"If there's going to be a united Ireland, that Ireland is going to look different."
Patrick Kielty has been praised for his views on a potential united
Ireland, which he shared during an interview on RTÉ's the Tommy Tiernan Show.
The comedian and TV presenter shared his measured and honest views on the potential political reunification of the island with
Tommy Tiernan.
Kielty, 51, is from Co. Down and comes from a nationalist background. His father John was murdered by the Ulster Freedom Fighters group in 1988. Patrick was just 16 at the time.
Kielty believes that, for a united Ireland to become a possibility, both sides will need to accept that compromise will be required. He said that a united island will 'look different' if all sides are to buy into it.
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"The north has always sorted itself out in spite of the politicians,"
Kielty told
Tiernan.
"Most people in the north are really very interested in what's happening down here, and how you guys are going to move forward.
"You know if you look at two peoples in the north, who were polar opposites and wanted each other dead and you have to compromise to live. You have to compromise, you have to give ground.
"If you've got people down here talking about a new Ireland and what that's going to look like.
"You know, people down here don't have to give up anything, but if they want that, they're going to have to start thinking about maybe making some compromises in some things that people up the road were forced to do.
"You can't physically unite the island and have nearly a million unionists up the road joining this country without changing some furniture to make those people feel welcome.
"I think you could probably start with not singing, 'Oooh ah, up the 'RA' in the changing rooms, maybe," Kielty said, referencing the recent incident when the Republic of Ireland's women's team sang
Celtic Symphony after qualifying for the World Cup
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Tiernan said that the incident was 'harmless'. "I know it is," Kielty said.
"But, you know, what's funny about it is that if you were asked to rejoin the commonwealth and you saw the Northern Ireland ladies' team up there singing, 'They're up to their neck in Fenian blood', and singing the 'Sash'... You'd sit there and think to yourself, 'I'm not sure about that'.
"What I always say is, 'It's a lot easier to sing a rebel song about a united Ireland than not sing it to have it.'
"You can't ask people to come and join the country and not actually say, 'You're part of the country'. There's nobody up the road who needs conversion therapy.
"They know they're British, the way that when I was growing up I knew I was Irish.
"If there's going to be a united Ireland, that Ireland is going to look different."
Kielty was praised on social media for how he articulated his views on a sensitive topic. He also spoke about the tragic death of his father.
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