Many people in Ireland, both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, worry that Brexit might bring back old tensions again and even rekindle violence. They worry that it will bring back the physical border with its manned posts or security cameras. In the late 20th century the border was the front line in a conflict known as “the Troubles”. On one side stood the republicans, seeking a united Ireland, and on the other side soldiers with the task to maintain British rule over Northern Ireland. Some 3,600 people died due to the conflict, with victims on both sides.
In 1998 a peace was negotiated and with it the military checkpoints and watchtowers gradually disappeared. Today the border is more or less invisible with 200 official crossing points and many more unofficial ones. Only different road signs and a change in the asphalt tell you that you have crossed from one country into another. The partition line twists and turns through farmland, schoolyards and even homes. There is an old saying in Northern Ireland that the person who drew that line must have had a little too much whiskey.
Now Brexit threatens to bring back the conflict and with it the border between the two countries. 56% in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union. Now it must be negotiated anew how to keep the border invisible. Although both the EU and the UK said they don’t want a so-called hard border, Europe has border control with every country outside the customs union, which the British government intends to leave. So time will tell the potential impact Brexit has on Ireland.
to worry (ˈwʌri) – sich Sorgen machen
tension (ˈten(t)ʃən) – die Spannung
even (ˈi:vən) – sogar, selbst
to rekindle (ˌri:ˈkɪndl̩) – etw wieder entfachen
manned (mænd) – bemannt
post (pəʊst) – der Posten
border (ˈbɔ:dəʳ) – die Grenze
task (tɑ:sk) – die Aufgabe
to maintain (meɪnˈteɪn) – etw aufrecht erhalten, beibehalten
to negotiate (nɪˈgəʊʃieɪt) – etw verhandeln
watchtower (wɒtʃtaʊəʳ) – der Wachturm
gradually (ˈgræʤuəli) – allmählich, Schritt für Schritt
more or less (mɔ:ʳ / les) – mehr oder weniger
invisible (ɪnˈvɪzəbl̩) – unsichtbar
partition line (pɑ:ˈtɪʃən laɪn) – die Trennlinie, Teilungslinie
to twist (twɪst) – sich winden, drehen
schoolyard (sku:ljɑ:d) – der Schulhof
to threaten (ˈθretən) – drohen
to remain (rɪˈmeɪn) – bleiben, verbleiben
so-called (ˌsəʊˈkɔ:ld) – so genannt
customs union (ˈkʌstəmz ˈju:njən) – die Zollunion, Zollvereinigung
to intend (ɪnˈtend) – etw vorhaben, beabsichtigen
impact (ˈɪmpækt) – der Einfluss, Auswirkung