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What do you mean “rightfully”? Throwing away centuries of political and even cultural relations does bring things like that into question as to what right(s) were being sought.

The Irish wanted home rule (similar to what Canada has) until 1916, when the communists in what was the Irish Republican Brotherhood were able to sway public opinion towards full independence thanks to perceived cruelty following the suppression of the Rising.

Meanwhile, in 1972, the Irish threw away full independence, achieved in 1948 when the Free State became the Republic, to join the EU. I don’t know if anyone who voted in the referendum ever read the full text of what became the Third Amendment, but have a look at it:

The State may become a member of the European Coal and Steel Community (established by Treaty signed at Paris on the 18^th day of April, 1951), the European Economic Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25^th day of March, 1957) and the European Atomic Energy Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25^th day of March, 1957).

No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State necessitated by the obligations of membership of the Communities—or prevents laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the Communities, or institutions thereof, from having the force of law in the State.

So the Irish went from having participation and influence in the Westminster Parliament (something that the American colonies initially demanded, to stop “taxation without representation”) to being dictated to by the EU government, whose parliament has no power to write laws but instead acts as a rubber stamp for the appointed EU Commission who has the sole power to write laws and to pass them.

> What do you mean “rightfully”? <

That’s a good question. By that I meant the Irish have the right to be left alone, and decide their own future. Oliver Cromwell disagreed with that, and so the misery began.

And you do make a good point regarding the European Union. The Irish threw off the yolk of the British Empire, only to accept the yolk of the EU. Crazy.

I dunno. If I could glimpse into Europe 75 years from now, I suspect I’d see many wonderful cultures bowing and scraping before political correctness. And the strings will be pulled by the most disciplined group in Europe, the Muslims.