North and South

A major research project examining attitudes North and South about the future of the island - and the likely outcomes of any Border polls

Deep North-South dialogue needed for any chance of unity

People on either side of the Border are on different pages when it comes to the compromises a united Ireland ultimately requires

By Emma DeSouzaWed Feb 01 2023 - 05:00

Northern and southern voters have similar views on wealth redistribution

Research finds some differences on social issues, such as abortion

By Pat LeahyTue Jan 31 2023 - 05:00

Big division across North and South remains national identification

The big division across the two jurisdictions remains that of national identification

By John Garry and Brendan O'LearyTue Jan 31 2023 - 05:00

Have your say: Share your views on our North and South research project

We invite readers to share their views on the project which sought to examine attitudes about the future of the island, and the likely outcomes of any Border polls.

Tue Jan 31 2023 - 05:00

North and South: series consists of two major opinion polls and a number of focus groups

The quantitative survey was conducted among over 1,000 voters each in both jurisdictions.

Mon Jan 30 2023 - 00:10

Just one big political party registers strongly with voters North and South

The latest findings of the North and South poll explores what an all-island party system might look like

By John Garry and Brendan O’LearyMon Jan 30 2023 - 00:01

North and South: the priorities that need to be addressed over the next 10 years

The three most important issues are housing, health and economic growth

By John Garry and Brendan O’LearyMon Jan 30 2023 - 00:01

Sinn Féin would be the strongest party in a united Ireland, research shows

Just 12% of voters in Republic and 11% in North view preparations for unity referendum as a top priority

By Pat LeahyMon Jan 30 2023 - 00:01

Mothers in Republic work longer hours and rely on childcare more than NI mothers

New ESRI research finds mothers in Republic face ‘starker choice’ between full-time employment and not working

By Simon CarswellMon Jan 30 2023 - 00:00

No friends in the North: Partition has become embedded in the daily lives of people on the island

North and South: Lack of personal connection may be a significant barrier to Irish unity

By Pat LeahySat Jan 28 2023 - 05:00

North and South methodology: Aiming to provide independent and unbiased information

The project consists of two major opinion polls conducted simultaneously in Northern Ireland and the Republic, and a series of focus groups to tease out issues

By Pat LeahySat Jan 28 2023 - 05:00

Northerners are more connected to the South than southerners are to the North

North and South: We examined whether cross-Border connections decrease with distance from the Border

By John Garry and Brendan O'LearySat Jan 28 2023 - 05:00

Little interaction between people living North and South, new polls show

Two-thirds of people in the Republic say they have no friends in Northern Ireland as research shows partition has become a fact

By Pat LeahySat Jan 28 2023 - 05:00

Irish unity is a dangerous and distracting mirage

Chances of a united Ireland coming to pass in decades ahead are remote, but endless speculation has put issue at centre of political debate

By Stephen CollinsFri Dec 16 2022 - 05:00

John FitzGerald: Supporters of a united Ireland are often unrealistic on cost of legacy debt

Optimism bias seriously clouds the judgment of some supporters of unification who imagine that Britain would somehow pick up the tab

By John FitzGeraldFri Dec 16 2022 - 05:00

Do we really want to give the diaspora a vote on the President?

The measure could create constitutional blowholes all over the landscape of Ireland’s putative reunification

By Justine McCarthyFri Dec 16 2022 - 00:01

Gerry Adams: Ireland’s failure to plan for unity referendum ‘indefensible’

Sharp exchanges between former Sinn Féin leader and Fine Gael senator Emer Currie at Oireachtas Committee

By Jennifer BrayThu Dec 15 2022 - 16:18

Michael McDowell: Confederacy is only model of Irish unity likely to garner wide support

There is potential for an Ireland in which the Republic and North could share membership of the European Union without having to share a constitution

By Michael McDowellWed Dec 14 2022 - 00:00

United Ireland comes with dilemmas for British who don’t want to become Irish

Some voting rights attach to Irish citizenship, but new thinking needed to accommodate many in a new State

By John Garry and Brendan O'LearyTue Dec 13 2022 - 05:00

Majority of northern voters reject need to become Irish citizens in the event of unity, poll shows

Series shows enthusiasm for a Border poll, but populations far apart on many other issues

By Pat LeahyTue Dec 13 2022 - 05:00

Who benefits from a united Ireland? Expectations are mixed

Advocates must convince Northern voters of economic benefits and future growth prospects

By Brendan O'Leary and John GarryTue Dec 13 2022 - 05:00

Fintan O’Toole: We speak the cúpla focal of United Irishese

Big difference between believing ‘in’ something and believing you are then required to do something about it

By Fintan O'TooleTue Dec 13 2022 - 00:00

Majority in Northern Ireland favours rejoining EU, poll finds

Voters from Catholic background back EU membership overwhelmingly while majority from Protestant background want to stay outside bloc

By Pat LeahyMon Dec 12 2022 - 00:00

Voters in Northern Ireland favour light-touch protocol

Negotiated changes to protocol is most popular option among voters

By Pat LeahyMon Dec 12 2022 - 00:00

Support for protocol varies between North and South

Northern Ireland poll: EU membership an attraction for many voters in Northern Ireland

By John Garry and Brendan O'LearyMon Dec 12 2022 - 00:00

Avoiding a rerun of Brexit by planning ahead

Voters want to know what a united Ireland means before any referendum, but unionist politicians won’t want any such discussions until after a referendum

