Brexit result: Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness calls for border poll on united Ireland
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK to share a land border with another EU country, the Republic of Ireland. It is unknown how Brexit will affect relations between the two regions
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has called for a border poll on a united Ireland, after the UK has voted to leave the EU.
Support for the EU is considerably higher in Northern Ireland than the rest of the UK.
As the region shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland, it is unknown how the relationship between the two countries will be affected by Brexit.
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Some politicians have speculated a physical border and passport control checks could be errected between the two, while others have questioned whether an effective border will have to be drawn around mainland Great Britain, thereby shutting off Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.
The moment Britain officially voted to leave the EU
Northern Ireland also receives considerable financial support from the EU in the form of so-called 'peace money' to fund projects aimed at supporting the region's peace process following the Troubles conflict.
Northern Irish parties have largely campaigned for a Remain vote including Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance- with the exception of the Democratic Unionist Party who have backed Brexit.
McGuinness' comments add to calls for a further referendum on Scottish independence, as the majority of Scottish voters have also backed the Remain campaign.
EU referendum - in pictures
Show all 18
EU referendum - in pictures
1/18
A woman in a wheelchair with British and European Union flags shows her support for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union on the day of the EU Referendum in Gibraltar
Getty Images
2/18
A polling station being used in the EU referendum at Batley Town Hall in the constituency Labour MP Jo Cox
PA
3/18
People arrive to vote in the EU Referendum at the Library where British MP Jo Cox was shot and fatally wounded last week in Birstall
EPA
4/18
A man arrives to vote at a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London
REUTERS
5/18
Voters queue to enter a polling station at Trinity Church in Golders Green in London
Getty Images
6/18
British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron leave after voting in the EU Referendum at Central Methodist Hall, Westminster
Getty Images
7/18
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn cast his vote at a polling station at Pakeman Primary School in Islington
Getty Images
8/18
Chelsea pensioners arrive at a polling station near to the Royal Chelsea Hospital
PA
9/18
A woman wearing an "I'm In" t-shirt, promoting the official "Remain" campaign, leaves a polling station in London
AFP/Getty Images
10/18
People queuing outside a polling station on Amott Road in London
PA
11/18
Scotland's First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell, react as leave after casting their votes at a polling station at Broomhouse Community Hall in east Glasgow
AFP/Getty Images
12/18
A man wearing a European themed cycling jersey leaves after voting at a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London
REUTERS
13/18
Ukip leader Nigel Farage arrives to cast his vote at Cudham Church of England Primary School in Biggin Hill, Kent
PA
14/18
Justice Secretary and prominent 'Vote Leave' campaigner Michael Gove poses with his wife Sarah Vine after voting in the European Union referendum at their local polling station in Kensington
Getty
15/18
Nuns leave a polling station after voting in the EU Referendum in London
EPA
16/18
People arrive to cast their ballots in the EU Referendum in Gibraltar. The United Kingdom and its dependant territories are going to the polls to decide whether or not the the United Kingdom will remain in the European Union
Getty Images
17/18
A man driving a van covered in stickers urging people to vote for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union drives outside a polling station on the day of the EU Referendum in Gibraltar
Getty Images
18/18
A sign on a gable wall in Belfast's, Loyalist Tigers Bay urging voters to leave the EU using scripture from Revelation 18:4, as voters head to the polls across the UK in a historic referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union or leave
PA
1/18
A woman in a wheelchair with British and European Union flags shows her support for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union on the day of the EU Referendum in Gibraltar
Getty Images
2/18
A polling station being used in the EU referendum at Batley Town Hall in the constituency Labour MP Jo Cox
PA
3/18
People arrive to vote in the EU Referendum at the Library where British MP Jo Cox was shot and fatally wounded last week in Birstall
EPA
4/18
A man arrives to vote at a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London
REUTERS
5/18
Voters queue to enter a polling station at Trinity Church in Golders Green in London
Getty Images
6/18
British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha Cameron leave after voting in the EU Referendum at Central Methodist Hall, Westminster
Getty Images
7/18
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn cast his vote at a polling station at Pakeman Primary School in Islington
Getty Images
8/18
Chelsea pensioners arrive at a polling station near to the Royal Chelsea Hospital
PA
9/18
A woman wearing an "I'm In" t-shirt, promoting the official "Remain" campaign, leaves a polling station in London
AFP/Getty Images
10/18
People queuing outside a polling station on Amott Road in London
PA
11/18
Scotland's First Minister and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell, react as leave after casting their votes at a polling station at Broomhouse Community Hall in east Glasgow
AFP/Getty Images
12/18
A man wearing a European themed cycling jersey leaves after voting at a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London
REUTERS
13/18
Ukip leader Nigel Farage arrives to cast his vote at Cudham Church of England Primary School in Biggin Hill, Kent
PA
14/18
Justice Secretary and prominent 'Vote Leave' campaigner Michael Gove poses with his wife Sarah Vine after voting in the European Union referendum at their local polling station in Kensington
Getty
15/18
Nuns leave a polling station after voting in the EU Referendum in London
EPA
16/18
People arrive to cast their ballots in the EU Referendum in Gibraltar. The United Kingdom and its dependant territories are going to the polls to decide whether or not the the United Kingdom will remain in the European Union
Getty Images
17/18
A man driving a van covered in stickers urging people to vote for the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union drives outside a polling station on the day of the EU Referendum in Gibraltar
Getty Images
18/18
A sign on a gable wall in Belfast's, Loyalist Tigers Bay urging voters to leave the EU using scripture from Revelation 18:4, as voters head to the polls across the UK in a historic referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union or leave
PA
Nigel Farage has declared a decisive victory for the Leave campaign, saying "a dawn is breaking on an independent United Kingdom."
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