Mick Clifford: Rocky road to reach a real united Ireland

This island will one day be a single political entity. That makes sense, economically and increasingly in terms of tackling climate change among other issues

Sinn Feéin's President Mary Lou McDonald speaking during a pro-unity group Ireland's Future event at the SSE Arena in Belfast. 

Last Saturday a group called Ireland’s Future had a gathering in Belfast’s SSE Arena at which an estimated 3,000 people attended. To get that level of attendees to turn up for a political event these days is a serious achievement.

This is the latest of a series of get-togethers they have had north and south, giving speeches, espousing new ideas, conducting interviews, all with a view to pushing for a border poll by 2030. Among those who contributed last Saturday were Leo Varadkar, GAA president Jarleth Burns, and Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill. In effect, Ireland’s Future has evolved into a vehicle to drive hard for a United Ireland.