NationMaster - Encyclopedia: United Ireland

A United Ireland is the common demand of Irish nationalists, envisaging that the island of Ireland (currently divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) be reunited as a single political entity. Nationalists have suggested many different models for unification, including federalism, and joint sovereignty, as well as a unitary state. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (746x945, 684 KB)Topography of Ireland Source: http://earthobservatory. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (746x945, 684 KB)Topography of Ireland Source: http://earthobservatory. ... An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. ... Motto: (Latin for Who will separate us?)[1] Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Ulster Scots, Irish3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of... Several articles deal with the theme of reunification: Chinese reunification German reunification Irish Reunification Korean reunification Polish reunification Cyprus reunification Vietnam reunification Yemen unification This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... At the core, political federalism is a political philosophy in which a group or body of members are bound together (Latin: foedus, covenant) with a governing representative head. ... In international law, a condominium is a territory in which two sovereign powers have equal rights. ... A map showing the unitary states. ...

Although nationalists and republicans wish for the reunification of Ireland, the island of Ireland has never existed as a single sovereign political state in the modern sense. However, prior to 1922, the island was always considered as a single entity, having been the Kingdom of Ireland for centuries. Until the Act of Union of 1800 the island was governed as a single political entity by an Irish Parliament based in Dublin. Thereafter with the enactment of the the Act of Union on 1 January 1801, the Kingdom of Ireland was merged with the Kingdom of Great Britain to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Irish Republicanism is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a united independent republic. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Monarchy KingÂ¹ - 1542-1547 Henry I - 1760-1801 George III Chief Secretary - 1660 Matthew Lock - 1798-1801 Viscount Castlereagh Legislature Parliament of Ireland - Upper house Irish House of Lords - Lower house Irish House of Commons History - Act of Parliament 1541 - Act of Union... The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Wales and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ... // ON MAY 5 1853 MR.FADER HAD SEX WITH A MAN NAME MR WIEN THEN THEY HAD SON NAMEDMRS COTURE AND MR MANOOGIAN WENT INTO MRS HASKELLS OFFICE NAKED AND DANCED AROUND AND MASTERBATED ON HER CHEST AND SHE LICKED IT OFF THEN THEY HAD ORAL SEEX WITH NAPLOEAN OF... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ...

History

Kings and High Kings

Before the coming of the Normans there existed the title of Ard Rí (High King), usually held by the Uí Néill but this was more of a ceremonial title denoting a sort of "first among equals" rather than an absolute monarchy as developed in England and Scotland. Nevertheless, several strong characters imbued the office with real power, most notably Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid (845-860), his son Flann Sinna (877-914) and Flann's great-grandson Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill (979-1002; 1014-1022), Brian Boru (1002-1014), Muircheartach Ua Briain (1101-1119), and Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair (1119-1156). Norman conquests in red. ... Although the traditional list of those bearing the title High King of Ireland (Irish: Ard RÃ Ã‰renn) goes back thousands of years, into the second millennium BC, most scholars believe that the earlier parts of the list, at least, are largely mythical. ... The UÃ NÃ©ill (Irish for descendants of Niall UÃ pronounced Ee: ) were an Irish dynasty who claimed descent from Niall Noigiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), a semi-historical High King of Ireland who died about 405. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - UK Prime Minister Tony Blair MP - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification - by Kenneth I 843 Area - Total 78,772 km... Cross of the Scriptures, Clonmacnoise, commissioned by MÃ¡el Sechnaills son Flann Sinna and erected in 901. ... Flann Sinna mac MaÃl Sechnaill (died 916), was the son of MÃ¡el Sechnaill mac MaÃl Ruanaid of Clann CholmÃ¡in, a southern branch of the UÃ NÃ©ill. ... MÃ¡el Sechnaill mac Domnaill (died 2 September 1022), sometimes called MÃ¡el Sechnaill MÃ³r or MÃ¡el Sechnaill II, was king of Mide and High King of Ireland. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Muircheartach Ua Briain was a high king of Ireland (1101-1118 AD). ... Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, born 1088, died 1156. ...

