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Replying To Bon:  "Plenty of people care, just look at all the teams who belt out their national anthems and tears in their eyes. It's a source of pride."
Just wait until a real debate on a United Ireland takes place. New flag, anthem etc. People don't realise a lot will change to satisfy the other side and they are gonna have to give up a lot. That will be the price to pay.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11483 - 11/03/2025 23:25:42    2596025

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Well done to President Trump anyway, he got Zelensky into line and agree to a ceasefire, not that I think the Ukrainians had any choice the game is up for them,
There should be elections there now if there is a ceasefire agreed and martial law is ended, that will be the last we'll see of Zelensky imo,

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3106 - 12/03/2025 10:17:53    2596044

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Just wait until a real debate on a United Ireland takes place. New flag, anthem etc. People don't realise a lot will change to satisfy the other side and they are gonna have to give up a lot. That will be the price to pay."
100% correct.
It won't be simply an expansion of the 26 Counties over the whole island.
The provisions of the GFA will still apply in the 6 Cos, eg, entitlement to dual citizenship etc

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2125 - 12/03/2025 10:52:14    2596048

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "100% correct.
It won't be simply an expansion of the 26 Counties over the whole island.
The provisions of the GFA will still apply in the 6 Cos, eg, entitlement to dual citizenship etc"
You & Yewtree are correct, there will be a price to pay such as a new flag & anthem and the Good Friday Agreement will still apply to the North. We have to compromise though in order to re-unite the country or we will be no different to how the Nationalists were discriminated against since the North came into existence. There is no point saying to unionist that the orange in the tricolour represents them, it would similar to the British saying the Saltire of St Patrick in the Union Jack represents the Irish.

I don't think the anthem and flag will be deal breakers though, the big issue for the South is how much it will cost the taxpayers on a continual basis to fund the North. There will be some economic synergies with re-unification but the North is heavily subsidised by the British Government. It will cost the South billions of euro every year and that could be the deal breaker.

Most people on here might be agreeable to higher taxes in order to re-unify the country, but from I what I can see there is a lot of indifference in the South towards the North, and if it will cost them in the pocket to reunify, then a sizeable portion of people will not vote for it.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1124 - 12/03/2025 11:36:16    2596055

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Yep. I have a good few Scottish friends that I routinely tease about their attitude to England. They play the anti-English stuff tediously when it comes to sporting fixtures etc, but when the opportunity was presented to them to cut ties with Great Britain in a vote, they chose to remain! I think economic factors swayed the vote more than patriotism, and it could well be the same in Ireland were such a referendum to come to pass.

All very well singing Grace in the pub and having romantic notions about a reunited Ireland. (Don't get me wrong, I would personally love to see it in my lifetime). But if it meant massive tax hikes to fund it all, would people really be as inclined to vote for reunification?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9640 - 12/03/2025 11:57:21    2596057

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "There's no one really slating Prendergast. We've been observing for months that he's a greenhorn with a lot to learn. He's 21, time is on his side.

Minus Ringrose, Lowe and Hansen, our entire back division had a whiff of mediocrity about it the last day, especially compared to the panache that France can bring to the party. That wasn't Prendergast's fault. Nor was it his fault that the Irish pack couldn't give him the platform required to win the game on the day either."
Take out Louis BB and Penaud and that French backs look a different lot. Injuries play a huge part in the game and Ireland got bit last game. They still need to start the replacement process for the older players. Nash wasn't great and Osborne switching from center to wing to replace Lowe was a big downgrade. Some people will never be happy, one day they want new players blooded and the next they want only seasoned players playing.

cluichethar (Mayo) - Posts: 495 - 12/03/2025 13:21:55    2596077

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Replying To county man:  "You & Yewtree are correct, there will be a price to pay such as a new flag & anthem and the Good Friday Agreement will still apply to the North. We have to compromise though in order to re-unite the country or we will be no different to how the Nationalists were discriminated against since the North came into existence. There is no point saying to unionist that the orange in the tricolour represents them, it would similar to the British saying the Saltire of St Patrick in the Union Jack represents the Irish.

I don't think the anthem and flag will be deal breakers though, the big issue for the South is how much it will cost the taxpayers on a continual basis to fund the North. There will be some economic synergies with re-unification but the North is heavily subsidised by the British Government. It will cost the South billions of euro every year and that could be the deal breaker.

