A united Ireland...why?

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

I just saw a new nerdfighter group that said it was in support of "an independant and united Ireland". I just have this to ask, why? It's not as though there are oppressed people in Northern Ireland any more. There may have been in the past, but that's been a very long time ago. Catholics and Protastant's by and large are getting on fine. Most don't even care about the distinction, they're just polarised by the violence of the troubles. I don't really see the need for it anymore. Is there really anyone who wants it. A minority might do in NI, but that's hardly a reason to change the state, since the majority do want it, and the minority get represented in the Northern Ireland assembly, so it's not as if they have no power. Is there really any actual fight in that argument any more? If the people of Northern Ireland want to be British, if there's no oppression etc, then why change what is now?

[Eystein,]

Should just rename it little Britain. For us foreigners sake ;P

[Cathal (billythehick)]

Actually, the Irish for Wales is "An Bhreatain Bheag" (phonentically that's "On Vrattan Vyug") which literally translates as "The Little Britain"

[Eystein,]

Ahh, so it's already taken. Hmm that's too bad...

 

No, I'm just kidding. So you guys use both languages now? That's cool. I love galic, it's very beautiful, I just didn't know it was widely used.

 

 

[Cathal (billythehick)]

Well Only about 2% of the population speak it as a first language, about 15% are fluent, and everyone has to learn it at school. It's really poorly taught though, far too much emphasis on the written and not enough on the spoken. No-one has any real cause to use the language as soon as they finish school, and lots of students want it to change to a choice subject. It's a big cultural issue. It's brought up a lot lately that most Irish people spend 14 years learning the language and can still barely string a sentence of it together.

[Fiona Ford]

I speak it fluently but I have trouble with spelling and grammar no matter what language I'm using.(you can't really tell, thank god for spell check) So I get really crap grades in Irish which is so unfair since I understand it perfectly :( I don't want them to make it a choice subject...People are lazy enough it will really die out if they don't have to do it. Everyone should have the cupla focail. What ever Whales did to bring their language back we should do here :(

[Ruth]

I don't speak it fleutly but I know what you mean(I like languages but I am also a terrible speller). They need to change the way it is taught and instead to making us learn peoms and storys we should actually learn the language properly. I wish I was fleut.  My friend and I always have debates about it where I say it isn't dead and she says it is etc. I also agree with the Wales thing, I read about it and I wish it would happen here. I saw someone say on boards.ie that all schools should be gaelscoils, that would be hard to do though. Whoa I was very off topic there. Sorry guys!

[Cathal (billythehick)]

No bother, this has been a pretty freewheeling thread.

[Eystein,]

I know what you mean. In norway we have to learn read and write two types of norwegian, which is kind of redundant if you ask me ;P ...and noone does it propperly.

 

But it would be neat for you guys to have your own language back, and it really is one of the most beautiful languages to my ears, so it would be sad if it died out. Irish english kick's ass too of course :)

[Captain Jacqui Sparrow]

If the people of both countries want a united Ireland, they should be able to get it. I haven't heard of any riots or protests in Ireland other than a few uprisings of radical minority groups, though.

[Fiona Ford]

I just think the people of Northern Ireland should be able to make their own decision once and for all and if that decision is to remain part of the UK then fair enough, but it should be their decision, after all it's their country...

[Captain Jacqui Sparrow]

But if Ireland doesn't want them to be part of their country for some reason, that has to be taken into account. If they want to leave the UK, they should be able to do so without any major fuss (and going by what this thread says, the UK probably wouldn't mind much). If they want to join Ireland, they'd obviously need Ireland to be okay with that. But yeah, it should be up to the people being governed. It's nice that a united ireland would mean a better economy for all countries involved and a prettier map, but if that's not what's the most important if you ask me. It's about what the people being governed want.

[Fiona Ford]

I'm pretty sure the people of Ireland would be ok with it.... I sure would XD 

That's why I think it should be up to the people of the north XD