NORTHERN IRELAND

1. Sources of conflict:

• 1169 – the English army invaded the Irish island; Henry II was crowned as the King of Ireland (they didn’t recognise the authority of the Pope),

• 1259 – confederation of Gaelic tribes, war (different kingdoms for the first time cooperated and formed the front against England),

• XIV/XV centuries – troops were sent to Ireland (people had to escape, England could form settlement; Richard II signed the treaty with the Irish – he allowed them to rule themselves but soon this treat was forgotten),

• XVI century – Henry VIII sent strong army to destroy monasteries,

• Elizabeth I put heavy taxes on Ireland so then there were uprisings in Ireland but they lost as they weren’t enough strong; in Ireland first English colonies appeared – mainly Ulster (leaders who fought were killed or sent abroad),

• 1641 – Irish national uprising – New Catholic Parliament and Government (the uprising covered whole country),

• 1800 – union between Ireland and Great Britain (before the union citizens had not political rights; Ireland started to be ruled by Parliament and English monarch but Catholics could not be chosen to the Parliament – only Protestants – there weren’t equal rights for Catholics and Protestants):

• Daniel O’Connell – he started action to abolish the union (he wanted equal rights for Catholics so there was the fight to gain rights for them),

• 1829 – Act of Emancipation was signed (equal rights for Catholics and Protestants),

• Orange Order – the party of Protestants which was against equal rights for both: Protestants and Catholics and they decided to work together to protect the rights of Protestants (the name of it comes from the name of William Orange),

• 1845 – the Great Famine took place and the country lost a lot of people who lost their lands and next emigrated or died, Irish language started to disappear.

2. Fight for Home Rule: (they thought that they should be more strong; they wanted to have own Parliament but still under British monarch):

• Charles Stewart Parnel – he started the fight for Home Rule (he showed suggestions that he could create/regain Ireland); Catholics started organizing themselves; he was the leader of different movements,

• 1905 – Sinn Fein appeared which was the Irish Protestant Party (it still exists); this party fought for independence,

• 1913 – Home Rule was proclaimed but not introduced (it was obvious that it was going to military conflict):

• Sinn Fein thought that it wasn’t enough,

• Orange Order was against this rule (against self-government in Ireland).

3. Irish Revival: (coming back to everything what is Celtic):

• XIX century – the age of national consciousness,

• Celtic revival: literature, theatre, schools, universities, Irish Gaelic language (1864-1914),

• William Butler (the founder of the theatre in Dublin) and John Synge (he wrote plays),

• Irish scouting – Konstance Markiewicz.

4. Easter Uprising:

• Irish Volunteers – they organised uprising but it was not successful – it finished tragically (many people were killed),

• Unionists and Sinn Fein were against the uprising,

• the uprising wasn’t supported by masses,

• it was quickly suppressed and the leaders were murdered,

• other people who took part in the uprising were sent to the concentrate camps (like for example Markiewicz),

• there was condemnation from America and England,

• Sinn Fein gained members and became the leader.

5. Elections to British Parliament – 1918:

• majority of the seats were taken by the members of Sinn Fein as illegal party,

• they decided to form Irish government (January 1919),

• De Valera was chosen as the President (being in the prison),

• Irish Republican Army (IRA) led by Michael Collins was collected – he started preparing for war,

• 1919-1921 – partisan war took place (Irish people fought; there was a fight between those who wanted to be the part of Great Britain and those who didn’t want it).

6. Elections to National Parliaments – May 1921 – which was in two parts:

• in the South – Sinn Fein (they wanted independent country),

• in the North – Unionists (they wanted to be a part of Great Britain).

Parliament decided to divide the country.

7. The treaty:

• it was signed in December 1921,

• the decision of it was that Free Irish State was formed and it combined 26 counties,

• it remained dominium (it had own government but it still recognized British monarch as the head of the country),

• no decision connected with the 6 counties of Ulster were made,

• the treaty was rejected by IRA and majority of Sinn Fein (they didn’t accept the treaty),

• there was uprising in Catholic regions of Ulster (but it wasn’t successful).

8. In 1939, Ireland became neutral country (they decided not to be engaged in the conflict).

9. In 1949 (after the Second World War), Ireland left the Commonwealth (the end of recognizing British monarch as the head of the country) and proclaimed Republic (they chose their own President). Britain refused to give back 6 counties of Ulster.

10. Northern Ireland (now):

• it consists of: 6 counties of Ulster and 2 cities like Belfast (the capital of Ireland) and Derry (it is the Irish name but the British use the name London Derry),

• ¾ of people there are protestants and they live mainly in Belfast and 2 counties,

• 1920’s – own Parliament was created – Stormont; persecutions of Catholics started (there were problems with education, work, etc.),

• 1960’s – there were riots of Catholics (in 1969 – British troops entered to Ireland),

• 1973 – legislation about terrorism was introduced,

• 1985 – the agreement with the United Kingdom was signed – Irish Republic was established.