May I remind you, Big Tim, that this has nothing to do with "green tinted wishful thinking" as you suggest. In 1994, none of the unionists would recognize (or even shake the hands of) the Sinn Fein leadership.

In less than a decade, they are now sharing power with them. And everyone's criticism was "the Unionists will never allow it".

But in a true democracy, it isn't up to "the Unionists" it is up to the people who vote. THAT is the major change in the North. Democratic grassroots change that the Unionists have been pretty powerless to stop. And still are.

It isn't up to the Unionist politicians and their UK cronies to decide whether or not the North will cede, and unite with the Republic. It is up to the people who vote.