Most people on here might be agreeable to higher taxes in order to re-unify the country, but from I what I can see there is a lot of indifference in the South towards the North, and if it will cost them in the pocket to reunify, then a sizeable portion of people will not vote for it."
Fair play to Leo Varadkar who recently stated that the discussions in re- unification should not be dictated solely by economic matters. Sad to see so many people on a GAA forum worry more about their bank balance rather than right a historic wrong. I thought the west brits only dwelled in Dublin 4, seems I was wrong.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 379 - 12/03/2025 14:54:39    2596090

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Replying To cluichethar:  "Take out Louis BB and Penaud and that French backs look a different lot. Injuries play a huge part in the game and Ireland got bit last game. They still need to start the replacement process for the older players. Nash wasn't great and Osborne switching from center to wing to replace Lowe was a big downgrade. Some people will never be happy, one day they want new players blooded and the next they want only seasoned players playing."
Take out LBB and Penaud, and they'll bring in Theo Attissogbe who's electric and Gabin Viliere who's a top-class winger himself. They'd still cause us massive problems.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2253 - 12/03/2025 15:02:08    2596091

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Ireland rugby's centrally contracted players next season: 11 Leinster, 2 Connacht and 1 Munster.
The IRFU are going to have to get serious about how the distribute these contracts - if its 16 contracts, then 4 per province. You take the big cash - then you go where your told - like any job in the real world.

Looking at the list
Mack Hansen (Connacht);
Bundee Aki (Connacht);
Caelan Doris (Leinster). - should be in Connacht
Tadhg Beirne (Munster);
Dan Sheehan (Leinster); - should be moved to Munster
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster); - should be moved to Munster (even though he is from Connacht)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster); - should be sent to Munster
Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster);
James Ryan (Leinster);
Garry Ringrose (Leinster);
Josh van der Flier (Leinster);
Joe McCarthy (Leinster); - should be moved to Ulster
Andrew Porter (Leinster); - should be moved to Ulster
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster); - should be moved to Ulster

Add in the next two likely lads
Ryan Baird (Leinster) - should be moved to Connacht
Jack Conan (Leinster) - should be moved to Ulster

Then when Bundee retires -
Sam Prendergast (Leinster) - move to Connacht


There should then be centrally contracted Development players who also get transferred around to balance teams.
Jack Aungier (Connacht)
Sean Jansen (Connacht)
Darragh Murray (Connacht)
Evan O'Connell (Munster)
Alex Kendellen (Munster)
Conor O'Tighearnaigh (Leinster)
Stephen Smyth (Leinster)
Jack Boyle (Leinster)
Alex Soroka (Leinster) - move to Ulster
Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster)

Shayne Bolton (Connacht)
Ben Murphy (Connacht)
Hugh Gavin (Connacht) - Munster
Ben O'Connor (Munster)
Tommy O'Brien (Leinster) - Munster
Andrew Osborne (Leinster)
Hugh Cooney (Leinster)
Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster)
Zac Ward (Ulster)
Jack Murphy (Ulster)

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1257 - 12/03/2025 15:02:31    2596092

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Replying To cluichethar:  "Take out Louis BB and Penaud and that French backs look a different lot. Injuries play a huge part in the game and Ireland got bit last game. They still need to start the replacement process for the older players. Nash wasn't great and Osborne switching from center to wing to replace Lowe was a big downgrade. Some people will never be happy, one day they want new players blooded and the next they want only seasoned players playing."
Penaud was dropped for Italy and they scored 70. They are also without their first choice 12&13 and had a back row playing centre for last half hour.

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1388 - 12/03/2025 15:16:35    2596094

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "Fair play to Leo Varadkar who recently stated that the discussions in re- unification should not be dictated solely by economic matters. Sad to see so many people on a GAA forum worry more about their bank balance rather than right a historic wrong. I thought the west brits only dwelled in Dublin 4, seems I was wrong."
It's a reality though. You can factor in many other things such as existing lack of housing and resources in the Republic too. Many young people cannot afford to buy a home, some even still living with parents in their late 20s.

All I'm saying is that if there was a referendum, there would surely be a list of pros and cons drawn up - and the economy would feature highly.

I agree with you that reunification would right a historic wrong. But expecting that Irish people would simply go out and overwhelmingly vote for it would be naive.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9640 - 12/03/2025 15:38:36    2596103

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "It's a reality though. You can factor in many other things such as existing lack of housing and resources in the Republic too. Many young people cannot afford to buy a home, some even still living with parents in their late 20s.

All I'm saying is that if there was a referendum, there would surely be a list of pros and cons drawn up - and the economy would feature highly.

I agree with you that reunification would right a historic wrong. But expecting that Irish people would simply go out and overwhelmingly vote for it would be naive."
As was said
"It's the economy stoopid".
Maybe if the 6 Cos residents and their administration got off their behinds and try and improve the place before they start lecturing us.....

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2125 - 12/03/2025 15:53:37    2596106

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "As was said
"It's the economy stoopid".
Maybe if the 6 Cos residents and their administration got off their behinds and try and improve the place before they start lecturing us....."
Please show where you are been lectured to, your grasp of Irish history is embarrassing.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 379 - 12/03/2025 16:11:33    2596111

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Replying To county man:  "You & Yewtree are correct, there will be a price to pay such as a new flag & anthem and the Good Friday Agreement will still apply to the North. We have to compromise though in order to re-unite the country or we will be no different to how the Nationalists were discriminated against since the North came into existence. There is no point saying to unionist that the orange in the tricolour represents them, it would similar to the British saying the Saltire of St Patrick in the Union Jack represents the Irish.