What prevented the consolidation of truly national power even by the Ard Ríanna was the fact that the island was divided into a number of autonomous, fully independent kingdoms ruled by rival dynasties. The most powerful of these kingdoms in the immediate pre-Norman era were Aileach, Brefine, Mide, Leinster, Osraige, Munster and Connacht. In addition to these, there were a number of lesser subject kingdoms such as Airgialla, Uladh, Brega, Dublin, Ui Failghe, Laois, Desmond, and Hy-Many. Many of these kingdoms and lordships retained, at the very least, some degree of independence right up to the end of independent Gaelic polity in the 17th century. Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: A monarchy, from the Greek Î¼Î¿Î½Î¿Ï‚, one, and Î±ÏÏ‡ÎµÎ¹Î½, to rule, is a form of government that has a monarch as head of state. ... A dynasty is a family or extended family which retains political power across generations, or more generally, any organization which extends dominance in its field even as its particular members change. ... In medieval Ireland, the Kings of Mide were of the Clann Cholmain, a branch of the UÃ NÃ©ill. ... Statistics Area: 19,774. ... Statistics Area: 24,607. ... Connaught redirects here. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... County Desmond was an historic county of Ireland on the south-western coast of Ireland. ... Hy-Many, or Ui Maine, was one of the oldest and largest kingdoms located in Connacht, Ireland. ...

Confederate Ireland 1642-1649

The next significant moment occurred in 1642 when the Confederate Catholics Association of Ireland – an Irish Catholic government formed to fight the Irish Confederate Wars, assembled at Kilkenny and held an all-Ireland assembly. The Confederates did rule much of Ireland up to 1649, but were riven by dissent and civil war in later years over whether to ally themselves with the English Royalists in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Ultimately, they dissolved their Association in favour of unity with the Royalists, but were defeated anyway in the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (971x429, 92 KB) A cropped version of Image:Kilkenny-castle. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (971x429, 92 KB) A cropped version of Image:Kilkenny-castle. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... Kilkenny Castle, where the Confederate General Assembly met. ... The Irish Confederate Wars were fought in Ireland between 1641 and 1653. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... // Events January 30 - King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded. ... The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland, and England between 1639 and 1651 at a time when these countries had come under the Personal Rule of the same monarch. ... Combatants English Royalists and Irish Catholic Confederate troops English Parliamentarian New Model Army troops and allied Protestants in Ireland Commanders James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde (1649 - December 1650) Ulick Burke, Earl of Clanricarde (December 1650-April 1653) Oliver Cromwell (1649-May 1650) Henry Ireton (May 1650-November 1651) Charles...

1653-1921

Although ruled by Britain, Ireland was a united political entity from the end of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in 1653 until 1921. The Easter Proclamation of 1916. ... The Easter Proclamation of 1916. ... The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland, and England between 1639 and 1651 at a time when these countries had come under the Personal Rule of the same monarch. ... Events February 2 - New Amsterdam (later renamed New York City) is incorporated. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for full calendar). ...

