We could easily have a united Ireland if we of the south were prepared to rejoin the commonwealth as a republic. Im sure most loyalists would agree to this.

Yes! they are entitled to speak ,its called democracy,. But about time they stopped marching and poncing around as if they are in a GAY parade.

As i had just finished tha last reply i moved to the Belfast telegraph site to find that a survey just carried out shows that only 7% of the people of Northern Ireland want a United Ireland. You can read about that survey yourself. Always remember that Ireland was once united and it was us of the south who broke away and it was the conservative Fine Gael party who took us out of the commonwealth. Personally having lived not far from the border i found it irrelevant except for the fact of customs and the RUC being armed. There must have been a better way and i think leaving the commonwealth was a mistake. But thats history and now we must somehow repair the rift. These days the Orange order march to the site of the battle of the boyne apparently un heeded but alas they still show their arrogance by marching close to nationalist areas in northern Ireland . Somehow this Christian/religious arrogance must be put to bed for all time. There are lots of Irish here in Christchurch with more coming to help with the re-build after the dreadful earthquakes and very few apparently use the Irish society club , even myself and i have been here for nearly forty years.and only been there once. and yet my heart sometimes gets a little home sick for EastMeath But thats my Irish sentmentality..During the mid sixties and early seventies i spent some time in the Belfast area and was very saddened at the goings on. Things had to change and unfortunately violence always seems to be the only way to make change no matter where in the world justice is ignored.There are lots of protestant people out here who got out and now in hindsight realise that change had to happen .Here we can all socialise together irrespective of being Green or Orange and im glad to say that both colours fade very fast when away from Ireland

No nation owes another anything in the real sense as most nations have fought each other throughout history for some reason or another. Also you must remember the Irish were unwanted in the USA also and had to fight hard for acceptance, thousands of Irish fought on both sides in the American civil war killing each other, just as they did in the Irish civil war or the English war of the roses. If a united Ireland is ever to be achieved then both sides must make some political concessions so that the all the people of Ireland are singing from the same song sheet. Bet if a referendum were held in Ireland about rejoining the commonwealth it would be a close result either way.

The Republic should rejoin the commonwealth and show respect and thanks to all the commonwealth nations including England that have given employment and a good living to millions of irishmen and women.
I well remember the train loads of west of Ireland men and women unwanted in Ireland who caught the Holyhead ferry destined to look for work in some English city in the early sixties, and very few ever returned.

Would he accept $1000 nz dollars from broke expat down under.