a much more moderate UI, where both Nationalist and Unionist traditions are represented in the new state in practice and in law, I'd imagine that Unionists would be more willing to listen. For example: a new flag and anthem would be needed for a start. The Queen would probably be head of state in some capacity. There would be substantial room for self-government. The 12 July would probably be a national holiday - would Irish Nationalists take kindly to that? And so on.

And the conflict between the Irish Nationalists and the British has been centred on ethnic, religious and political lines. They're all very tightly related to one another. As you can see what happened with many ex-Unionists in the Irish Free State.

I just can't give up hope. That a UI could happen. And the second UI you broght up is what I want. A bloody civil war is something I would like to avoid.

At the moment, it will massively impoverish both former jurisdictions, cause a massive, massive headache for the South and would essentially just be importing all of NI's sectarian and social problems and potential for conflict (would the Irish Army be able to cope with a huge resurgence in 'Loyalist' violence?) just to remove a line from a map.

That would mean that there would be a considerable degree of British and Unionist influence in the new all-Ireland state, recognition of separate (British) identity and so on, British passports being available for all Irish citizens (something which only people born in NI get currently). Something that many Irish Nationalists find impossible to stomach.

Then their is just no way to have a UI. And everyone be happy.

If they would be fine with a police state. The Irish Army can try to keep the peace.

My point is that it could be done but that SF and their ilk would have to have as little to do with it as possible. SF are the worst possible advert for Irish Nationalism and a UI to Unionists, considering they spent more than 30 years trying to murder and terrorise them into a United Ireland. SF as a Nationalist movement are toxic.

I have been a SF member and supporter since high school. Their message is good in my mind. But to the unionists it;s like you said toxic.

What would you think if a political wing of the UVF was the main advocator of the Unionist case? That's what you're asking Unionists to accept. Would you listen to anything that a political movement that was directly responsible for the murder of your friends/ family?

That's why SF are so disgusting. They have the blood of thousands on their hands. No Unionist will ever consent to a UI with SF or any extreme Nationalist movement associated with it. It will just never, ever happen.

The funny thing is, a lot of people of the Republic have very little time for SF also, as they see them as murderous extremists.

If you want a UI, the best thing you could hope for is for the likes of SF to disappear altogether.

I am a strong SF supporter. I don't see me no longer supporting them. Plus I was happy to see the queen of England. Shake hands with Gerry Adams That made my day

And that kind of rhetoric ensures a divided Ireland.

The main issue to me is that. Their all Irish let it be a country. For the Irish and the Irish alone.

You really haven't got a clue.

And what of the Unionists (the Ulster Protestants who have lived in Ireland longer than the U.S. has been a state)? Are they not every bit as Irish as everyone else on the island? Can the people of Northern Ireland not decide their own future - i.e. to stay in the UK?

Unionists are Irish too, you know. They are also British.