If They Want It Then They Can Have It.

BBC Grandstand February 1976

"We're getting reports of shots fired at Hampden Park where England are playing Scotland in the Five Nations"
 
Thanks for the correction.

BBC Grandstand February 1976
We're getting reports of shots fired at Murrayfield where England are playing Scotland in the Five Nations
 
"The Murrayfield Massacre as it was quickly called by the press was the latest in the ongoing carnage. The SRA claimed responsibility for the murder of 28 English fans in response for the Ibrox bombing. The SRA claimed they were fighting for all republicans across Scotland, Wales and Ireland and called for a Republican Brotherhood Of Nations to defeat the imperialist English. This was now a race war"

Marr 2007
 
If I've got my history right, this looks like the beginning of a British withdrawl from Northern Ireland. If I'm remembering correctly, this wasn't something the government of Ireland wanted to happen as they didn't have the military means at the time to deal with the issues in Northern Ireland by themselves. Combine that with the Cold War and you end up with some interesting situations...
I’m going to be honest. Many Protestants would leave. The IRA has no reason to attack the British anymore or anywhere outside of Northern Ireland. Also if loyalist turn to IRA tactics they probably lose bad. IRA would know their own tactics better then them. They likely know what to look for and how to hunt them. If loyalist try to resort to IRA tactics after the British say screw it and give it back to Ireland the IRA probably smells blood. Some are likely to think they can just bust into their houses now and shoot them if loyalist try some shit like that. They been fighting for long time and loyalist lack government support now but IRA might honestly go too far in reprisal attacks and get Irish government to step in with probably on heavy encouragement of the UK government who could still step in at any point if things get too out of hand.

The interesting part is where do all loyalist or many go after. I am guessing Scotland. Most Protestants and loyalist do have somewhat Scottish background if you go back far enough. It’s also not a far trip at all and they still have British citizenship I am guessing. Are they big enough demographic wise to impact Scotland? They might have lost Northern Ireland and many of Protestants leave but that might lead to a more loyal Scotland. Those loyalist descendants in Scotland might be against Scottish independence down the line and unlike Northern Ireland can be more democratic at preventing that. The left in Scotland might start absolutely hating these more loyalist and right wing descendants from Northern Ireland.
 
I’m going to be honest. Many Protestants would leave. The IRA has no reason to attack the British anymore or anywhere outside of Northern Ireland. Also if loyalist turn to IRA tactics they probably lose bad. IRA would know their own tactics better then them. They likely know what to look for and how to hunt them. If loyalist try to resort to IRA tactics after the British say screw it and give it back to Ireland the IRA probably smells blood. Some are likely to think they can just bust into their houses now and shoot them if loyalist try some shit like that. They been fighting for long time and loyalist lack government support now but IRA might honestly go too far in reprisal attacks and get Irish government to step in with probably on heavy encouragement of the UK government who could still step in at any point if things get too out of hand.

The interesting part is where do all loyalist or many go after. I am guessing Scotland. Most Protestants and loyalist do have somewhat Scottish background if you go back far enough. It’s also not a far trip at all and they still have British citizenship I am guessing. Are they big enough demographic wise to impact Scotland? They might have lost Northern Ireland and many of Protestants leave but that might lead to a more loyal Scotland. Those loyalist descendants in Scotland might be against Scottish independence down the line and unlike Northern Ireland can be more democratic at preventing that. The left in Scotland might start absolutely hating these more loyalist and right wing descendants from Northern Ireland.

The thing with a mass migration to Scotland is that the extant catholic population might resist the newcomers. Right now (IOTL) the only visible (as I can see) religious issues in Scotland are the pro/anti abortion battle and of course the Rangers/Celtic feud.

A more loyal Scotland possibly but throw in Brexit...

(NB I don't know much about politics in scotland and absolutely nothing about religion)
 
The thing with a mass migration to Scotland is that the extant catholic population might resist the newcomers. Right now (IOTL) the only visible (as I can see) religious issues in Scotland are the pro/anti abortion battle and of course the Rangers/Celtic feud.

A more loyal Scotland possibly but throw in Brexit...

(NB I don't know much about politics in scotland and absolutely nothing about religion)
Scotland like England is more on the Protestant side. I think Calvinist sects mostly are top one in Scotland. Most Catholics in England and Scotland are usually Irish descendants. I think their are some Scot Catholics but not many. The loyalist or Protestants in Northern Ireland aren’t always original or fully Irish. Some were or used to be called Scot-Irish or Ulster Scots. Many of Protestants that settled in Ireland especially north from isles after British took it were people from Scotland.

I don’t think religion would be an issue. It would be more politically I think. Scotland is usually more left wing then loyalist and Protestants in Northern Ireland.

Scotland also just makes the most sense given ties and location after this happens. South Africa might take them. They would want more white people during this time but I think most would rather just move to Britain especially Scotland because it is closer. They are also British citizens they can’t do shit about them moving in besides complain but that won’t do anything. Britain isn’t going to tell them no especially since many have been most loyal subjects to their union. Britain might even help them set up and move to Scotland if it was a mass exodus at once. They aren’t refugees but first world immigrants in much larger numbers then usual.

Or decolonization might be better term here because when Britain left a lot of places or colonies many citizens there often left to Britain or another Anglo Saxon dominion.

Simply put many former loyalist and Protestants don’t want to live in a nation dominated by Catholics. Ireland is kind of bad about how much it does favor Catholic Church.
 
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