Common Ground

Evolving Islands: Ireland & Britain - a special series from The Irish Times exploring the complex relationship between the two

Decades after flashpoints of the 1990s, Drumcree is just as dangerous

Official marching applications had been rejected by the Parades Commission for years, until now.

Claim Orangemen must march on Garvaghy Road because of tradition ‘a nonsense’, former SF staffer says

Danny Morrison says order unilaterally halted Falls Road parade in Belfast in 1960s and should do likewise in Portadown

Appeal court overturns ban on Orange Order parade passing through Garvaghy Road

Parades Commission had on Friday granted permission for Protestant organisation to march through mainly nationalist area of Portadown

Drumcree dispute overshadows last UUP conference before Stormont election

Party should make some gains as DUP reels after Donaldson case, but split vote likely to make it difficult for unionism to speak coherently

Irish unity campaign nothing more than ‘constitutional vandalism’, UUP leader says

Jon Burrows says Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill wants to create a new state, but her Ministers at Stormont ‘can’t fix the potholes’ in this one

The writers behind Blue Lights: ‘I think I fell in love. I thought, I have to work with this guy’

Writers Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson say that despite the ‘love’ in the North for their hit PSNI-centred drama, they were petrified to take on such a ‘hot potato’ topic

Voters open to Irish unity, but not enthusiastic about footing the bill

A sizeable majority of voters express concerns about the potential costs of unification

Small minority prepared to consider new flag to make Irish unity acceptable to unionists

Irish Times/Ipsos B&A also asked about attitudes to immigration, with a small majority of voters seeing it, on balance, as a positive

As controversy grows over Leaving Cert reform, Northern Ireland is going the other way

It should be possible to learn fascinating lessons by comparing outcomes either side of the Border

Northern Ireland does not have above-average student ‘brain drain’ to Britain, study finds

It has been held for decades that North uniquely saw a greater percentage of young people leave for elsewhere in UK

More Troubles legacy probes due to be published shortly, says commission head

First published ICRIR report looks into killing of Catholic solicitor Rory O’Kelly, murdered by IRA in March 1977

Inside story of IRA’s 1977 killing of Rory O’Kelly, and the first report of Troubles-era investigative body

An investigation into the killing of a Catholic man by the IRA almost 50 years ago brought peace to his dying son in his last days

Omagh bombing inquiry hears of ‘likely’ co-operation between dissident groups

Academic tells inquiry there was likely ‘some form of operational co-operation’ between the two groups

How would a Border poll on Irish unity get called in Northern Ireland?

The Belfast Agreement sets out rules for calling a unity referendum, but is vague on some details

Any Celtic crusade against the imperialists in London would be very unwise

Remember, flags and anthems and all that is the easy stuff

My father didn’t believe there was a God. Where I grew up that seemed perverse

Religious institutions organised my sports, my education, even my summer holidays

‘Not all Protestants hate Abba’: DUP leader shows fun side, but no hiding his election fears

Gavin Robinson appeals to unionist rivals for ‘greater co-operation’ at party conference in Belfast

As momentum builds in the Irish unity debate, how is unionism responding?

Gavin Robinson and the DUP will present the same ‘business as usual, nothing to see here’ position to members

UK prime minister to Taoiseach: Any chance of All-Ireland final tickets?

Andy Burnham and Micheál Martin’s Manchester talks marked by sports diplomacy and a birthday bash

British government ‘not in position’ to move on Border poll, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach thanks Andy Burnham for ‘standing’ up for needs and rights of Palestinian people

Donald Trump is less interested in Ireland than in creating mayhem

Unlike previous US presidents, Trump’s interest in Ireland is superficial

Trump asked President Connolly if Irish unity would be ‘resolved’ during her lifetime

President raises concerns over ‘language in relation to war’ during second day of Scotland visit

Sinn Féin’s immigration policy will need to be tougher than everyone else’s to stand out

Nationalists may be more liberal by conviction but they have less immediate experience of immigration, which tends to be concentrated in unionist areas

Johnny Adair given weapons by shadowy Ulster Resistance group, new book reveals

Group once led by Ian Paisley smuggled ‘vast quantities’ of weapons from Lebanon, it is alleged

Donald Trump’s comments on unity crossed a line. Unionists feel let down

History suggests that unionism rarely responds sensibly and strategically to a wake-up call

Sinn Féin’s move with Scottish and Welsh parties for border referendums ‘ráiméis’, says Martin

Taoiseach says Sinn Féin’s agreement could set back cause of Irish unity

Donald Trump may have been Britain-baiting, but his statement on unity still mattered

Backhanded compliment from Trump, when he laughingly described business leaders as ‘vicious bastards’, shows Ireland still carries weight in his worldview

After Belfast burned: What happened to immigrant families whose homes were attacked?

At least 88 families made homeless in June’s race riots – most have not returned home

Taoiseach downplays ‘overreaction’ to Trump’s call for united Ireland

US president raised his support for a united Ireland during private discussions with Catherine Connolly

Sinn Féin’s refusal to take seats in Westminster a ‘dereliction of duty’ – Colum Eastwood

Decision on border poll and Ireland’s future will be taken in London ‘whether we like it or not’, Colum Eastwood tells party conference

‘Well intentioned, ill considered’: Northern nationalists on Micheál Martin’s unity stance

Nationalists in the North applaud the Taoiseach’s Shared Ireland initiative but find his failure to plan for a Border poll frustrating at best

‘People don’t feel safe’: Grief, death and disorder in a once-proud industrial heartland

Deaths of two police officers and five young exposed deep social problems in Middlesbrough and nearby towns

Northern nationalists are right to detect bias from their counterparts in the Republic

Northerners get cheered when they win Olympic medals for Ireland, but heaven forfend we might let them vote here

‘Unsatisfactory’ that British minister responsible for calling Irish unity poll, says Martin

Dublin and London must move ‘in lockstep’ on all big decisions, says Taoiseach

My English friend was shocked that I got drunk at my grandmother’s funeral

My friend struggled with the idea of an open casket in the house: ‘Is that not hard to look at?’

I learned a lot about Englishness on a packed train leaving Reform UK’s conference

From a packed Birmingham to Oxford train, questions of class, belonging and national identity follow the Reform UK conference

Fine Gael ‘cannot afford to cede ground to other political groups on Irish unity’

Party must ‘plan, prepare and articulate’ what a united Ireland means, Neale Richmond to tell members

Derry dispatch: ‘Influencer’ Seamus Heaney plays a part in reclaiming city’s walls

Message of murals transforming Derry is of a new, shared identity that goes beyond green, white and orange or red, white and blue

I don’t regret running for president. I do regret the sectarian undercurrent it exposed

If some people can’t get their heads around a picnic in Drum with a few accordion bands, then what chance do we stand when it comes to bigger, thornier questions?

Apathy and ignorance south of the Border remain significant blocks to Irish unity

A Border poll was never really on the table, and that is where there is considerable Anglo-Irish agreement

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