Conflict in IrelandConflict in Ireland

Two IrelandsTwo Irelands

BackgroundBackground

Protestant v. Protestant v. Catholic Catholic

Ireland Ireland – 55% Catholic 55% Catholic – 45% 45%

Protestant Protestant – Different Different

viewpointsviewpoints

Protestant BeliefsProtestant Beliefs

Constitutional Constitutional right to the right to the land land

Preserving the Preserving the Union with Union with EnglandEngland

Resisting a Resisting a United IrelandUnited Ireland

Catholic BeliefsCatholic Beliefs

Want a unified Want a unified IrelandIreland

Self determinationSelf determination--let the country let the country (majority) decide (majority) decide it’s own political it’s own political futurefuture

Majority of Majority of population..population..happens to be happens to be CatholicCatholic

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

The geographical The geographical closeness of Britain closeness of Britain and Ireland has and Ireland has lead to a long lead to a long history of history of interaction.interaction.

Timeline of Irish HistoryTimeline of Irish History 1170- British settlers arrive in Ireland1170- British settlers arrive in Ireland 1641- Catholic uprising against Protestants 1641- Catholic uprising against Protestants 1801- Joining of Ireland and GB1801- Joining of Ireland and GB 1916- Rebellion 1916- Rebellion 1918- Sinn Fein wins election 1918- Sinn Fein wins election 1919-1921- Anglo-Irish War1919-1921- Anglo-Irish War 6 out of 9 Northern counties are given to GB6 out of 9 Northern counties are given to GB 1949- Republic declared1949- Republic declared

Creation Northern IrelandCreation Northern Ireland

Partitioned- Partitioned- divided by the divided by the British British government. government.

Six Northern Six Northern counties remained counties remained part of the UK part of the UK

Irish Free State- Irish Free State- under Anglo-Irish under Anglo-Irish Treaty Treaty

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland

Protestant majority Protestant majority Religious bias in Religious bias in

the distribution of the distribution of housing and housing and services services

Lead to more Lead to more conflicts between conflicts between the two sidesthe two sides

Protestants were Protestants were favored!favored!

““The Troubles”The Troubles”______________________________________________________

Started in the 1960’s Started in the 1960’s – Civil Rights Campaign Civil Rights Campaign – Catholics-inspired by Catholics-inspired by

the worldwide civil the worldwide civil rights movement rights movement

– Protestants – saw this Protestants – saw this as a threat to Northern as a threat to Northern Ireland’s existenceIreland’s existence

Fighting begins, again!Fighting begins, again!

““The Troubles”The Troubles”

1969 – London sent 1969 – London sent the British Army to the British Army to restore orderrestore order. .

Catholic view of Catholic view of troops troops

Protestant view of Protestant view of troopstroops

Creation of Paramilitary Creation of Paramilitary GroupsGroups

IIrish rish RRepublic epublic AArmyrmy- - was was organized in organized in response to British response to British troops in Ireland troops in Ireland

Used violent tacticsUsed violent tactics– Bombings Bombings

– KillingsKillings

Response to IRAResponse to IRA

Ulster Volunteer Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)Force (UVF)

Loyalist Loyalist Paramilitary Paramilitary GroupGroup

Both were Both were formed to formed to combat the IRAcombat the IRA

Movement Toward PeaceMovement Toward Peace

Fighting for several decades Fighting for several decades Violence= not the solution Violence= not the solution IRA and UVF start aligning with IRA and UVF start aligning with

political parties political parties Both groups began to use politics to Both groups began to use politics to

achieve goalsachieve goals Politics= successful alternative Politics= successful alternative

Sinn Fein- Republic IrelandSinn Fein- Republic Ireland

Sinn Fein – “We Ourselves”

IRA political party

Leader-Gerry Adams

Future of Irish Conflict Future of Irish Conflict

Early 1990s- Early 1990s- peace talks peace talks beginbegin

CeasefireCeasefire Good Friday Good Friday

AgreementAgreement

Good Friday AgreementGood Friday AgreementApril 1998April 1998

Northern Northern Ireland decision Ireland decision

N. Ireland stays N. Ireland stays with the UK with the UK

Citizens can be Citizens can be Irish, British, or Irish, British, or bothboth

Catholics gain Catholics gain some power some power

Ireland TodayIreland Today

Still divided?Still divided? Still working on Still working on

peace agreement peace agreement IRA IRA

disarmament- disarmament- Sept. 2005Sept. 2005

Permanent Permanent peace?peace?