Replies

43.76% Catholic
53.13% Protestant
CAIN

58% - remain a part of the UK
23% - reunify with Ireland
7% - independent state
2% - other
11% - don't know
NI Life and Times Survey

I can look at those numbers and realize their is significant crossover from the Catholic population.

I have to wonder how much of those numbers are influenced by the booming Irish economy with its high growth and low taxes and the involvement of the UK in Iraq and Afganistan. In the past the numbers have been higher to remain part of the UK. The religous numbers also do not reflect how secular the area really is. If the numbers of weekly church attenders were used to determine Catholic or Protestant, they would not have been nearly so high.

It is amazing how many US pseudo Provos seem to think that there is massive political unrest in Northern Ireland...there really isn't. Most people are happy with the current situation and want to live their lives in peace and prosperity.

Most people are happy with the current situation and want to live their lives in peace and prosperity.

That certainly seems true from what I've seen. Your post got me curious about how much those numbers might have changed.

The question posed is "What do you think the long-term policy for Northern Ireland should be?"

I only included responses for "To remain a part of the United Kingdom" or "Reunify with the rest of Ireland"? UK is the top number.

1998
57
22

1999
56
21

2000
50
28

2001
50
28

2002
55
22

2003
55
24

2004
59
22

Interesting the big dip is 2000 and 2001. Celtic Tiger? Or something else?

Results by Year

I thought you may be interested in this:

Just more than half of northern Catholics (60%) think of themselves as Irish and a still smaller proportion, 52%, said they were nationalist. Yet just 38% favour Irish unity over a range of other options. Nearly as many Catholics (32%) wanted to remain in the UK while 13% would prefer an independent Ulster.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/newspapers/sunday_times/ireland/article685124.ece