Until the Constitution of 1782, Ireland was placed under the effective control of the British-appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland due to restrictive measures such as Poynings Law. From 1541 to 1801, the island's political status was of a Kingdom of Ireland in personal union with the English (and later the British) Crown. Under the leadership of Henry Grattan, the Irish parliament (still dominated by the Ascendancy) acquired a measure of autonomy for a time. After the Act of Union, Ireland became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, a single entity ruled by the Parliament at Westminster. Official standard of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (plural: Lords Lieutenant), also known as the Judiciar in the early mediaeval period and as the Lord Deputy as late as the 17th century, was the Kings representative and head of the Irish executive during the... Poynings Law refers to the time when Sir Edward Poyning was sent as viceroy to Ireland by Henry VII of England. ... Events The first official translation of the entire Bible in Swedish February 12 - Pedro de Valdivia founds Santiago de Chile. ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Monarchy KingÂ¹ - 1542-1547 Henry I - 1760-1801 George III Chief Secretary - 1660 Matthew Lock - 1798-1801 Viscount Castlereagh Legislature Parliament of Ireland - Upper house Irish House of Lords - Lower house Irish House of Commons History - Act of Parliament 1541 - Act of Union... A personal union is a relationship of two or more entities that are considered separate, sovereign states, which, through established law, share the same person as their respective head of state. ... Henry Grattan (July 3, 1746 - June 6, 1820) was a member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. ... This article is about the legislature abolished in 1801. ... The Act of Union 1800 merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Wales and Scotland under the Act of Union 1707) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ... Motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right)1 Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Capital London Language(s) English Gaelic Welsh (Wales) Scottish Gaelic (parts of Scotland) Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1801â€“1820 George III - 1920â€“1922... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... Westminster is a district within the City of Westminster in London. ...

Ireland was last undivided at the outbreak of World War I after national self-government in the form of the Third Home Rule Act 1914, won by John Redmond leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party was placed on the statute books, but suspended until the end of the war. It was amended to partition Ireland following the objections of Ulster Unionists. Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Robert Nivelle Herbert Henry Asquith Sir Douglas Haig Sir John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow... The Government of Ireland Act 1914, more generally known as the Third Home Rule Act (or Bill) or the (Irish) Home Rule Act 1914, was an Act of Parliament passed by the British House of Commons in May 1914 under the official short title Government of Ireland Act 1914, which... John Redmond, MP John Edward Redmond (September 1, 1856 â€“ March 6, 1918) was the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party from 1900 to 1918. ... In 1882 Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, formed the Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP), replacing the Home Rule League, as a parliamentary party with strict rules. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 kmÂ² Population (2006 estimate) 1,993,918 Ulster (Irish: CÃºige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great...

In the 1918 general election, the republican Sinn Féin political party won a landslide victory. The newly elected Sinn Féin candidates formed a republican assembly Dáil Eireann which unilaterally declared itself in 1919 the Government of the Irish Republic and independent of the British Empire. Its claims over the entire island were, however, not accepted by Unionists. Under the Anglo-Irish Treaty the Irish Free State became in 1922 the name of the state covering twenty-six counties in the south and west, replacing the Irish Republic, while six counties in the northeast remained within the United Kingdom under the 1920 Government of Ireland Act. According to some historians, Sinn Fein had no special policy towards Ulster despite its different national make-up, while regarding it as part of an Irish republic The Irish general election of 1918 was that part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election that took place in Ireland. ... Sinn FÃ©in (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of the Republic of Ireland. ... Year 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Signature page of the Anglo-Irish Treaty The Anglo-Irish Treaty, officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom and representatives of the extra-judicial Irish Republic which concluded the Irish War of Independence. ... Territory of the Irish Free State Capital Dublin Language(s) Irish, English Government Constitutional monarchy Monarch - 1922â€“1936 George V - 1936â€“1936 George VI President of the Executive Council - 1922â€“1932 W.T. Cosgrave - 1932â€“1937 Eamon de Valera Legislature Oireachtas - Upper house Seanad Ã‰ireann - Lower house DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann... Year 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (this is its official short title; the formal citation is 10 & 11 Geo. ...

1922-1998

The Free State and its successor, the Republic of Ireland (declared in 1949) both claimed that Northern Ireland was part of their territory, but did not attempt to force reunification, nor did they claim to be able to legislate for it. In 1998, following the Belfast Agreement, the Republic voted to amend Articles 2 and 3 of its constitution so that the territorial claim was removed and replaced with recognition of the Northern Ireland people's right to self-determination. Image File history File links NIrelandDerryFreeJM.jpg Summary Taken and donated by John Mullen. ... Image File history File links NIrelandDerryFreeJM.jpg Summary Taken and donated by John Mullen. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 54. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process. ... Article 2 and Article 3 of Bunreacht na hÃ‰ireann, the constitution of the Republic of Ireland, were adopted with the constitution as a whole in 1937, but completely revised by means of the Nineteenth Amendment which took full effect in 1999. ... Self-determination is a principle in international law that a people ought to be able to determine their own governmental forms and structure free from outside influence. ...

