Irish Unity by Ben Collins sampler
Irish Unity is the first book to explore Irish reunification in the aftermath of Brexit which is written by Ben Collins who comes from a pro-British and Unionist background and has lived and worked across the UK. In this book Collins explains how he has come to favour Irish Unity. He uses his twenty years of experience working in political communications to give his insight on the current situation regarding the building momentum for Irish Unity, the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and Brexit. In this book he sets out what it would take to win a Border Poll referendum and the importance of preparation in advance. Inspired by the momentum of the Scottish referendum and taking lessons from elsewhere, Ben Collins guides the reader through the steps needed from both sides that he believes will unite Ireland. Collins gives deep insight from a Northern Ireland perspective about how the financial, cultural and social ramifications could pan out for citizens in both parts of Ireland and how it would affect the United Kingdom, Europe and the world.
Irish Unity is the first book to explore Irish reunification in the aftermath of Brexit which is written by Ben Collins who comes from a pro-British and Unionist background and has lived and worked across the UK. In this book Collins explains how he has come to favour Irish Unity. He uses his twenty years of experience working in political communications to give his insight on the current situation regarding the building momentum for Irish Unity, the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and Brexit. In this book he sets out what it would take to win a Border Poll referendum and the importance of preparation in advance.
Inspired by the momentum of the Scottish referendum and taking lessons from elsewhere, Ben Collins guides the reader through the steps needed from both sides that he believes will unite Ireland.
Collins gives deep insight from a Northern Ireland perspective about how the financial, cultural and social ramifications could pan out for citizens in both parts of Ireland and how it would affect the United Kingdom, Europe and the world.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Acknowledgements<br />
I would particularly like to thank John Haden Tucker for his<br />
excellent advice and expertise, which has been invaluable for this<br />
book – one day we will write one together. Many people have been<br />
supportive throughout the process and they are listed below.<br />
Firstly, I would like to thank those who fundamentally disagree<br />
with the central tenet of this book, but still took the time to read and<br />
provide advice.<br />
Jude Perry is a good friend and someone who has an excellent<br />
understanding of politics across Ireland; my dear cousin Julie and<br />
political soulmate John Maguire have been hugely supportive over<br />
the long period I spent writing this book; Gabriel McCaffrey has<br />
been insightful on the process of reunification.<br />
I am incredibly grateful to James Maloney MP, Chair of the<br />
Canada– Ireland Interparliamentary Group, for agreeing to write<br />
a foreword for this book and his colleague Jennifer Hartley for<br />
her help.<br />
Dr Conor McGrath – a great lecturer and now a friend – provided<br />
useful feedback on an earlier draft, even though we take fundamentally<br />
different views on the merits of Brexit.<br />
Dr David McCann took the time to read a complete draft and<br />
I look forward to thanking him over a pint at The Sunflower Bar;<br />
Professor Colin Harvey has, unfortunately, had to put up with lots of<br />
hassle simply for expressing his peaceful views on reunification. This<br />
is not right in any society, but he still maintains his passion and has<br />
been very generous with his time and advice.<br />
The Think32 groups and Shared Ireland podcast have also<br />
been very encouraging; Gerry Carlile of Ireland’s Future and Kevin<br />
Rooney of the <strong>Irish</strong> Border Poll website supported my decision to<br />
publish this book; Andy McGibbons welcomed me onto his podcast;<br />
John Manley, Political Editor of the <strong>Irish</strong> News, provided some early<br />
media coverage, for which I am grateful.<br />
Lesley Riddoch was willing to read an early version of the book<br />
and put in a good word with the publisher when I contacted her out<br />
of the blue. Her generosity is the reason why this book was published<br />
9
Change language