Download - Ireland
Ireland and her troubled relationship with the United Kingdom
How is Ireland different: a Celtic past that's still alive
Celtic people settled in Ireland (and rest of British Isles) 2000 300 BC
Celtic language in Ireland is Irish Gaelic
Anglo-Saxon invaders of England never reached Ireland
English = language of the Angles
Listen to some Irish Gaelic:
http://www.irish-sayings.com/
How is Ireland different: Catholic Ireland vs Protestant UK
Why did England become Protestant?
Henry VIII
... and his wives
Henry takes control of the Church from the Pope (and all of the Church land ...)
But Ireland did not want to become Protestant!
... and the Catholic Irish continued fighting until ...
... 12 July 1690: the Battle of the Boyne
(Protestant) King William III of Orange defeats (Catholic) James II
... and the Orange Order still celebrate the victory.
How is Ireland different: Ireland as a colony of Britain
Plantations: land taken from Irish Catholics and given to English and Scottish settlers
Farming for exports, not to feed the Irish
Irish Catholics could not vote or be elected to the Irish Parliament
Potato famine 1840s: Irish starve while landowners export food from Ireland ...
Irish independence - partly
Easter Rising 1916
Partition 1920/21: Irish Free State (later Republic of Ireland) established;
Northern Ireland remains part of the UK
Northern Ireland 1921-1969
2/3 Protestants, 1/3 Catholics
no armed struggle
discrimination of Catholics: no political influence, high unemployment, low income
1969: Catholics inspired by events in the US:
the civil rights movement: march for your rights!
Northern Ireland 1969-1998:
The Troubles
Republicans (IRA and others) want Northern Ireland to become part of the Republic of Ireland, also known as nationalists (think all Irishmen belong to one nation). These are mostly Catholics
Loyalists (loyal to the United Kingdom) also known as unionists (want to keep the union with the UK). These are mostly Protestants
British Army sent in to control Northern Ireland
The situation since 1998
Northern Ireland:
Good Friday Agreement ends (most of) the violence
IRA hands in weapons 2005
still tension; Catholics and Protestants live in separate areas
Republic of Ireland
economic tiger
Catholic church still influential
no abortion (even in rape cases)
no divorce
no contraceptives