Northern Ireland Reunification: Support or Oppose?

[TJ in Oregon]

I'm looking forward to reading more about this in the future, but my gut reaction is to oppose this, but I am open to changing if I read positive things for my side in the outcome.

But Support is the cliche American cultural Catholic position!!

In all actuality, I'd say I support it in the same sort of way that the SDLP supports it, which means not really do anything about it but Support whenever the discussion comes up. I think it will likely someday be a part of the Republic, but the time isn't right yet.

[TJ in Oregon]

Ireland is sane.

The UK is collapsing from self-inflicted wounds.

Staying divided will mean estranging Northern Ireland from the rest of the island again.


I'd say support. But let the people decide. The UK is already broken now. Scotland is only a matter of time, a matter of scheduling a new referendum. It's time to make the most out of the pieces that remain behind of this EU referendum.

Why so apocalyptic? It's not like the UK voted to commit mass ritual suicide or something. All of the usual political and demographic divides of Northern Ireland are the still the same as they were yesterday.

[TJ in Oregon]

NI has a looming Catholic majority. It was in recognition of that that the Unionists agreed to support power sharing.

With the reintroduction of border controls and the like when the UK leaves the EU, well, it doesn't seem like the status quo is safe any more.

I don't know what NI should do, power sharing seems like the best option; maybe the UK and Ireland can share it or something. Not that I know how that would work in practice.

The other reasonable option is an independent Northern Ireland with extensive treaties with both the UK and the Republic.