The Irish are **** suckers who should die...

[Dauphin]

As far as I know, Northern Ireland was created in such a way to guarantee protestant majorities -- it's a rather artificial construct in the first instance.

Duh.

That's how break-up of nations usually happens.

[DanS]

Yep, a simple vote would certainly put those tensions to bed once and for all. No doubt about it.

I hope for the day when the vote can be made to reunite Northern Ireland with Ireland. Northern Ireland should never have been separated from Ireland.

[Boris Godunov]

What if they vote to remain a part of the U.K.?

IIRC, molly bloom was from Australia or NZ, I think.

[DanS]

What if they vote to remain a part of the U.K.?

Then you wait until such time that they vote to reunite with Ireland.

[Dauphin]

The Irish are used to that approach to referenda.

[Boris Godunov]

Ok, but if they vote for the U.K., then saying that the Brits "have no business" being there is pretty much dead wrong, ain't it?

[Cort Haus]

The Irish are used to that approach to referenda.

Now, would this be a reference to the referenda that the EU keep putting to the Republic of Ireland until they return the 'correct' decision?

[DanS]

Duh.

That's how break-up of nations usually happens.

The difference is that the catholic minority was always quite sizable in Northern Ireland.

[Dauphin]

Now, would this be a reference to the referenda that the EU keep putting to the Republic of Ireland until they return the 'correct' decision?

Was I being too subtle?

[Dauphin]

The difference is that the catholic minority was always quite sizable in Northern Ireland.

Lots of breakaway countries have sizable minorities resulting in tensions.

How many black people lived in the South during the American Civil War? [facile example]

[Krill]

Oh DanS, stop trolling. You're **** at it.

[DanS]

Northern Ireland is not a breakaway country. Rather, it is the remnant of British meddling in Irish affairs.

[C0ckney]

The difference is that the catholic minority was always quite sizable in Northern Ireland.

there was also a sizeable protestant minority in the republic of ireland, when it was created (about 8%-10% IIRC). however, as a result of policies in ireland, for example the requirement that children of protestant-catholic unions be brought up as catholics and more general discrimination, resulting in protestant irishmen moving to NI or britain, this has declined to around 3% today.

[Dauphin]

Northern Ireland is not a breakaway country. Rather, it is the remnant of British meddling in Irish affairs.

A bit like Isreal then. Or India, or most of Africa.

[C0ckney]

also, the fact of the matter is that if a vote was hold in NI tomorrow the people would vote to remain with britain. there is also the fact that while almost every protestant would support remaining in the UK, the same is not true for catholics wishing to unite with ireland.

more important than any of this, is the fact that there are encouraging signs that northern ireland is finally beginning to move beyond sectarianism in its politics and society. as well most groups laying down their arms and entering the political process. you now have sinn fein and the DUP working together in government. you can see the election of the first alliance party MP this year or the creation of the police service of northern ireland (replacing the royal ulster constabulary) as more recent indicators. obviously, there is a very long way to go, but i think the progress that has been made is so far is a testament to the resolve of the british and irish governments, as well as the people of NI itself to move on from the old arguments and build a new future for the province as a part of the united kingdom.