Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald Predicts Irish Unity Referendum By 2030
A referendum on the unification of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is on the horizon within the next six years, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald told Sky News Monday as the Irish nationalist party leads the restored Northern Ireland government.
McDonald told Sky News host Kay Burley: “What I firmly believe is – in this decade – we will have those referendums, and it’s my job and the job of people like me who believe in reunification to convince, to win hearts and minds and to convince people of that opportunity – part of which, by the way, will be really consolidating our relationship with Britain as our next door neighbour and good friend.”
The position reflects an Irish unity drive energised by a pivotal moment in Northern Irish politics after Sinn Féin became the largest party in the regional assembly for the first time since the Good Friday Agreement. Until now, the largest party has always backed pro-British unionism. The peace agreement that ended decades of violent conflict makes provisions for a referendum-based pathway to Northern Ireland’s departure from the UK to join the Republic of Ireland.
McDonald, however, emphasised the need to “win hearts and minds” for reunification, while also fostering a positive relationship with Britain.
“I don’t mean that it’s happening next week or next month,” she added. “[but] let me say that is not so far away – so there’s an awful lot of work that needs to be done.
She continued: “I’ve said consistently to the government in Dublin that they really need to take possession of this conversation that’s now underway right across Ireland. They need to give it a structure and a place and of course it has to be inclusive – we want to hear from every voice, including those for whom reunification would not be their first option – those who go out and campaign for the union.”
According to polling, potential for a united Ireland appears more tangible than ever, with McDonald’s assertion aligning with significant public support in the Republic of Ireland, where a decisive 64% favour Irish unity. However, sentiment in Northern Ireland remains mixed, with only 30% in favour, 50% against, and 20% undecided.
Despite these divisions, a remarkable 60% of Northern Ireland’s population, encompassing both pro-British unionist and Irish nationalist perspectives, support the idea of a referendum in the next decade. These statistics signal a shift in attitudes that could pave the way for historic change.
Both the British and Irish governments, however, have downplayed Sinn Féin’s calls for Irish unity and said Northern Ireland’s new devolved government must focus on “bread and butter issues” to restore economic stability and political faith in the region.