Present day

The leading political parties in the Republic of Ireland, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, have often made a united Ireland a part of their political message. It is also a main focus of Sinn Féin and SDLP in Northern Ireland. Fianna FÃ¡il - The Republican Party (IPA ; (mistranslated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though a literal translation is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland),Â¹ is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicized to (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - The United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership of over 34,000. ... Sinn FÃ©in (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP â€” Irish: PÃ¡irtÃ SÃ³isialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is the smaller of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland. ...

In contrast, the Unionist community – composed primarily of Protestants in the six counties that form Northern Ireland – opposes unification. All of the island's political parties (except for tiny fringe groups with little electoral representation) have accepted the principle of consent, which states that Northern Ireland's constitutional status cannot change without majority support in Northern Ireland. In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Motto: (Latin for Who will separate us?)[1] Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Ulster Scots, Irish3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of... Principle of consent is a term used in the context of debate on a United Ireland, which states that Northern Irelands constitutional status (as part of the United Kingdom) cannot change without majority support in Northern Ireland. ...

Many Protestants (and some Catholics) in Northern Ireland argue they have a distinct identity that would be overwhelmed in a united Ireland. They cite the decline of the small Protestant population of the Republic of Ireland since secession from the United Kingdom, the economic cost of unification, their place in a key international player (within the UK) and their (Protestants) mainly non-Irish ancestry. Unionist people in Northern Ireland primarily find their cultural and ethnic identity from the Scottish and English planters, whose descendants can also be found in the three counties of Ulster which are governed by the Republic of Ireland. Such individuals celebrate their Scots heritage each year like their counterparts in the other six counties. While Catholics in general consider themselves to be Irish, Protestants generally see themselves as British, as shown by several studies and surveys performed between 1971 and 2006. ^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]. Many Protestants do not consider themselves to be Irish. A 1999 survey showed that 51% of Protestants felt "Not at all Irish" and 41% only "weakly Irish" ^[9] Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... The Plantation of Ulster was a planned process of colonisation which took place in the northern Irish province of Ulster during the early 17th century in the reign of James I of England. ...

Some have suggested that one such method of governing in a United Ireland, would be for a united nine-county Ulster to have local self-government, and perhaps local self-government for Ireland's other three provinces (like U.S. states or German federal states), to help ease the worries Unionists in Ulster might have about joining a reunified all-island nation-state. During late Gaelic and early historic times Ireland was divided into provinces to replace the earlier system of the tuatha. ...

A possible referendum on a united Ireland was included as part of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Currently about 42% of the Northern Ireland electorate vote for Irish nationalist parties that oppose the union with Britain and support a united Ireland as an alternative, although it is not the only issue at election time so it is difficult to take this figure as a direct indication of levels of support for a united Ireland. A comprehensive 2004 survey shows support for a united Ireland at 22% of Northern Ireland's population. The same survey shows support for full independence at 11%. The survey has been conducted annually since 1997 with broadly similar results on the constitutional question. Because of the relatively large sample size of over 2,000 people, the survey is considered to have a low margin of error. The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ...

Opinion polls in the Republic of Ireland reveal public opinion there to be divided on the question of Irish Unity. Such polls generally reveal a broad middle ground of soft nationalist opinion, whose support for Irish unity is tempered by worries as to the economic consequences. There is also support in Great Britain for Ireland to reunify as a political entity. An ICM poll conduced by The Guardian in 2001 revealed that only 26% of Britons supported Northern Ireland remaining a part of the UK, while 41% supported a united Ireland.[1] The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ...

