Comments by "Taint ABird" (@taintabird23) on "James O'Brien reflects on Catholics outnumbering Protestants in Northern Ireland for the first time" video.

  1. I concur with Francis.
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  2. As an Irishman, I think the UK can survive losing NI. It is not Scotland.
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  3. Funny, I heard something different. Just remember, it was Irish Protestants that brought the gun into Irish politics.
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  4. A united Ireland is inevitable, but not yet imminent. Numerous studies have concluded that cost of NI to the Republic would be less than bloc grant it receives from Westminster (NI will not have to make a contribution to UK defence in a united Ireland, for example), and that it would be affordable. Most people in the Republic aspire to unity, but not for another 20 years or so. I agree that people vote on emotion and economics - but usually on the former and rarely on both. The direction the Westminster and English elected government is taking the UK is out of step with the majority in NI - how much of a factor will that play in the future; what if Scotland leaves the UK and there is no union - how will that influence those who identify as British and Northern Irish? There are quite a few tectonic plates at play here. At the present time, nobody knows what they would be voting for if a unity referendum was called. Unity would mean the establishment of a new Irish state. What would it look like? Will the flag have to change? What will the national anthem be? What sacrifices will nationalists in the republic have to make to accommodate those who are of British stock in Northern Ireland. Until there is a conversation on the topic, it is likely that people in the republic will continue to kick the can down the road and those in NI will be happy to sit tight just a little longer. It will happen eventually though.
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  5. I'd love to know where you think Ireland is located in Europe.
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  6. That's because they don't know what they voting for: what will a united Ireland actually look like? This is the reason why people in the south are in favour of unity, but just not for another twenty years.
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  7. Opinion polls in the republic consistently show an aspiration to Irish unity....just not for another 20 years. But it is a topic of conversation and the direction of travel is clear.
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  8. Very interesting. When was this survey conducted? Is it recent?
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  9. What are 'British values'? Do you mean British culture?
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  10. No mention of Protestant nationalists either.
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  11. Don't have to imagine it. Read a history book.
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  12. I read today that the population of NI is now 1.91 million. The number of British passport holders has dropped from 1.7 million to 1 million in recent years, while the number of Irish passport holders has increased by about 250,000 to over 600,000.
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