Northern Ireland
General facts
capital: Belfast
population: approximately 1.5 million people
size: 5,500 square miles equal to 14139 square kilometres
religion: 50,6 Protestants (mainly British by culture)
38.4 Roman Catholics (mainly Irish by culture)
- Catholics are associated with Irish Nationalism and the restoration of self government
- Protestants regard the Catholic's demands as a threat to their Protestant life and Northern Ireland
economy
- highest number of unemployed people within the UK
- depend on government subsidy, public sector to provide jobs and social welfare as well as unemployment benefit
- use the British pound sterling, several banks print notes that are only can be used in Northern Ireland
- longest river Shannon (386 km)
- biggest sea Lough Neagh (382 square kilometres)
- along the border 450 kilometres several guards of the British Army
Politics
Northern Ireland consists of 6 counties1
The New Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the 'Good Friday Agreement'.
Under the Agreement , the Assembly has full legislative and executive authority in respect of those matters previously within the remit of 6 Northern Ireland government departments:
Department of Agriculture
Department of Economic Development
Department of Education
Department of the Environment
Department of Finance and Personnel
Department of Health and Social Services
Under the Northern Ireland Act of 74 the UK parliament approves all laws for NI and NI departments under the direction and control of a UK cabinet Minister, the Secretary of State for NI. Under the system of direct rule the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has overall responsibility, through the Northern Ireland Office, for political and criminal justice, policy and community relations
History
16 Easter Rising Rebellion by Pro-home rule Irish
20/21 Partition 26 counties became Irish Free State 6 counties Northern Ireland
First Northern Ireland Parliament opens, reason: one might suppose it was because the north-east was the most wealthy part
49 Irish free State became a republic and left the Commonwealth
NI remained part of the UK but wasn't governed by Westminster (has devolved form of government based in Stormont) the Government is Protestant
68 Civil rights march was harshly treated by the police, which led to rioting and clashes between Catholics and Protestants, "the troubles" began
69 British troops were sent to protect Catholics and restore order
70 IRA reorganised and began its campaign of violence
72 "Bloody Sunday" devolved Stormont Parliament was replaced by direct rule from Westminster various attempts to find a solution failed (e.g. power sharing executive)
85 Anglo-Irish Agreement signed by Thatcher and Fitzgerald (opposed by many Ulster Unionists)
93 Downing Street Declaration signed by Major and Albert
94 IRA cessetation of military operations in order to help the democratic peace process
97 Sinn Fein affirm their commitment to democracy and non violence, Unionists remain unconvinced
98 the Good Friday Agreement
98 as IRA has not disarmed Sinn Féin should be denied their seats in the new Assembly (NI Secretary), Sinn Féin say they must be part of the executive first to hand over their weapons
99 Setback main Protestant politicians (Ulster Unionists) announce they won't share power with Sinn Féin as long as IRA refuses disarmament
Irish Nationalism
idea of independence or Home Rule (own decision making) these demands widely supported and associated with Catholics but opposed by Protestants
Historical background
- Easter Rising crushed after a week, sixteen of its leaders executed
- Irish nationalists sacrificed themselves in the belief of more home rule in WW1 whereby unionists were promised the opposite
Catholic minority was discriminated against treated as second class people:
- politically voting system was biased against them Government in Stormont was Protestant
- discrimination in employment,
- most were denied council houses
- Catholic community was victim of ethnic cleansing
Civil rights movement (started mid 60s)
- were mostly Catholic, but also a few liberal Protestants
- argued for change, end of discrimination, more politicos rights and integration in the political system of Great Britain and the adaptation of their standard in democracy and rights
- nationalism and reunification was of hardly any importance
- seen as a threat by Protestants
- Protestants saw themselves as being Ulster or British while Catholics saw themselves as Irish their actions became more violent as the British government was unable to meet with their demands and their military became more aggressive and prejudiced against the minority
- IRA campaign 56-60 relatively low levelled
- Violence came as peaceful Civil Rights Movement was answered with Protestant violence and Catholics turned to the IRA
- British government mostly ignored the Irish Problem
- 69 IRA split in two (official and provisional IRA Provos see themselves as defenders of catholic areas in NI
- summer 69 serious violence
- August British troops were sent in as a temporary peacekeeping measure (remained)
- seen positively first , but as they remained and no politically solution was found friction grew between the troops
- IRA was able to portray them as an army of occupation increase of violence led to suspension of Stormont and direct rule as a temporarily measure
Sinn Fein (We ourselves)
- Irish republican party founded in 1905 (leader Gerry Adams)
- fight for the breaking of the political connection between Ireland and Britain
- is also committed to socialism, nonacceptance of the British Parliament in Ireland and an autonomous Irish state
- campaigned British withdrawal and a 32-county Ireland
- won the 1918 general election set up Assembly of Ireland
- the party split in 1922 on the issue of the Treaty which partitioned Ireland
- little impact on politics throughout the 1920s and for the next two decades
- late 1950s and early 1960s they enjoyed some electoral success with the IRA's border campaign
- In the 1960s, Sinn Féin adopted a more radical stance on social and economic affairs and campaigned politically to gain support on issues other than partition
- to another split
- The Sinn Féin which emerged in 1970 - popularly known at the time as 'Provisional' Sinn Féin - was to evolve through the '70s and ' 80s to the party known today
Sinn Féin regrets the IRA's ending of the cessation. We remain totally committed to our peace strategy and to the need for the peace process to be rebuilt. Our goal is to make peace between all the people of this island. What is required is a meaningful process of dialogue and negotiations without preconditions. The British government must stop pursuing policies which have abused the process in the past and which continue to set back the goal of securing a real Irish consensus.