By Brendan O’Leary and John GarrySat Dec 10 2022 - 06:00

Sipo documents on Varadkar are uncomfortable reading for Fine Gael

Plus we asked voters what a United Ireland government should look like

Sat Dec 10 2022 - 06:00

Listen | 35:54

Two approaches to Irish unity referendums: ‘work it out in advance’ vs ‘figure it out afterwards’

Pat Leahy: Poll shows voters want shape of united Ireland worked out in advance but North and South differ on what that shape should be

By Pat LeahySat Dec 10 2022 - 06:00

Voters in Republic would abolish Stormont in united Ireland

Northern voters prefer to keep separate institutions such as Assembly, along with devolved powers

By Pat LeahySat Dec 10 2022 - 05:00

A Border poll this decade remains likely and preparing for it is essential

The evidence-based, constructive, civic dialogue on how best to achieve Irish unity defies the noisy, ugly caricatures of its critics

By Colin HarveySat Dec 10 2022 - 05:00

Integrated vs devolved: two possible forms for united Ireland that divide opinion North and South

North favours a devolved model, while southern voters prefer an integrated model within which Northern Ireland would cease to exist as a political unit

By Brendan O'Leary and John GarrySat Dec 10 2022 - 05:00

‘See this united Ireland thing, put that on the back burner and get the cost of living sorted first’

Derry unionists bristle at prospect of constitutional change with more pressing concerns to worry about

By Freya McClementsThu Dec 08 2022 - 20:37

Poll findings lay down a challenge to advocates of unity

Inside Politics podcast: Is the goal of reunification within 10 years realistic?

Thu Dec 08 2022 - 08:55

Listen | 48:01

Michael McDowell: The very least Sinn Féin owe us is to spell out their concept of a united Ireland

Far easier to sell the illusion that Irish unity can mean anything at all - and conceal the detail on how their unified state would actually work

By Michael McDowellWed Dec 07 2022 - 05:00

Kathy Sheridan: Brexit serves up a warning on a Border poll

Right now, the don’t knows and undecideds seem by far the most sane and rational of thinkers

By Kathy SheridanWed Dec 07 2022 - 05:00

United Ireland poll: The results are clear, but what about the undecideds?

What the North and South focus groups tell us about attitudes towards a United Ireland

Wed Dec 07 2022 - 05:00

Listen | 21:45

Five years to shift opinions in the North in favour of a united Ireland - Sinn Féin TD

Eoin Ó Broin says ‘it’s all to play for’ despite just 26 per cent in favour of Irish unity in the North

By Cormac McQuinnTue Dec 06 2022 - 13:35

Resistance to accepting united Ireland driven by fear of losing identity

Focus groups: ‘I think I would be concerned that violence would raise its ugly head again’

By Prof John Garry and Prof Brendan O’LearyTue Dec 06 2022 - 06:00

United Ireland ‘almost impossible to accept’, say large minority of Protestant voters

Poll indicates hard core of unionist voters who would be fiercely opposed to unity

By Pat LeahyTue Dec 06 2022 - 05:00

Core unionist hostility to united Ireland vote would be big problem for state success

Analysis: Sizeable minority of voters from a Protestant background are strongly opposed to unity

By Pat LeahyTue Dec 06 2022 - 05:00

Protestants who find Irish unity ‘impossible to accept’ more likely to be male and working class

Poll findings suggest opposition to Irish unification among Protestant unionists is widely prevalent and intense

By Prof John Garry and Prof Brendan O’LearyTue Dec 06 2022 - 05:00

A united Ireland would be ‘like Brexit: so many knock-on effects’

Prospect of unity brings a mix of hope and pragmatism to one Co Roscommon bar

By Keith DugganTue Dec 06 2022 - 05:00

United Ireland poll: ‘Change is hard... it’s much easier to stay in the status quo’

Participants in the Government’s Shared Ireland forum offer their views on the Ipsos poll on a united Ireland and the large group of ‘don’t knows’

By Cormac McQuinnMon Dec 05 2022 - 20:04

Taoiseach ‘not surprised’ at poll showing low level of support for Irish unity in Northern Ireland

Just 26% of people surveyed were in favour with 50% against

By Cormac McQuinn and Hannah Quinn MulliganMon Dec 05 2022 - 20:03

Many voters in Republic unwilling to make concessions to unionists to facilitate Irish unity, poll shows

Peace, economy and health service top concerns North and South

By Pat LeahyMon Dec 05 2022 - 05:00

Debate over symbols of a united Ireland shows up a big North-South difference

Potential changes to flag and anthem make voters less likely to support unity

By Prof John Garry and Prof Brendan O’LearyMon Dec 05 2022 - 05:00

Health service, economy and peace are key concerns about united Ireland

Northern voters more concerned about health, while peace is number one priority for voters in Republic

By Prof Brendan O’Leary and Prof John GarryMon Dec 05 2022 - 05:00

Southern support for united Ireland is wide, but not deep

While voters in the Republic back unity, they seem unwilling to make changes to accommodate it

By Pat LeahyMon Dec 05 2022 - 05:00

Irish unity ‘can’t be rushed or forced’, Minister says after poll

Northern Ireland would vote decisively against a united Ireland if there was a Border poll, a new research project poll results show

By Jack Horgan-JonesSun Dec 04 2022 - 14:53

North and South: Ireland is divided on the unity question

Inside Politics podcast: When should a referendum on Irish unity be held, and how would citizens north and south vote?

Sat Dec 03 2022 - 06:00

Listen | 43:16

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North and South

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