The end is nigh for Northern Ireland as we know it – and unionists can blame themselves

‘In the last days of what may be the last Northern Irish assembly for the foreseeable future, bills that had already been progressed were voted through.’ Photograph: Paul Faith/PA

Northern Ireland is coming to an end, and unionists, having nowadays only themselves to blame, are plummeting through history, desperately seeking the security of the homeland they are convinced their forefathers built for them.

There will be elections to the Stormont assembly in Belfast on 5 May, but it looks as if the Democratic Unionist party (DUP), currently the largest unionist party, will refuse to return. Sinn Féin looks set to come in as the largest party, thereby winning the first minister’s role. Up to now this has always been held by a unionist. The DUP has said this is “a problem”.