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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Brendan Hughes

Young people from unionist backgrounds in Northern Ireland tell why they support a united Ireland

Meet the young people from a unionist background who support a united Ireland.

Andrew Clarke, 26, and Peter Adair, 21, grew up with religious and cultural influences associated with a British identity.

But the pair are joining a major nationalist conference being held in Dublin on Saturday to rally support for Irish unity, Belfast Live reports.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the 'Together We Can' event in the 3Arena staged by campaign group Ireland's Future.

Politicians including Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, and actors James Nesbitt and Colm Meaney, are among those scheduled to speak at the conference.

Mr Clarke and Mr Adair, who are set to feature in a video at the event, spoke to Belfast Live about how their nationalist views have developed over time.

The pair both attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution grammar school in the city centre but did not know each other before becoming involved in Ireland's Future.

Both are final-year history students, with Mr Clarke studying at Queen's University Belfast and Mr Adair attending Oxford University.

Mr Clarke said his family is from a Protestant background in East Belfast. When he was younger he attended Twelfth of July parades and Eleventh Night bonfires.

He said the "eye-opener" in his thinking was the Union flag protests in 2012 over a council decision to no longer fly the flag from Belfast City Hall all year round.

He said it "all just seemed bizarre", adding: "It shocked me hard enough that it made me question everything."

Mr Clarke, who was a teenager in school at the time, said: "I remember we were sitting in English planning, 'Are we going into town for the riots tonight?' From that I kind of debated, 'What am I doing here?'"

Mr Adair, from South Belfast, is the youngest of three boys. His parents are both accountants and growing up he would have attended Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, where his mother is an elder.

He described himself as being from a "culturally unionist" background but he "wouldn't have thought about it".

"I would say Brexit was definitely the turning point. I definitely would not be in favour of Brexit. For the UK as a whole I don't think it's a good idea but I think it's quite damaging for Northern Ireland," he said.

"It has made me question the Union itself because the majority in Northern Ireland voted to remain and I don't see how Brexit can have a good outcome in Northern Ireland."

He said that when the UK was part of the European Union, people's national identity in Northern Ireland could be more "fluid".

"You could be British or Irish or Northern Irish. But since Brexit it has made it more difficult to have that fluid identity," he said.

Mr Adair also said he did not feel unionist parties represent his views, citing as examples his support for same-sex marriage and pro-choice position on abortion.

The student, who earlier this year joined the SDLP, said: "People like (TUV leader) Jim Allister and (DUP leader) Jeffrey Donaldson, I wouldn't say their views are that of most young people by any means.

"I definitely feel they cater for a more older, conservative population in Northern Ireland."

Mr Clarke shares stories from Irish history on his Instagram account Tanistry, which has amassed almost 30,000 followers.

He said his views have "moved steadily along to different points in the political spectrum" over the years and he would now consider himself an Irish republican.

"I would like to see a united Ireland. I have no interest in 'the Republic of Ireland plus the north east'. That doesn't interest me," he said.

"I would like to see a progressive united Ireland where people of all backgrounds are tolerated equally. I think partition is anti-progressive."

Mr Adair said: "I would call myself a moderate nationalist, in that I don't think a border poll should happen tomorrow, but we definitely need to be discussing what a united Ireland would look like."

He said that in the Census last year he recorded his national identity as 'Northern Irish'' but since then he would consider himself 'Northern Irish' and 'Irish'.

"To be honest I think, studying in England, I wouldn't say I have the same identity of the people who I study with, who are mostly English. So when I meet people I introduce myself as Irish," he said.

What is their message for other people from a unionist background?

Mr Adair responded: "I would say your background doesn't need to determine your views."

Mr Clarke said: "I think the message I kind of put out is it's a lot easier than people think to find a voice outside of where you come from.

"I think that being wrong is the fastest way of being right."

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