Norther Ireland: A Nation Divided Essay

Throughout Belfast Diary, Conroy works through dense and complex information regarding the various police forces, paramilitaries, and British military groups that reside in the North with the Catholics and Protestants. While reading Conroy’s pages long analysis of the variety of groups, it becomes clear that these groups within Northern Ireland cannot be deemed “good” or “bad”. Labeling a group with such complexities would be falling into the trap of being an ill-equipped outsider. Rather, Conroy implies that one needs to develop an understanding that each group serves a purpose for the community that it’s serving. Conroy explains that each group benefits the community they’re serving almost equally as much as it is disadvantaged by the group. In other words, Conroy explains that the relationship is give and take, it’s not something that is understood at

After the first world war the leaders of europe came together to discuss the boundaries of europe. British rule decided to separate ireland into two sides. North Ireland was created when the british government of Ireland Act in 1920 divided Ireland into two areas; the Irish Free State and the Northern Ireland Roman Catholics, who made up around one-third of the population of Northern Ireland, were largely opposed to the separation. The British took over , but only after many revolts and riots against them from the people of ireland. In 1969 the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was formed. They were a Catholic Irish nationalist group that used guerrilla tactics like bombings and assassinations to oppose British rule and oppression in Ireland. Their main goal was to fight the british that took over their home. The IRA would Fight using guerilla and terrorist tactics including bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, punishment beatings, extortion, smuggling, and robberies. But over time the IRA became more of a dangerous militia then patriots defending their home.

Ireland has always had religious problems between, Pagans, Catholic, Protestant and Jewish people. Ireland has always been a place of interest in English eyes so Ireland was continually concord over and over by the English and the currency, traditions and religions changed with every English King, Queen or Irish Rebel. Between 1641 and 1691 Oliver Cromwell changed everything, Irish Catholics, Pagans and Jews were killed or shipped off to be slaves. The influence to immigrate was very strong, their options were to go to a new world of which they knew no one and had nothing, be killed for your religion, or be gathered up and shipped away as a slave. It was a hard decision they all were forced to

In August 1998 the IRA claimed responsibility for a car bomb which killed 28 and injured 220 in the Northern Irish Town of Omagh. The bombing was the worst terrorist activity in nearly three decades for Ireland. While claiming responsibility for the blast an IRA representative anonymously told an Irish newspaper “Despite media reports, it was not our intention at any time to kill any civilians. It was a commercial target, part of the ongoing war against the Brits. We offer our apologies to the civilians,”

The Northern Ireland Assembly should be made up of 108 members being “elected from 18 constituencies” and having both an elected First Minister as well as a Deputy First Minister. While most issues are resolved via a common majority it is possible for members to subscribe a petition of concern which will lead to a decision being made via both a Unionist and a Nationalist assembly members’ majority. In addition to those, the assembly can decide on the legislation in Northern Ireland as long as it is within the limitations set by London. Furthermore, a Civic Forum should be introduced to deal with “social, economic and cultural” matters. Ultimately, “the principles of non-violence and democracy” must be upheld by all members.

Clearly, a large portion of the turmoil experienced during this type could be put down to the changing government of the period. Though democratically elected and in more direct control of the Irish nation, the Home Rule government what the Irish called the Free State in its first years was not as responsive to the people as some desired (Ferriter, n.d.). An effective civil service providing for many needs was set up, but the ruling party and government experienced internal strife over significant differences of opinion throughout this decade (Ferriter, n.d.). The government was a democracy, but a very young democracy, and with all of the problems that this youth entails in a newly freed and democratically empowered nation and population.

The troubles emerged as the result of several years of the escalating incidents between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. The troubles have been protracted and costly in every sense of the world. From the first civil rights marches in 1968 till the signing of The Good Friday Agreement in 1998, 3,500 people died and over 35,000 were injured in Northern Ireland as the direct result of the aggressive violence , rebellion, bombings, murders, and terror tactics. The Catholic and Protestant troubles and conflicts had a significantly impact on Ireland. This serious issue had impacted the lives of individuals and families that took place or witness the gruesome events that the troubles had causes, the political change and reform of

It also contributes to international problems about which we may only be able to speculate. The most violent splinter group from the Provisional IRA is named the Real Irish

Loyalist fears: The Catholics in Northern Ireland had a lot of reasons to make them feel displeased. The Protestants made their lives very miserable, mainly I think because they felt very apprehensive of them. They were afraid that in a United Ireland Catholics would outvote them and they would lose control over the education of their

Irish independence has been fought for a long time ever since the British occupied Ireland in 1172. The King of England invaded and controlled Ireland. The invasion led to religious and territorial conflicts. There was an effort to create a church comparable to the Church of England in the 1500s. Catholics who live in Ireland were against the idea and a conflict for independence has emerged (Arena & Arrigo, 2004). The suppression of Irish nationalism by the British in the 20th century led to the creation of martyrs for the cause led by the Irish Republican Army (Combs, 2011).

This is exemplified in the modern day conflicts in Northern Ireland, where Catholics and Protestants fight one another, killing each other over differing religious opinions.

The Divided People of Ireland Ireland is a country with two very different peoples living there,

Conflict in Ireland Which of these events has had the biggest impact on the history of the Conflict in Ireland? (a) The Easter Rising, 1916. (b) The deployment of British troops in Northern Ireland, 1969. (c) “Bloody Sunday”, 30th January 1972.

The main objective of this research article is to explore the effect of long term violence and trauma in Northern Ireland’s on group of individuals using two sets of data. The first data was collected between 1985/86, at the peak of the violence and the other set was collected after the ceasefire period between 2005/06. (Dillenburger, Fargas & Akhonzada, 2008:1312). To achieve this objective, the researchers used an assortment of research techniques and methods of data collections. These includes, but not limited to, qualitative research method, narrative inquiry methodology, case study strategy, longitudinal method, in-depth semi structured interview, contextual analysis framework, participant observation, narrative data analysis, gate keeper approach and snowballing to mention a few. (Dillenburger, et al 2008:1312-1320).

Perry Curtis Jr. in his article ‘Moral and Physical Force: The Language of Violence in Irish Nationalism’ points out that constitutional and physical force nationalism existed side by side in Irish politics up until the Anglo – Irish Treaty of 1921. It appears that for a substantial period in Ireland constitutional nationalism and physical force republicanism stood on equal ground until people had an opportunity for their own parliament and then the physical force tradition succumb to constitutional politics. Curtis also alludes to a point made earlier in this piece in how both nationalist traditions shared similar goals despite having different approaches to the issue of British rule. Curtis argues that the relationship between constitutional and physical force nationalism became ’’bound in a close and complex’’ way that had the effect of increasing both the strength of nationalism and the difficulties for Britain in dealing with the Irish Question. This relationship in question can be said to be a bit unusual but worked out to be extremely effective for