Could we see a united Ireland because of Brexit?
In the lead up to the Brexit vote I was hoping the voices of reason and sanity would prevail. Even though I’m an American, and therefore have no direct stake in the vote, I felt it would be best for all of us if the UK stayed in the EU. I still believe that. There is going to be a lot of economic chaos and a lot of personal displacement due to this decision. Literally millions of people across the EU and UK will be forced to move or apply for new citizenship whether as UK folks applying to become permanent Europeans, or Europeans who do not wish to leave the UK. All of this is complicated by pensions and exchange rates and so many other factors I’m probably not even capable of thinking about because I’m not an economist. I’m not looking forward to the global repercussions of this vote.
All of the above aside, I was brought to tears by one thing when I came into work this morning to look at the news before starting my day. Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Féin, and others have called for a united Ireland referendum in the wake of Brexit. As a 3rd generation Irish American I’ve lived my whole life with the simmering dream of 26+6=1. One united Ireland. The very idea sings in my heart and brings tears to my eyes again even as I write these words.
Northern Ireland voted 56% in favor of staying members of the EU. Could the overall vote of the UK to tear them away from the EU be the last straw that breaks Northern Ireland, at long last, away from their bullying neighbor from across he water? Is there enough of that 56% that would be willing to rejoin their Gaelic brothers and sisters on the rest of the island, to vote in favor of union? Could we, after centuries of oppression, be on the verge of seeing the Irish people united under a single banner at last?
I hope so. I would only be sad my father never lived to see the day that we threw off our shackles and became a Nation Once Again.
A Nation Once Again -The Dubliners- With Lyrics