Michael D Higgins insists he is President of Ireland, refuses to commemorate partition

Alt-right?

Are you a bingo machine that just spits out a random pejorative in the hope to win an argument?

There is no Catholic majority in NI... This is just a fact.

The "middle ground" considers themselves distinct from the rest of the UK but also distinct from the South. In the short-term there is no interest in an independent Northern Ireland, but a strong desire to retain that distinctiveness. Given the current devolution arrangements, a strong hold to the status quo will be attractive unless a united Ireland offers the opportunity for greater devolution as well as a path to a possibly independent Northern Ireland.

Such an offer isn't on the table, and the rabid nature of the border poll contingent, as reflected on here, are not likely to offer it either, so that middle ground will strongly lean towards the status quo.

What Blaaz is relying on is a single question in the Census which acts as a pure sectarian headcount.

"In the last census, held in 2011, 45.1% of the population specified that they were Catholic or brought up Catholic, and 48.4% were from a Protestant or other Christian background. However, the results of the new national identity question were more complicated: 39.9% considered themselves British only, 25.3% Irish only, 20.9% Northern Irish only, with others specifying multiple national identities."

The latter national identity question gives a better picture of the possible outcomes of a border poll.

I see there is a pattern now. When your alternative fantasy world and facts are called into question, you start spinning out a mountain of buzzwords and soundbites in order to appear clever. Yet looking at the way you construct an argument it's clear you barely know the meaning behind many of these words.

Again, ill repeat. There is NO Catholic majority in NI.

That.is.all

Yea, I am rattled against facts that do not exist and that have not been presented to me.. rattled I tell ya, rattled!!

What data is this based on?

It is very clear if you research the NI identity that it is actually two separate identities. Northern Irish identifiers who see themselves as occupants of the northern part of Ireland and Northern Irish identifiers who see themselves as occupiers of a region of the UK.

Put that another way, the overarching identity is different, one is Irish and the other British.

It is also very clear that it is an identity of convenience that responds to political events, for instance during the 'fleg' dispute in 2012 or during Brexit and Unionist party implosion. Dissatisfied Unionists are swelling the ranks of the NI identity at the moment.

Looks to me like it is a flag of convenience to be honest and the fact that this fluctuating identity has not manifested in political preference for an 'independent' NI means to me that it is indeed two different identities.

Someone claims to be posting facts, yet it is "widely expected" to be a catholic majority. If it is widely expected, then it isn't a fact. In the 1500s, people widely expected the world to be flat.

Maybe, less of the widely expected and more of the facts next time.

the evidence is against this claim.

there is no middle ground, there are those for remaining as part of the UK and those who want a UI.

within a UI there is not going to be devolution, 1 country 1 government as it should be, we are a small country and different government layers and structures just make things inefficient.

there is no NI identity, the idea of there being one is wishful thinking with no basis in reality.

NI is never going to be independent, there will only be a UI.

so they are part of the second option ultimately, remaining as part of the UK, assuming it survives and doesn't break up.

I am sorry for you, but all of the evidence is pointing towards an emerging middle ground.

You clearly demonstrate in your post why those who like being Northern Irish, who like living in Northern Ireland will vote no to a united Ireland, because, as you point out, "within a UI, there is not going to be devolution".

there is no and is never going to be a specific northern irish nationality or identity nor is there ever going to be an independent or devolved NI within a UI, you need to get over it.

partition has failed and is in it's death throws, devolution even as part of the UK has been an abject failure because the DUP and those of their mindset are unable to govern.

the middle ground will vote the way they feel will bring them the greater benefits, it will not be based on loyalty, and as time goes by the evidence is showing the UK is not the better bet.

the specific NI identity, like the independent NI or devolved NI within a UI, are the last ditch attempts by those in favour of the failed, sectarian, racist entity that is partition, to keep that entity in place.

it's over, a UI is coming.