The Troubles in Northern Ireland

Historical background and key events

Presentation by Anne Johnsrudhttp://annejohnsrud.blogspot.com

Contents

• The colonization of Ireland

• The Irish War of Independence

• The Division of Ireland• The Irish Civil War• Protestants versus

Catholics?

• Issues of the conflict• The population of

Northern Ireland today• The Troubles• Towards a lasting

peace?

The colonization of Ireland

• 1170: Ireland becomes England’s first colony

• 1507-1547: Henry VIIIs reign – All of Ireland controlled by England

• 1610: Protestants from Scotland settle in Northern Ireland

The Irish War of Independence

• 1916: Easter Rebellion/ Easter Rising

• January 1919 – July 1921

• Guerilla war• The Irish Republican

Army (old IRA) against the British

• Result: The Anglo-Irish Treaty

The Division of Ireland

• The Anglo-Irish Treaty (agreement)

• 1922: The Island is divided into an Irish Free State and Northern Ireland

• The Irish Free State not completely independent (under British crown)

• Republic of Ireland 1937

Irish Civil War

• June 1922 – May 1923• The Free State Army supported the

agreement that divided Ireland• The IRA was opposed to the agreement• The war was won by the Free State Army

Protestants vs. Catholics?

• The Irish were Catholics• The English and Scottish who settled in

Northern Ireland were Protestants• In Northern Ireland the Irish Catholics were

poor and suppressed by the Protestants

Issues of the conflict

• Economy• National identity• Equal rights and opportunities• Independence after colonization

The Population of Northern Ireland Today

• 60 % Protestants, most of whom feel they belong to the UK (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

• 40 % Catholics, most of whom feel they should be independent form the UK/ be part of the Republic of Ireland (Eire)

The Troubles

• 1969: British troops stationed in Northern Ireland

• January 30th 1972: Bloody Sunday

• Unionists vs. Nationalists

• 70s and 80s: several bombings/ gun attacks in Northern Ireland

The Troubles continue

• 1974: Terrorist bombings in Birmingham, England

• 1981-82: Republicans die in hungerstrike

• UFF (Ulster Freedom Fighters)

• IRA (Irish Republican Army)

Towards a lasting peace…?

• 1998: The Good Friday Agreement• Car bombs in Omagh, Northern Ireland kill 29

and injure 530• 2005: IRA agrees to end violence and

weapons are destroyed• 2009: Antrim killings

Sources:• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Civil_War (accessed on March 14th

2009)• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_War_of_Independence (accessed on

March 14th 2009)• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_troubles (accessed on March 14th 2009)• http://tracks1mk.cappelendamm.no/c100339/artikkel/vis.html?tid=10627

6 (accessed on March 14th 2009)

Images from FLICKR:• www.flickr.com/photos/78918694@N00/1190974445 (accessed on

March 15th)• www.flickr.com/photos/78918694@N00/983429652 (accessed on March

15th)• www.flickr.com/photos/78918694@N00/1190974445 (accessed on

March 15th)• http://static.flickr.com/105/368638762_f07626b5b7_m.jpg (accessed on

March 15th)• http://static.flickr.com/3292/2512382548_738cfaaf84_m.jpg (accessed

on March 15th)• http://static.flickr.com/1004/857812515_872dc1d49a_m.jpg (accessed

on March 15th)• http://static.flickr.com/2159/2155191828_1b55dd0320_m.jpg (accessed

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