Given that all significant political parties and both the UK and Irish Governments support the "Principle of Consent" the final choice is one for the people of Northern Ireland, alone, to decide.

Support and opposition for Unification

There is support in the Republic of Ireland for Irish unity from all major political parties. It is difficult, however, to ascertain public opinion generally on the subject. Whilst a section of the population is strongly nationalist, many people are lukewarm towards the idea, with some even hostile to Irish unity, at least in the short term.

There are also some non-partisan groups, such as the Reform Movement and southern lodges of the Orange Order, that tend to be sympathetic to Northern Ireland remaining within the UK for the forseeable future. The Reform Movement is an organisation in the Republic of Ireland which seeks to counter what it feels are outdated and extremist elements of Irish nationalism. ... Orangemen in traditional dress preparing to march The Orange Institution, more commonly known as the Orange Order, is a Protestant fraternal organisation based predominantly in Northern Ireland and Scotland with lodges throughout the Commonwealth and in the United States. ...

Opposition to reunification comes mainly from Unionist political parties in Northern Ireland, particularly the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). It also comes from loyalist paramilitary groups such as the Ulster Defence Association and Ulster Volunteer Force. In the UK as a whole, the Conservative Party, UKIP, and other conservative groups tend to be unionist in outlook. (See also Unionism (Scotland).) The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party ) is a moderate unionist political party in Northern Ireland, which formed its government between 1921 and 1972 and was supported by most unionists throughout the Troubles. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Ulster Volunteer Force (more commonly referred to as the UVF) are a loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The United Kingdom Independence Party (commonly known as UKIP, pronounced // ) is a British political party. ... In the context of Irish politics, Unionists are people in Northern Ireland, who wish to see the continuation of the Act of Union 1800, as amended by the Government of Ireland Act 1920, under which Northern Ireland, created in that latter Act, remains part of the United Kingdom of Great... Scottish Unionists are those committed to maintaining Scotlands position within the United Kingdom and opposing Scottish nationalism. ...

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin is currently the largest pro-reunification party in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the fourth-largest in Ireland^{[citation needed]}. It now believes reunification can be achieved through political means, but in the past it promoted a policy of political and violent intervention through the Provisional Irish Republican Army. They now wish to reunite Ireland through integration of institutions, ultimately forcing a nationwide referendum on reunification. Sinn FÃ©in (pronounced in English, in Irish) is a name used by a series of Irish political movements of the 20th century, each of which claimed sole descent from the original party established by Arthur Griffith in 1905. ... The Northern Ireland Assembly is a home rule legislature established in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but currently under suspension. ... A Republican mural in Belfast depicting the hunger strikes of 1981. ...

For example, the party has proposed that Northern Ireland should have some form of representation in the Dáil, with elected representatives from either the Stormont or Westminster parliaments able to participate in debates, if not vote. The major parties in the Republic have rejected this notion on a number of occasions. The DÃ¡il Chamber DÃ¡il Ã‰ireann[1] is the lower house of the Oireachtas (parliament) of Ireland. ... The Northern Ireland Assembly is a home rule legislature established in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but currently under suspension. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ...

Should Irish reunification ever occur, Sinn Féin has stated that it would wish to amend the Irish constitution to protect minorities (including the Protestant and Ulster Scots communities). Sinn Féin has seen growing support since their IRA ceasefire and they began moving towards a more peaceful route to change in Northern Ireland and to reunification. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Former official flag of Northern Ireland and de facto civil flag. ... Motto: (Latin for Who will separate us?)[1] Anthem: UK: God Save the Queen Regional: (de facto) Londonderry Air Capital Belfast Largest city Belfast Official language(s) English (de facto), Ulster Scots, Irish3, Northern Ireland Sign Language, Irish Sign Language Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister of...