I don't think the anthem and flag will be deal breakers though, the big issue for the South is how much it will cost the taxpayers on a continual basis to fund the North. There will be some economic synergies with re-unification but the North is heavily subsidised by the British Government. It will cost the South billions of euro every year and that could be the deal breaker.

Most people on here might be agreeable to higher taxes in order to re-unify the country, but from I what I can see there is a lot of indifference in the South towards the North, and if it will cost them in the pocket to reunify, then a sizeable portion of people will not vote for it."
I for one wouldn't be agreeable to higher taxes to facilitate a United Ireland. A United Ireland is a pipe dream. How could you possibly convince unionists that a United Ireland is a good move for them, that's the last thing they'll ever agree to. People are absolutely deluded if they think otherwise. It's a basket case, leave it off.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2191 - 12/03/2025 16:21:42    2596114

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "Fair play to Leo Varadkar who recently stated that the discussions in re- unification should not be dictated solely by economic matters. Sad to see so many people on a GAA forum worry more about their bank balance rather than right a historic wrong. I thought the west brits only dwelled in Dublin 4, seems I was wrong."
Who on this site said they wouldn't pay higher taxes for re-unification? It is not the posters on Hoganstand who will decide on re-unification when the time comes for a referendum, it is the entire 26 counties and I, (and Lockjaw & Seanfanbocht) are merely pointing out a reality that the economy and higher taxes will definitely come into it.

As I said before, there is alot of indifference towards the North in general in the South from what I can see. I believe the majority would want re-unification all things being equal, but if it will cost them economically, then a significant portion will not vote for it. That is the reality whether we like it or not.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1124 - 12/03/2025 16:35:59    2596117

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Replying To Bon:  "I for one wouldn't be agreeable to higher taxes to facilitate a United Ireland. A United Ireland is a pipe dream. How could you possibly convince unionists that a United Ireland is a good move for them, that's the last thing they'll ever agree to. People are absolutely deluded if they think otherwise. It's a basket case, leave it off."
They said the same about Germany which has ten times our population , all indications are that re- unification is inevitable as more and more young unionists are losing the emotional bond with Britain. Latest polls state that 75% of people would vote for re- unification in the 26 counties.

tireoghainabu (Tyrone) - Posts: 379 - 12/03/2025 16:46:45    2596118

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "They said the same about Germany which has ten times our population , all indications are that re- unification is inevitable as more and more young unionists are losing the emotional bond with Britain. Latest polls state that 75% of people would vote for re- unification in the 26 counties."
Germany is not a great comparison to use, really. For a start, both "halves" of Germany wanted to join. It hasn't really worked out so well. It took years, Germany binned the EU fiscal rules while trying to bring living standards in the east up to Western standards. They didn't quite succeed. There is still a disparity in living standards and attitudes ( particularly on migrants ) which has prompted in no small way the rise in popularity of the AFD party.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1486 - 12/03/2025 17:23:24    2596123

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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "They said the same about Germany which has ten times our population , all indications are that re- unification is inevitable as more and more young unionists are losing the emotional bond with Britain. Latest polls state that 75% of people would vote for re- unification in the 26 counties."
Of course it will happen….will it happen in our lifetime…? I'm not so sure. Personally I hope it does eventually but the fact of the matter, is reunification a matter people care enough about?

Germany was different as you had families separated between east and west. That's not the case here. Nationalists and Catholics are not discriminated anymore from housing, jobs, etc.

Fact is people will vote on economic reasons and not on sentimental reasons.

For example I voted for SF in the last election but now I think I was stupid in doing so and thankfully they aren't in power. I work for a US company and the stunt they pulled by not traveling to the US damages Ireland economically. It's all very well standing with Gaza and Ukraine and of course it's right but that won't pay my mortgage.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11483 - 12/03/2025 17:33:32    2596127

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It's not the percentages from the 26 counties I'd be worried about, it's that percentage from the North who don't want it. They're the ones who'll fight tooth and nail to keep it from happening.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 2191 - 12/03/2025 19:33:55    2596139

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "It's a reality though. You can factor in many other things such as existing lack of housing and resources in the Republic too. Many young people cannot afford to buy a home, some even still living with parents in their late 20s.

All I'm saying is that if there was a referendum, there would surely be a list of pros and cons drawn up - and the economy would feature highly.

I agree with you that reunification would right a historic wrong. But expecting that Irish people would simply go out and overwhelmingly vote for it would be naive."
I think the majority of Irish people would vote with their hearts though in favour of reunification whatever the cost, the whole country would be better off in the long run as a 32 county Republic.
The Scotch wouldn't vote in favour of independence if they were going to be £1 worse off imo. as you say they talk plenty about the English but wouldn't pull the trigger when they had the chance.
Many Celtic fans voted against independence too for a variety of reasons, some economic, another theory was they didn't want to end up a catholic minority in and independent Scotland like they are in the six counties.
Any Irishman worthy of the name should vote in favour of Irish unity,
I would have though all the GAA community would vote in favour given the ethos of our association.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3106 - 12/03/2025 20:52:11    2596148

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