UK Brexit plans stir talk of Irish unity

Dundalk (Ireland): Irish republicans are expressing renewed hopes of reunifying their island in the wake of the UK's recent Brexit proposals that have been poorly

received by both the European Union and the Republic of Ireland.

"There is going to be a referendum on Irish unity," said Gerry Adams, the retired leader of Sinn Fein who played an important role in reaching the 1998 Good Friday agreement that helped end decades of violence.

"Brexit has been the accelerator for all of that."

Adams spoke to a public meeting Thursday night that attracted hundreds of people living along the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Residents of Northern Ireland voted in favour of keeping Britain inside the EU in the 2016 Brexit

referendum.