Much is being made by elements of the Pan Nationalist Front (PNF) as to when they will be in a feasible position to have a Border Poll. While that is unlikely in the foreseeable future, it has not stopped the PNF from launching various projects and ventures to spark debate on Irish unity and what, in their eyes, a united Ireland should look like.
Rather than Unionism playing the constant Ulster Says No to any such debates, the Protestant Unionist Loyalist (PUL) community should start its own project to promote a Shared Union by persuading the 26 Counties of Southern Ireland to ultimately rejoin a new Union of the British Isles.
Whilst at first reading this will ultimately be dismissed by nationalists and republicans as a ‘rejoin the British Empire’ stunt, given the broad global tensions, the Irish republic may soon need to rethink both its relations with the European Union and its supposed military neutrality.
But primarily, how should a Shared Union campaign move forward beyond the theoretical into the practical given that the Irish unity debate is still firmly bogged down in the theoretical, if not downright fantasy politics.
The practical outworking of the Shared Union project should not wait until any future - if ever - Border Poll is called. In fact, it is already underway, and it lies in the hands of the Loyal Orders and marching bands.
Saturday witnessed the traditional Rossnowlagh parade in County Donegal when the Southern border county Orange lodges are joined by many Northern Ireland Orange members and bands for the annual so-called ‘Donegal Dander’.
It is one of the showpieces of the Orange Order in particular and is a far cry from past scenes at Drumcree during confrontations between the Order and the security forces. There are no political speeches at Rossnowlagh; just a route of around a mile, followed by a religious service, plenty of ice cream and a wee walk along the Donegal coastline.
The traditional Rossnowlagh parade is always held on the Saturday prior to the Twelfth to allow Southern lodges and bands to march in the main 12 July demonstrations across Northern Ireland. As 12 July 2026 falls on a Sunday, only annual divine services and church parades will be held that day with the traditional demonstrations scheduled for Monday 13th.
The Rossnowlagh model of Orangeism could be a blueprint for venues, not just across Northern Ireland, but also for an increased number of Orange and Black parades in Southern Ireland.
Whilst the Order is strongest in the Southern border counties of Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim, the Rossnowlagh model could be used as an organisational springboard to launch more Loyal Order parades throughout the 26 Counties, especially deeper into Southern Ireland.
Republicans like to talk a lot about ‘persuading’ Unionists about the fantasy benefits of the mythical united Ireland. But the reality is that Southern Ireland may have to abandon its ‘republic’ status and be ‘persuaded’ that its future as a nation like Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England lies within a new Union of the British Isles.
Military neutrality will have to be binned with the increasing threat from Russia. During the Cold War, the Right-wing National Monday Club pressure group portrayed Southern Ireland as Britain’s Cuba.
History is now repeating itself and its only a matter of time before the Ukrainian conflict becomes a head on war between the West and Russia. In this new impending war, the island of Ireland will play a crucial geographical role.
The Irish Defence Forces have already acquired an impressive peace keeping record serving with the United Nations. But the time has come for Southern Ireland to stop playing the neutrality card and become a full member of NATO.
Politically, too, Southern Ireland needs to realise that it has milked the European Union cow to the maximum and it is only a matter of time before Eire is forced to become a substantial giver to EU coffers rather than a receiver.
Irexit must follow Brexit. If the so-called Celtic Tiger economy goes bust again, there will be no British millions to bail out Southern Ireland. Practically, the 26 Counties also needs to be part of a major power bloc politically in the event of Irexit.
That bloc will be the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), which represents some 50 plus national and regional parliaments and assemblies across the globe. It must be noted that Ireland was a founder member of the Empire Parliamentary Association - the forerunner of the CPA - in 1911 when all 32 Irish counties were an integral part of the British Empire.
As a Ballymena man myself, there is the old saying - money talks. The PNF can spoof all it likes politically about Irish unity, but the crucial financial bitter medicine which the 26 Counties must swallow - it can never afford to economically run all 32 counties.
Southern Ireland cannot make Irish unity financially viable, but the UK can make a new Union of the British Isles economically effective. Unionists must sell not only the benefits of remaining in the UK, but also the political, economic and military advantages of Southern Ireland becoming an integral part of the Union of the British Isles.
Over the coming days tens of thousands of folk will commemorate the Boyne victory at Orange demonstrations as well as the traditional Sham Fight at Scarva. That 17th century Williamite settlement heralded in the Glorious Revolution and the Protestant Ascendancy.
It is time for the UK to take back what is rightfully and historically our’s. It is time for the Dublin establishment to waken up and smell the poteen - Southern Ireland belongs in the Union.
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| Follow Dr John Coulter on Twitter @JohnAHCoulter Dr Coulter has been a journalist since 1978 and is currently a political commentator with GB News. |
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