Northern Ireland is now Catholic Majority

"Even compare GP care, Republic you can call and be seen same day or next day for about €60. "

Which obviously proves you haven't a clue about what passes for normal in GP practices down here. Even a few years ago, you'd wait 2-3 days for a GP appointment. In recent months, that takes 2-3 weeks. Yes 2-3 weeks to see a GP. Assuming you're on their books.

Never heard of such things with gps, I can get an appointment whenever always have. In NI you're talking a wait of weeks, mostly there's no point in going to gp so people just present themselves at a and e

Have to agree with you, there is a shortage of GPs in many areas now, a wait time of a week is normal, unless really urgent.

Oh Mohammed will probably be thinking on a much grander scale than a United Ireland.

Think more ISIS type European caliphate.

Could you please explain how one of the most industrialised countries in the world in the late 1980s, the powerhouse of Europe, with it's own natural resources, massive multinationals and massive internal market was poorer than Ireland of today.

This would be Ireland wholly dependent on foreign direct investment, which still has massive debts and no natural resources to speak of.

I am just intrigued.

Or maybe you are thinking of a war ravaged Germany in the late 1940s?

I chose 'Irish only' as I have always thought Northern Irish is a senseless term. I have always associated a Northern Irish identify with unionism and I am not from that community. I will always consider myself Irish simply because of my ancestry.

I am pleased that there is a slight Catholic majority as unionists are a very arrogant smug people, it is what they deserve. They decorate 60% Catholic towns with orange arches the whole summer. In fact I saw a flag with UVF written on it in the middle of a town recently, they don't even hide it.

It won't change anything politically though as too much has happened since partition, I don't think there will ever be a unified island.

Not true anymore, certainly a shortage of GPS in some areas, but it’s improved greatly since the pandemic, it’s gone from a 2 day wait to same day in my area. Anecdotally I hear similar in a lot of places

EU citizens probably paid with higher interest rates than needed as Germany raised theirs to prevent inflation due to large numbers of Deutschmarks being printed to replace East German currency. Other countries in the ERM then had to raise their interest rates to prevent falling out.

Hundreds of thousands of people on DLA won't want unification no matter what side of the religious fence they sit on.

I presume the 'cataract buses' to the north are stopped now post Brexit? You know, where elderly down here were on waiting lists for years but could get treated up north as part of EU treatment scheme.

You must live in a privileged part so - down here in the distant reaches of the south east, 2-3 weeks is norm for a standard appointment. Of course, urgent cases are met quicker but if you want an eye test or check up then you may wait. Sure, who thinks the health service in the Republic is fantastic??????

I think that is why Scotland independence would make a UI more likely. Most Unionists ancestry would not have even came from what is left of the UK after Scotland leave which would presumably reduce their connection with the union. Plus would England not go soon after Scotland which means the union is dead and buried.

It's a bit more than that for some people. It isn't necessarily just blithely attaching one's identity to a political jurisdiction. In many cases, it is specifically an acknowledgement that our history in NI has affected us and created a culture that in some aspects is distinct from either Irish or British culture. It is a spectrum and my own affinity lies much more strongly on the Irish side of things (to the extent that I moved away from NI and chose to raise a family on this side of the border), but I'd be a fool to pretend that nothing rubbed off that does make my culture and outlook different to that of my wife who grew up on this side of the border.

I'd describe myself as Irish first and then Northern Irish, and like it or not if I'm still kicking around post-Unification (something I deeply hope is the case) I'll still describe myself as such despite NI no longer existing. The terminology may change as those of us who experienced life in what was NI die off, but until we're all dead and buried there will still be something unique about the experience we had that will reflect in our identity and culture, and not all of it is bad.

As for the actual thread title, I'm not particularly fussed on whether there is a Catholic plurality or a Protestant one beyond the historical interest in it being the first time in a state set up to specifically avoid it. The correlation between Catholic/Nationalist and Protestant/Unionist is weaker than it has ever been and Unification will be won or lost on the back of persuading the middle ground. Fortunately big house Unionism remains about as much use as a chocolate teapot when it comes to moderating themselves to attract a middle ground or any sort of outreach really.

For some that may be the case; I know quite a few who would agree with that sentiment.....I also know plenty like myself who don't. I'd certainly accept that there has been a British influence on my culture (though that could easily be applied to the entire island), but I don't see myself as in any way British.

Some who identify as Northern Irish Only also see it as a label which removes them from the Green/Orange, British/Irish debate entirely; those people may see themselves as neither British nor Irish.

As always trying to break broad cohorts down to one simple mentality is an exercise in futility.

It won't be NI joining ROI. It will be a UI....new country with many blends of the 2 components. Nobody has all the answers, but answers we will find along the way.

What is the NHS but a Healthcare System, a bunch of buildings and people to staff them (over simplified, yes, I know). The NHS would remain for some time under an orderly agreement and eventually there would be a new healthcare system with the same staff and some changes to management and structures over time to eventually fall under the new Irish healthcare system. Hopefully we would learn something along the way.

Same story with civil servants, but as for the PSNI.....well, it's a great opportunity to disband the Gardaí and form a new police force with new upper management as our own is rotten to the core and steeped in corruption.

The capital will of course still be Dublin. It's the biggest city and is the engine keeping the rest of the country ticking over.

I don't particularly care much if there is a UI or not. I see problems and benefits, but it shouldn't be approached with rose tinted republican glasses. Tough times ahead and we need to adopt a brits welcome attitude because we all live on this sh!tty little gem we call home.

Oh I think many Donegal people hop regularly back and forwards between Donegal, Derry & Tyrone and in the past Scotland for that matter. Strong Ulster identity and also found in Cavan, Monaghan and Louth to some extent. It's an ancient and natural understanding.

Munster & Connacht also have regional identities. Leinster less so as it'e been polluted by Dublin.