The Good Friday Agreement and Derry Girls

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

The Good Friday Agreement 

ft. Derry Girls 

Learning Objectives

• At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the mechanisms behind the Northern Irish peace process and the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. 
• You will be able to discuss the present-day implications of the Good Friday Agreement. 
• You will understand the socio-cultural context of Derry Girls season 2 episode 6.

Introduce the learning objectives of the lesson and explain what the students will learn by the end of it.

What do you already know about the Northern Irish peace process/ The Good Friday Agreement

History 

'The British' first invaded Ireland in 1170 and they have been a part of the Island's texture ever since. 

On more than one occassion the Irish tried to break free from English rule. They finally succeeded in 1922 when Irish independence from England started a new conflict: the Irish Civil War. 

Two sides of one coin

Unionists - mainly Protestants - wanted to remain within a union with Great Britain, while nationalists - mainly Catholics - wanted to create an independent Irish nation. 

The Troubles

The Troubles was a period of conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. It was characterized by sectarian violence and political strife between the Catholic and Protestant communities.

Explain the background of the conflict in Northern Ireland and introduce the concept of The Troubles.

The Peace Process

The peace process in Northern Ireland began in the 1990s with talks between political parties and paramilitary groups. It led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which set out a framework for power-sharing and reconciliation.

Explain how the peace process began and how it led to the Good Friday Agreement.

The Good Friday Agreement

The Good Friday Agreement is a peace agreement signed by the British and Irish governments, as well as most of the political parties in Northern Ireland. It established a power-sharing government and addressed issues such as policing, justice, and human rights.

Discuss the key components of the Good Friday Agreement and its significance in ending The Troubles.

Present-day Implications

The Good Friday Agreement has had a significant impact on Northern Ireland's politics and society, but it has faced challenges such as Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Biden to Belfast

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-65234789

Significance GFA

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/07/how-did-the-good-friday-agreement-come-about-and-why-is-it-so-significant

Discuss the ongoing implications of the Good Friday Agreement, including its challenges and successes.

Derry Girls Season 2 Episode 6

Derry Girls is a comedy-drama series set in Derry, Northern Ireland, during The Troubles. 

Season 2 episode 6 explores the impact of the Good Friday Agreement on the characters' lives and relationships.

Introduce the TV series Derry Girls and explain how the final episode of season 2 relates to the Good Friday Agreement.

Watch Derry Girls

Season 2, Episode 6

Group Discussion

In twos, discuss the following questions: 

• How do the characters in Derry Girls season 2 episode 6 perceive the Good Friday Agreement? 
• How does the socio-cultural context of the episode influence their perspectives?

Instruct the students to divide into small groups and discuss the questions in the body of the slide.

Conclusion

The Good Friday Agreement was a significant development in the peace process in Northern Ireland, and it continues to shape the country's politics and society today. 

Derry Girls season 2 episode 6 provides a unique perspective on the impact of the agreement on individuals and communities.

Summarize the key points of the lesson and emphasize the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind the Northern Irish peace process and the present-day implications of the Good Friday Agreement.

References

1. Good Friday Agreement, gov.uk. 

2. Derry Girls, Channel 4

Provide references for the information presented in the lesson.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.