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For and Against a United Ireland

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For and Against a United Ireland

By: Fintan O'Toole, Sam McBride
Narrated by: Fintan O'Toole, Sam McBride
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About this listen

The prospect of Irish unification is now stronger than at any point since partition in 1921. Voters on both sides of the Irish border may soon have to confront for themselves what the answer to a referendum question would mean - for themselves, for their neighbours, and for their society.

Journalists Fintan O'Toole and Sam McBride examine the strongest arguments for and against a united Ireland. What do the words 'united Ireland' even mean? Would it be better for Northern Ireland? Would it improve lives in the Republic of Ireland? And could it be brought about without bloodshed?

O'Toole and McBride each argue the case for and against unity, questioning received wisdom and bringing fresh thinking to one of Ireland's most intractable questions.

©2025 Fintan O'Toole, Sam McBride (P)2025 Royal Irish Academy Elections & Political Process Europe Politics & Government World Socialism
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I Enjoyed the dual approach however it may have been more effective if led predominantly more by one of the authors. Whilst it was a strong technique to emphasise certain points, the flip flopping between Fintan and Sam felt repetitive and interrupted the flow.

As a Belfast nationalist who has been a native of Dublin since 2012, I found the pro arguments to be generally more persuasive.

Vibrant but repetitive

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Chapter 1 by Fintan O’Toole is very well argued and should be required listening for those who think this is a simple black and white issue. His view that a new Ireland is an opportunity to fix what is broken across the island is interesting but I wouldn’t be too hopeful. Sam McBride’s points (in either direction) seem to me to be far less coherent with seemingly unrelated or contradictory points continuously arriving to weaken rather strengthen his argument.

Required listening

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Excellent exposition of a variety of arguments...useful thought provoking material for everyone on the island of Ireland

Excellent exposition of a variety of arguments

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I liked the idea of this book thinking that "he who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that". Growing up in Northern Ireland in the 70s, the only argument that I ever felt presented with for a united Ireland was, well, we'll stop murdering you all if you agree to it, so I was particularly interested to hear the nationalist arguments from Fintan, whose other books I have enjoyed. I genuinely found Sam's pro essay both compelling and moving.

I learned a lot from this

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Sam McBride should be in government. He is so intelligent. Everyone with an interest in Ireland should read it.

It was amazing

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