What proportion of Northen Irish people would welcome unifacation?

Question

in your opinion, what proportion of catholics and what proportion of prodastants, do you think it will happen or is it happening as we speak just very slowly

Answer 1

I suppose that a majority of Nationalists would. A small number of Unionists would welcome it. Overall, the number of Nationalists in the 6 counties is growing faster than Unionists, so I reckon that in 20 years there'll be a Nationalist majority, then unification.

A previous answer pointed to anti-protestant laws in the Republic, I've never heard of any such thing and I've lived in Ireland 35 years. I think younger Unionists are more educated re the Republic, and are willing to spend more time and get to know people, therefore are less likely to be hard-liners.

Answer 2

A survey taken in 2006 showed support for a united Ireland at 30% and support for Northern Ireland remaining in the United Kingdom at 54% and 4% support independence or other arrangements, but it's probably a bit more than that who would like unification because 42% of Northern Ireland voters vote for Irish nationalist parties that oppose the union with Great Britain and support a united Ireland as an alternative.

I'd say it will happen eventually, but it will probably take many generations. Many Protestants are worried that their culture and religion won't be accepted in a United Ireland, and they'll be discriminated against. When the Republic of Ireland was created, there were many anti-Protestant laws that were created, so Protestants don't trust the idea of a United Ireland. It will take a long time and a lot of understanding from both sides, but I think it will probably happen eventually.

It's too early to say it is happening already though. Ian Paisley was the standard-bearer for the Protestant cause and a strong supporter of the UK, but he's been forced to retire because there are many people in his party that are angry at him for going into government with the Catholic nationalists. The peace process is at a turning point right now, so we'll see what happens.

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for David D

There were many pro-Catholic anti-Protestant laws on the books in Ireland, most of which are no longer there. You aren't old enough to remember probably. A perfect example was the Ne Temere decrees, where a child of a mixed Catholic-Protestant marriage was by law forced to be raised a Catholic. It wasn't abolished until 1970.

Another that still is an issue: in the South the National Schools (primary) are fully state-supported, but the management of each school is in the hands of the minister of the dominant faith within the school area (Catholic).

Answer 3

A lot of the things Protestants disliked about the South have been removed. Roman Catholicism has not the Power Base it once had in the South,and the People refuse to be  Dictated to by anyone. The Government in the DeValera Era Had a very Cosy Sweetheart Relationship with the Catholic Church. They even had it Written in to the Constitution. Whenever they the Government were being Criticised they would get the Church on there side who would swear all sorts of Hellfire and Damnation on the People. With the Result you had  a very cowed Population in the Republic, and this was not the Protestant Minority I am Speaking about it was the Catholics who were led by the Nose. People just got sick of all the Rules and began to think for themselves but not the Government who still like to Crawl to the Prelates. All the Paedeophile Activity and Child Cruelty in the Orphanages was the final Blow. So Catholicism has not the same Influence it once had even for those who are still Devout Catholics  who take all the Whining of the Bishops and Popes with a Pinch of Salt. So it is only the Political Situation that is separating North and South and Fear of the unknown. There is an awful lot of Cooperation between the North and South and plenty of Goodwill Visits between the two Entities . They have found that they have the same Problems with the EU and the British Government as we do and our People sometimes Solve their Problems for them whereas the British Government does not seem to want to bother helping them out. The Political Angst they felt about the south wanting to Coerce them into an United Ireland has been removed and they know there is no threat anymore to their Position in the UK. A lot of Northern Protestants like to visit the South now and they have discovered that we do not have Horns on our Heads and they can relaxe more with us. The time will possibly come when they realise that they might be better off Financially and Politically by Joining with the South after they realise there is no real differances between us.

Answer 4

A minority, just

In the region of 45%

Answer 5

It was never against the law for the children of mixed marriages to be raised catholic, I discovered this when I got married 2 years ago that was an anti catholic propaganda. There is a document that you sign in front of your catholic priest that states that the sanctity of the marriage always comes first and that if raising the children as catholic causes an issue in the marriage then it is not important. My priest showed this to some COI rev friends of his and they were contradicted, they had assumed it forced the catholic, but there was never any official pressure on them to raise the children as catholic

Also alot of people here are missing the fact that the republic does not have to accept reunification, there was a newspaper report a year ago in the times or independent that there is a growing consensus in the republic of people who dont want the north back, at last survey it was 30% of the people  who were asked did and more did not. The economic problems this would cause are more relevant to some of todays irish people, after all we can see what happened to germany after reunification to see the disadvantages this would bring.

I know I am getting slated for not going with the public opinion like a sheep, but I would rather be the shepard than the sheep

Edit

Have just read about the 2006 survey from the poster above , gaelicspeaker can you tell me where this is as I would like to read it again.

Answer 6

There's been a couple of really interesting replies to the question but one point everyone seems to miss is that nationalist does not = catholic and unionist = protestant. There are many catholics who support the union and likewise many protestants who are nationalist. It's very wrong to completely stereotype the northern people.

I also think that many catholics who wish to have a united Ireland would be totally flabbergasted at the nature in which the Republic has moved away from the national church. It's not quite what it was because of the change in laws and the way in which the church has disgraced itself over the last few years. The Republic has a great economy based on hard work, not sitting back with hand out as is many a case in the NI counties.

Answer 7

No doubt the EU will make it happen!

Nothing to do with sectarianism anymore I would say!