The Pat Kenny Show Could we ever end up with a United Ireland?
Sep 12, 2025
Philip Stephens, an award-winning journalist and historian, discusses his book 'In These Divided Isles,' shedding light on the tumultuous relationship between Ireland and Britain. He reflects on Ireland's transformation from a rural society to a modern state, influenced by British partitioning. The conversation dives into the complex political landscape surrounding the possibility of a united Ireland, emphasizing the importance of unionist consent and the implications of Brexit on future relations. It's a thought-provoking exploration of identity and reconciliation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Childhood Summers Shaped Identity
- Philip Stephens recounts childhood summers in Kilchimar that shaped his dual Irish-British identity.
- He describes city-born cachet and rural freedom as formative for his view of Ireland's changes.
Ireland Transformed From Emigration To Prosperity
- Stephens contrasts mid-20th-century rural, self-sufficient Ireland with the modern, open European state it became.
- He links mass emigration to later economic transformation and the Celtic Tiger resurgence.
Partition Was Britain's Escape Route
- Partition served British political aims as a way to disentangle from Ireland while protecting the empire's stability.
- Officials feared Irish independence could encourage anti-colonial movements elsewhere, so dominion ties were insisted upon.
