By Martin Burns
European Movement Ireland’s Island of Ireland EU Poll 2026, conducted by Amarach Research shows strong support for a united Ireland as part of the European Union (EU). The research shows that if a referendum were held tomorrow on a united Ireland in the EU, 59 percent in the Irish republic would vote in favour and roughly one in five (22 percent) against. In Northern Ireland, almost two out of three (63 percent) support a united Ireland as part of the EU while 29 percent are against the idea.
The numbers of support for Irish unity in the north will draw attention and scepticism in some quarters. This is understandable. We are dealing with what I would call the Brexit hangover. As most people know, Northern Ireland voted to remain part of the EU in the 2016 EU Referendum by a majority of 56 percent to 44. The Amarach polling finds that if a referendum was held today on rejoining the EU almost three out of four (73 percent) voters in Northern Ireland would vote in favour (73%) of rejoining the EU 23 percent would vote against.
There is some notable dissatisfaction with the EU emerging in this Irish republic as satisfaction with the direction of the EU dropped from 58 percent in 2023 to 45 percent in 2026. This is a trend that Irish politicians need to note. However, the overwhelming sentiment if pro-EU.
For those advocating for a united Ireland and/or a border poll, the Amarach research points out an important fact: the ultimate result of a border poll will depend on how the question is formed. If the question is: would you like to merge Northern Ireland into the present Republic of Ireland, the results are in doubt. However, if the question is would you like to join the EU as part of Irish reunification, then the answer is very different. The Amarach research demonstrates quite clearly that joining the EU is something that advocates for Irish unity need to capitalize.
Whatever you think of the Amarach research, it is clearly one of the many things that point to the importance of planning for a united Ireland that is part of the EU. In 2016, the people of the United Kingdom voted on a referendum that was poorly planned for and little understood. The data here shows that the people of Northern Ireland think that was a mistake.
History does not allow you to undo events. However, if you learn the lessons of history, you can avoid making the same mistake twice. The mistakes made in Brexit can not be undone, but we do not have to repeat them. The Amarach data shows that the Irish government and the government of Northern Ireland need to begin a robust and thorough discussion of what a united Ireland as part of the EU would look like. All voices need to be heard in this conversation. Many non-governmental organizations have done great work in getting people to think about the issue of a border poll and what a united Ireland as part of the EU would look like. Governments, on both sides of the Irish border, need to join them.
By Martin Burns
European Movement Ireland’s Island of Ireland EU Poll 2026, conducted by Amarach Research shows strong support for a united Ireland as part of the European Union (EU). The research shows that if a referendum were held tomorrow on a united Ireland in the EU, 59 percent in the Irish republic would vote in favour and roughly one in five (22 percent) against. In Northern Ireland, almost two out of three (63 percent) support a united Ireland as part of the EU while 29 percent are against the idea.
The numbers of support for Irish unity in the north will draw attention and scepticism in some quarters. This is understandable. We are dealing with what I would call the Brexit hangover. As most people know, Northern Ireland voted to remain part of the EU in the 2016 EU Referendum by a majority of 56 percent to 44. The Amarach polling finds that if a referendum was held today on rejoining the EU almost three out of four (73 percent) voters in Northern Ireland would vote in favour (73%) of rejoining the EU 23 percent would vote against.
There is some notable dissatisfaction with the EU emerging in this Irish republic as satisfaction with the direction of the EU dropped from 58 percent in 2023 to 45 percent in 2026. This is a trend that Irish politicians need to note. However, the overwhelming sentiment if pro-EU.
For those advocating for a united Ireland and/or a border poll, the Amarach research points out an important fact: the ultimate result of a border poll will depend on how the question is formed. If the question is: would you like to merge Northern Ireland into the present Republic of Ireland, the results are in doubt. However, if the question is would you like to join the EU as part of Irish reunification, then the answer is very different. The Amarach research demonstrates quite clearly that joining the EU is something that advocates for Irish unity need to capitalize.
Whatever you think of the Amarach research, it is clearly one of the many things that point to the importance of planning for a united Ireland that is part of the EU. In 2016, the people of the United Kingdom voted on a referendum that was poorly planned for and little understood. The data here shows that the people of Northern Ireland think that was a mistake.
History does not allow you to undo events. However, if you learn the lessons of history, you can avoid making the same mistake twice. The mistakes made in Brexit can not be undone, but we do not have to repeat them. The Amarach data shows that the Irish government and the government of Northern Ireland need to begin a robust and thorough discussion of what a united Ireland as part of the EU would look like. All voices need to be heard in this conversation. Many non-governmental organizations have done great work in getting people to think about the issue of a border poll and what a united Ireland as part of the EU would look like. Governments, on both sides of the Irish border, need to join them.