It is increasingly clear that for Britain to achieve a real Brexit in any meaningful way, the unresolved dilemma of how to manage arrangements on the island of Ireland, must be tackled. While the partition of Ireland into two small States greatly inhibited the development of true independence of the new Irish Free State, the […]

When Michael Collins, and I quote; ‘signed my own death warrant’ in the form of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on the 6th of December 1921, Irish Unity has practically been one of the most contentious issues on this beautiful albeit small island on both a political and social level. My belief is that Unity could open […]

In the final week of the US Presidential campaign in 1980 the Republican nominee Ronald Reagan asked voters “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” On election day the voters gave their answer and voted to end Jimmy Carter’s presidency and to elect Ronald Reagan as President. From an Irish perspective […]

Should Hilary Benn set out clear criteria for the circumstances in which to call a border poll? I’ve always been among those suggesting that the secretary of state should. It would hold British feet to the fire over actually calling a poll and give United Irelanders something concrete to focus their energies on. And at […]

Author of Time For Irish Unity Ben Collins lays out practical initiatives the next Irish government should make in preparing the ground for a United Ireland. Read the second part of Ben’s article here. By early 2025 we will have a new Irish Government. Although as various commentators have pointed out, there could be an […]

Fresh back from a recent trip to Belfast, it occurred to me that two versions of the city have been on display this summer. In the first, Belfast was the epitome of joy and togetherness. In the second, it was a depiction of fury and division. Feile an Phobail, the annual West Belfast festival, is […]

This is the speech given by Kevin Meagher in the ‘Will we vote with the heart or head in a border poll?’ debate at the Féile an Phobail festival which took place on 1st August 2024 at St Mary’s College, Belfast. Head or heart? Let me start by offering the politician’s answer: It can and […]

The Westminster elections have delivered an extraordinary result for British politics. But their impact for Northern Ireland is also going to be significant. The DUP knew that this was going to be a difficult election for several reasons but the loss of three of the eight seats they held before the election will still be […]

At a U.K. level the Conservatives own Brexit and its downsides, just as the DUP own Brexit more than any other party in Northern Ireland. They campaigned for it and signed up to a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservatives where they could influence the type of Brexit which was delivered. By voting against […]

‘The SDLP’s nationalist, no question about,’ said the party’s South Belfast MP, Claire Hanna, responding to this website’s editor at an ‘Ireland’s Future’ event in the House of Commons last night. Kevin Rooney asked if it was still accurate to include them in a tally of parties committed to Irish unity. A reasonable question, given […]