The Troubles

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 4-6

Ireland

What do you notice when you look at the map on the left?

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Ireland - religion

What do you know about the importance of religion in (Northern) Ireland?

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What do you already know about the relationship between Ireland and the UK?

a short history lesson

The British wanted to keep control over Ireland. To accomplish this, they sent English and Scottish settlers to Ireland. Look at the map on the right.

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a short history lesson

Most of the new settlers were protestant while the Irish people were mostly catholic. 

Catholics weren't allowed to vote or to have governments jobs. Over time, they were treated more and more poorly and resistance began to rise.

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a short history lesson

Due to the Irish potato famine and the emigration of about 1.000.000 people to the USA the population of Ireland dropped dramatically.

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a short history lesson

The remaining Irish population became more and more unhappy with the British domination. The protestants in the North of Ireland were against having an Irish government as they were afraid the Catholic church would rule the Irish government.

Every time Irish people stood up for themselves, the UK government would execute the leaders.

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a short history lesson

The most infamous day of that year was November 20th when the IRA killed 14 British officers. The revenge: British soldiers fired on the crowd at a Gaelic football match, killing fourteen civilians and wounding sixty-five (this was the first Bloody Sunday, which you might know from a U2 song).

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a short history lesson

This led to a Civil war that went on for almost a year and took an estimated 2.000 lives. The war was fought between former comrades, between families and friends. 

The war is known in Irish as Cogadh na gCarad, 'war of friends'.

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The Sniper

As you may know, before the Troubles, Ireland had been in war for its Independence (1919) and in Civil War (1921-1923). The conflicts resulted in a divided society and generational traumas. Eventually, in the 1960s, leading to the Troubles.  The short story The Sniper  takes place in Dublin during the Civil War.

Read the story in your Short Story booklet 

(pages 2-5)

Northern Ireland TODAY

Even after the Good Friday Agreement and the declaration of the IRA the division between Catholic and Protestant continues.

In Belfast and Londonderry "Peace Walls" are placed between predominantly Irish republican and nationalist neighbourhoods (Green, catholic) from predominantly British loyalist and unionist neighbourhoods (Orange, protestant).

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Teens today

Northern Ireland TODAY

Peter of the International Fund for Ireland talks about the importance of making contact with eachother in the following clip.

He says: "Relationship is what dismantles prejudice". 

Can you explain what this means?

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