Ireland’s Future is a civic group committed to keeping the issue of a border referendum on Irish re-unification before the people of Ireland and indeed as far as is possible- with limited resources -of keeping the issue alive in England, Scotland/Wales and especially with the Irish diaspora in the USA and Australia. A border referendum was provided for in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It became obvious that the issue of the reunification of Ireland was becoming an issue of important debate for all the people of Ireland. This was seen in the growth of the Sinn Fein party and in the changing demographics. While a majority of unionists have not expressed any desire for a border poll it is clear that the changing demographics and the growing momentum will make the holding of a poll inevitable within a short time. It is most important that the people are prepared for such a referendum. That was the great weakness of the Brexit poll. People were not prepared.
The first sign of growing frustration among northern nationalists with the Dublin government was when an Open Letter to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was published in 2016. Many from all walks of life people signed the letter calling on the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar- to male Irish reunification (and a Border poll) a central issue for the Dublin government. They had the power to promote this at an international level. This was in line with the Principle of Consent contained in the first paragraph of the 1998 Belfast Agreement which copper-fastened the peace on this island
Ireland’s Future –taking its name from Scotland’s Future- then organised the first of many public meetings in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast in January 2019. Several hundred people from all over Ireland attended. Speakers included politicians like Joe McHugh of Fine Gael and political commentators like Brian Feeney. There was an interesting discussion from the floor. People were united in their demand for a public debate about the future of the country as envisaged in the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
The arrival of Covid put an end to public gatherings –for a while. However, it did not stop the felt need for ongoing debate and discussion around the issue of the Border poll. In spite of hostility in some quarters like the Irish Times and RTE and from some politicians like the leader of Fianna Fail, Michael Martin, meetings were help all over the country and in London and America.
The demand for a border poll is now centre stage and hardly a day goes by that it is not talked about in the Irish media-and especially in social media. The Ireland’s Future movement continues to gain momentum and provides a platform for discussion. It now attracts people of all political backgrounds -and none.
One of the most interesting developments is the growing number of people from a Unionist background who have seen what way the wind is blowing and are prepared to join in the discussion about Ireland’s future. Their involvement has given much hope in what is sometimes a bleak political landscape and is already a sign of the reconciliation needed to promote the discussion and share ideas.
Some unionists have begun to explore the possibilities of Irish reunification with people they never talked to before because there were no opportunities for such a conversation. Many have shown great courage in becoming involved in the discussion. One of these is the Baptist clergywomen from Belfast –Reverend Karen Sethuraman.
At a meeting organised by Ireland’s Future in the Culturlann in Derry last Friday (14thAugust 2026) Karen gave her reasons for taking on the challenge and how she saw the benefits of taking on the challenge for all the people of Ireland. She made it clears that she did not agree with the Michael Martin approach that you must have reconciliation in the north first before you have reconciliation on the island. She was diametrically opposed to this idea stating that only when the island was reconciled would you have reconciliation at work in the north. Reconciliation she said was simply about good neighbourliness.
The other main speakers at the event in Derry last Saturday were Niall Murphy, a solicitor from Belfast who is acting chairperson of the group and Colin Harvey, a professor of Economics in Queens University. They both referred to the challenges we face to bring about a peaceful progressive society on the island of Ireland. They were huge but not insurmountable. Much work needs to be done to prepare.
Ireland’s Future appeals to young and working class -because it has no hidden agenda. It is not about coercion. It is about conversation and reason and civility.
I was most impressed with the quality of the talks and the discussion at the meeting in Derry. Gerry Carlisle-the event organiser, set the tone when he introduced the meeting and explained the raison d’etre of the group.
Niall Murphy spoke about the growing momentum of the debate about Irish unity and the need for the Border poll to determine the future. Irish unity offered great advantages over the present status quo in ensuring that there would be one economic system-one education system and one Health service. The advantages for all the people of this island were enormous and especially for the young who wanted to make Ireland their home.
The speakers provided much food for thought without boring us with statistics. Their talks were more motivational.
I was greatly impressed with the seriousness with which the speakers treated the subject and the respect shown to one another. They offered us a vison of how the new reunified Ireland might work-when people come together to talk.
At a personal level I found Karen Sethuraman’s talk and comments at the end inspirational. Her understanding of the meaning of Reconciliation should be on the curriculum of every school in the country. She emphasised that reconciliation is a process that never ends. For all of us it is a life-long task. It’s basically about forming good relationships with our neighbours based on equality and respect. This is a lifelong project in Ireland but an exciting one. There is nothing more important for human beings and especially for those who call themselves Christians. We need more events and discussions like this in every part of Ireland to build the momentum and prepare for the Border poll.
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