Marching season
demonstrations which take place between Easter and end of September results are political friction, tension and confrontation
the Parades Commission independent body ensures that disputes over parades are resolved 75% of annual parades organised by Protestant/Unionist community
IRA
Irish Republican Army, Terror organisation
History:
- founded in 1919, fought for social revolutionary movement in 1919
- 21against England aiming for a united Irish state
- became illegal in 1936
- active since 1949 mostly in North Ireland
- split into "Officials" (moderate) and "Provisionals" (radical wing) responsible for several terrorist attacks
- 1994 proclaimed truce
- 1995 recall of the commitment
- 1997 dialogue between British and republican government and truce is renewed
- up to 93 the IRA was responsible for 17555 deaths 1006 of them security forces
- 376 killed "by accident" some civilians some IRA members killed by their own bombs
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Frequently Asked Questions: Northern Ireland Language Preview
What are some general facts about Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland's capital is Belfast, and it has a population of approximately 1.5 million people. It covers 5,500 square miles (14,139 square kilometers). The religious makeup is approximately 50.6% Protestant (mainly British by culture) and 38.4% Roman Catholic (mainly Irish by culture).
What are the key cultural and political associations of the religious groups in Northern Ireland?
Catholics are generally associated with Irish Nationalism and the restoration of self-government, while Protestants often view Catholic demands as a threat to their Protestant way of life and the current status of Northern Ireland.
What are some characteristics of Northern Ireland's economy?
Northern Ireland has the highest number of unemployed people within the UK and is dependent on government subsidies. They use the British pound sterling, and some banks print notes usable only in Northern Ireland.
What are the main geographical features of Northern Ireland?
The longest river is the Shannon (386 km), and the biggest sea lough is Lough Neagh (382 square kilometers). There are several guards of the British Army along the 450-kilometer border.
How is Northern Ireland governed politically?
Northern Ireland consists of 6 counties. The New Northern Ireland Assembly was established as part of the 'Good Friday Agreement', granting it legislative and executive authority over matters previously handled by 6 Northern Ireland government departments. However, the UK parliament approves all laws for NI and NI departments under the direction and control of a UK cabinet Minister, the Secretary of State for NI.
Can you outline some key events in Northern Ireland's history?
Significant historical events include the 1916 Easter Rising, the 1920/21 Partition leading to the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland's creation, the opening of the First Northern Ireland Parliament, the Irish Free State becoming a republic in 1949, the 1968 Civil rights march that initiated "the troubles", the deployment of British troops in 1969, the 1972 "Bloody Sunday", the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement, the 1993 Downing Street Declaration, the 1994 IRA cease-fire, Sinn Fein's commitment to democracy in 1997, and the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
What is Irish Nationalism?
Irish Nationalism is the idea of independence or Home Rule (own decision-making). It's widely supported by and associated with Catholics but is often opposed by Protestants.
What were some sources of discrimination against Catholics?
The Catholic minority faced discrimination in various areas, including biased voting systems, employment discrimination, denial of council houses, and was a victim of ethnic cleansing.
What was the Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland?
The Civil Rights Movement, started in the mid-1960s, largely composed of Catholics with some liberal Protestants, advocated for an end to discrimination, more political rights, and integration into the British political system. Initially, nationalism and reunification were not primary goals, however as protests were answered with Protestant violence, Catholics turned to the IRA. Protestants often perceived the movement as a threat.
What is Sinn Fein?
Sinn Féin is an Irish republican party founded in 1905, led by Gerry Adams. It aims to break the political connection between Ireland and Britain, establish an autonomous Irish state, and advocated for British withdrawal and a 32-county Ireland. They have held various political positions, and split over the Treaty which partitioned Ireland in 1922.
What is the "Marching Season"?
The "Marching Season" refers to demonstrations taking place between Easter and the end of September, often resulting in political friction, tension, and confrontation. The Parades Commission aims to resolve disputes over parades.
What is the IRA?
The IRA (Irish Republican Army) is considered a terror organisation. Founded in 1919, it fought for a united Irish state. It split into "Officials" (moderate) and "Provisionals" (radical wing). It was responsible for several terrorist attacks and declared truces at various times.
- Citar trabajo
- Sabine Meisner (Autor), 2001, Northern Ireland, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/99442