Social Democratic and Labour Party

The SDLP describes itself as 100% for a United Ireland. They believe that reunification should be accomplished through electoral means only. This means that they would support a United Ireland only if a majority of both parts of Ireland voted for it in a referendum. In a United Ireland, the SDLP would support the continuation of a devolved Northern Ireland, governed by a local assembly through the Good Friday Agreement. The SDLP commands moderate support. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP — Irish: Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is the smaller of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland. ... The Northern Ireland Assembly is a home rule legislature established in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, but currently under suspension. ... The Belfast Agreement (also known as the Good Friday Agreement and, more rarely, as the Stormont Agreement) was signed in Belfast on April 10, 1998 by the British and Irish Governments and endorsed by most Northern Ireland political parties. ...

Irish Republican Socialist Party

The IRSP works towards attaining a united socialist Irish state. The IRSP is affiliated with the Irish Republican Socialist Movement, which shares a common political outlook with the INLA (currently observing a "no-first-strike" ceasefire). The IRSP is opposed to the Good Friday Agreement. It is extremely small and commands almost no popular support. Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) describes itself as a republican socialist party and claims to be both Marxist-Leninist and republican. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... The Irish Republican Socialist Movement in an umbrella term for the political-paramilitary grouping, the Irish Republican Socialist Party and Irish National Liberation Army. ... The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) was formed on 8 December 1974 as the military wing of the Irish Republican Socialist Movement (a political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), was formed the same day) by Seamus Costello and other activists who had left or been forced out of...

Republican Sinn Féin

Republican Sinn Féin (RSF) does not believe that the Irish government, or any potential "six-county" (Northern Ireland) government, are legitimate, as neither legislates for Ireland as a whole. It has a policy of abstentionism towards both Leinster House and Stormont, which Sinn Féin adandoned in 1986. Its Éire Nua ('New Ireland') policy advocates a unified federal state with regional governments for the four provinces (Connacht, Leinster, Munster, and Ulster), and with its national capital in Athlone, Ireland's geographical centre. The party is extremely small and commands negligible popular support. This party is linked with the Continuity Irish Republican Army. Republican Sinn FÃ©in (RSF) is a political party[2] operating in Ireland. ... The 2nd DÃ¡il (the last elected parliament of the Irish people) delegated its governmental authority to the military authority in 1938, which continues to this day as the lawful Government of Ireland. ... Abstentionism is the policy of seeking election to a body while refusing to take up the seats or even sitting in an alternative assembly. ... Leinster House The former palace of the Duke of Leinster. ... Stormont is Stormont, a suburb of Belfast Stormont Castle, a castle in the area Parliament Building of Northern Ireland, known as Stormont a nickname for the former Parliament of Northern Ireland and its unionist-dominated executive, the Government of Northern Ireland Stormont County an old county that is now a... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A map displaying todays federations. ... During late Gaelic and early historic times Ireland was divided into provinces to replace the earlier system of the tuatha. ... Connaught redirects here. ... Statistics Area: 19,774. ... Statistics Area: 24,607. ... Statistics Area: 24,481 kmÂ² Population (2006 estimate) 1,993,918 Ulster (Irish: CÃºige Uladh, IPA: ) forms one of the four traditional provinces of Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 53. ... The Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA) is an Irish Republican paramilitary organisation (which supporters regard as the National Army of the 32-County Irish Republic) that split from the Provisional IRA in 1986. ...

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil has supported reunification since its foundation as one of the party's key aims; however, in its history it has differed on how to accomplish it. Fianna Fáil rejected the Anglo-Irish Agreement which gave the Republic of Ireland an advisory role in Northern Ireland for the first time. Former Fianna Fáil leader, Charles Haughey, claimed the agreement was in conflict with the then Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution of Ireland because it recognised Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom, but it fully supported the Good Friday Agreement and the consequent changes to the constitution. Fianna FÃ¡il - The Republican Party (IPA ; (mistranslated by the party into English as Soldiers of Destiny, though a literal translation is Soldiers [Fianna] of Ireland),Â¹ is currently the largest political party in Ireland with 55,000 members. ... The Anglo-Irish Agreement was an agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland which aimed to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. ... Link title Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Charles Haughey Charles James Haughey (Irish: ; 16 September 1925â€“13 June 2006) was the sixth Taoiseach of Ireland. ... Article 2 and Article 3 of Bunreacht na hÃ‰ireann, the constitution of the Republic of Ireland, were adopted with the constitution as a whole in 1937, but completely revised by means of the Nineteenth Amendment which took full effect in 1999. ...

