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