ARINS Project

"My view is that what's really damaging the union is centralisation at Westminster". Political strategist Andy Maciver argues that one of the biggest threats to the future of the United Kingdom is how heavily power remains concentrated in Westminster. "It's the same in lots of Anglo-Saxon nations all over the world that have sort of taken our systems and made them a little bit better by making them more decentralised. We don't do that". Can people fully embrace being Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish while still feeling British? #Stormont #UKPolitics #Westminister @dmcbfs | @timcairns

"middle-ground identities in Northern Ireland are shown to be most popular among young people from a Protestant background" Kevin McNicholl argues in latest ARINS paper. 📖Read it open access here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/423/articl…

Join us for an ARINS Lunchtime Lecture, drawing on their new book Building a Green Wall, the authors explore the renewed influence of Irish America in the post-Brexit landscape. Book here: tickettailor.com/events/royalir…

Most Northern Ireland residents who voted for Brexit believe it has failed, poll finds irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/0…

There are a host of other events in Belfast, Armagh, Dundalk & Dublin: William Dalrymple, Roy Foster, Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid, David McCullagh, Jan Carson, Lata Sharma, Malachi O'Doherty & many more. I'll also chair a discussion on 'These Entwined Isles: Past, Present and Future'.

The breathtaking Jaipur Literature Festival is coming to Ireland next week. I'll be debating the case for and against Irish unity with Fintan O'Toole (and myself) in: ✝️ Armagh, 20th May ☘️Dublin, 24th May Both free, but register here: jlflitfest.org/ireland @JLFLitfest

Yesterday Ann Watt & Tom Burns gave evidence to the Assembly's Finance Committee about the performance and culture of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Watch the evidence session below (frm 1hr47) or read our written evidence here pivotalpolicy.org/our-work/news-… niassembly.tv/committee-for-…

🎙️The 50th episode of The ARINS Podcast with Rory Montgomery is out now! Rory chats to Professor Skoutaris about his recent article in Irish Studies in International Affairs. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/5Uqrsv… Read the article: muse.jhu.edu/pub/423/articl…

What is happening in the complex world of integrated and shared schools in Northern Ireland (and Ireland)? 2irelands2gether.com/2026/05/07/wha… via @andyjpollak

David McWilliams' interview with Sinéad O'Sullivan about the Irish state's failure to provide adequate infrastructure is a must listen. She explains the huge costs of this failure but not the causes. Here are some of my ideas on the latter 1/5 shows.acast.com/the-david-mcwi… via @acast

New #ARINS research asks an important question: Who is better off on the island of Ireland? Latest @ESRIDublin analysis finds widening gaps in income, education & health outcomes North and South, with real implications for policy debates. Read more: bit.ly/4nlm8UP

⚠️This event is almost fully booked. Don't miss out: bit.ly/4eohL92 @NIHRC @_IHREC @cjhumanrights @qubschooloflaw @NDIrishStudies

📊 What’s really happening to Northern Ireland’s population? Our FactCheckNI analysis shows a clear shift; not sudden decline, but long-term ageing: 👶 In the 1970s, there were nearly 3× as many under-10s as over-70s. Today, over-70s outnumber young children. 📉 Under-10s ↓ ~27% since 1971; even as the total population ↑ ~25% 🎂 Median age has risen from 32 to 40 👨‍👩‍👧 Children now make up 20% (down from 24%) 👵 65+ now 18% (up from 13%) 🌍 And this isn’t unique. Similar trends are seen across the UK, Ireland and other developed economies. 👉 Get the full picture: factcheckni.org/articles/demog…

The triumph of Micheál Martin's Shared Island Initiative has been its inoffensiveness. Insofar as it still has critics, this €2 billion fund is now annoying more nationalists than unionists - precisely because it isn't a vehicle for a united Ireland. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/comment/opinio…

This will be a not to miss moment! As we approach the 10th anniversary of the referendum that forced @BorderIrish to confront people with the realities of life as a border, it will be great to hear how that all went. I'm all cross-border, but I hope the border isn't cross.

This Wednesday, I am in person, so I am

Our Global Perceptions UK–Ireland 2025-26 report shares insights from young people in Ireland and Northern Ireland on peace, equality, trust and UK–Ireland relations: ow.ly/Bs4i50YS6Gq @BritEmbDublin @cooperationirl @RoyalIrishAcademy @ArinsProject #GlobalPerceptions

For unionists, engaging in unity debates is a strategic choice. Some see value in shaping the discussion, others worry it signals acceptance of change. Because of this, many politicians choose where and when to engage carefully. Unionist commentator Sarah Creighton joins us on this week's podcast to share her thoughts. #Stormont #UKPolitics #Debates @dmcbfs

Most popular British university destinations for N. Ireland students (source: hesa.ac.uk/news/20-03-202…