Progressive Democrats

The Progressive Democrats have supported reunification since its foundation but always said that a majority of the people of Northern Ireland would have to consent to it. The party fully supports the Good Friday Agreement. In April 1993, long before the Good Friday Agreement, party leader Des O'Malley, in a major address on Northern Ireland to the Irish Association, spelled out a six point programme for peace and democratic progress in Northern Ireland, as follows: The Progressive Democrats (in Irish An PÃ¡irtÃ Daonlathach, literal back-translation: The Democratic Party) is a free market liberal party in the Republic of Ireland founded in 1985. ... Desmond (Dessie) Joseph OMalley (born February 2, 1939), was a senior Fianna FÃ¡il politician, the founder of the Progressive Democrats and the partys first leader (1985-1993). ...

Former party leader Mary Harney was expelled from Fianna Fáil for supporting the Anglo-Irish agreement. Mary Harney (Irish: ; born 11 March 1953) is an Irish politician and was the leader of the Progressive Democrats (the sixth largest political party in Ireland) between 1993 and 2006. ...

Progressive Democrat TD Liz O'Donnell was one of the key negotiators at the Good Friday Agreement talks. Liz ODonnell (July 1956) is an Irish politician. ...

Fine Gael

Fine Gael has officially supported reunification since its foundation as one of the party's key aims. It fully supports the Good Friday Agreement. The Anglo-Irish agreement was negotiated under the Fine Gael Taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald. Fine Gael (IPA: , though often anglicized to (approximate English translation: Family of the Irish) and officially, Fine Gael - The United Ireland Party, is the second largest political party in Ireland, presently forming the largest opposition party in the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament), and claims a membership of over 34,000. ... The Taoiseach ( or [1]) â€” plural: Taoisigh ( or [1]) â€” or, more formally, An Taoiseach[2], is the head of government of the Republic of Ireland and the leader of the Irish cabinet, the rough equivalent of a prime minister under the Westminster System. ... Dr. Garret FitzGerald (Irish name: GearÃ³id MacGearailt) (born February 9, 1926) was the seventh Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland, serving two terms in office; July 1981 to February 1982, and December 1982 to March 1987. ...

Labour Party (Ireland)

The Labour Party has supported reunification since the foundation of the state although it has always considered this aim secondary to social causes. It fully supports the Good Friday Agreement. It also supported the old Anglo-Irish agreement. The former President of Ireland Mary Robinson resigned from the Irish Labour Party because she objected to the exclusion of unionists from the talks that led to the agreement. The Labour Party (Irish: PÃ¡irtÃ an Lucht Oibre) is a social democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. ...

Economic consequences of Irish Unification

Historically Northern Ireland has been the poorest part of the United Kingdom, although in recent years it has experienced stronger GDP growth than the UK average[2] and GDP per capita is now higher than Wales and North East England. As of 2004, the GDP per capita of the Republic of Ireland is €30,414 (141% of the EU-27 average) while in Northern Ireland it is €21,292 (99% of the EU-27 average)[3]. A simple calculation using 2004 GDP and population estimates gives a GDP per capita of €27,790 for the whole of Ireland (9% less than that that of the Republic of Ireland). The structural costs of unification are difficult to quantify but are likely to be proportionately less than that of German reunification due to the greater degree of economic integration that exists between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) German reunification (German: ) took place on October 3, 1990, when the areas of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR, in English commonly called East Germany) were incorporated into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG, in English...

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