THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NORTHERN IRELAND National Flag
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NORTHERN IRELAND
National Flag • Green: Gaelic and Anglo-Norman population • Orange: Protestant planters and their descendants, supporters of William of Orange. • White: truce between the 'Orange' and the 'Green’ • Introduced during the revolutionary year of 1848 as an emblem of the Young Ireland movement • Easter Uprising of 1916: raised above the General Post Office > first regarded as the national flag • Prior to the War of Independence (1919 -21) the green flag with gold harp was the main symbol of nationalism.
Coat of Arms • Symbol of Ireland since the 13 th century • First appeared on Anglo-Irish coinage of 1536 during the reign of Henry VIII. • Harp of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland from the 11 th century. • Selected as the state emblem on the establishment of the Irish Free State (1922).
Ulster Flag The Red Hand of Ulster - Denotes the Irish province of Ulster. - Mythical Irish figure Labraid Lámh Dhearg (Red Hand Labraid) - The symbol was already used by the Normans - Now: Ulster loyalist symbol Ulster loyalism: - a political ideology, mainly among working class Ulster Protestants in Northern Ireland. - They support the British Monarchy, the continued existence of Northern Ireland, and oppose a united Ireland. - Ulster Protestants are mostly descendants of settlers from Great Britain (17 th and 18 th centuries –The Plantation).
Religion in Ireland
National Saint Patrick (17 th March) • (c. 389 -461) Born in Wales, carried off by pirates, spent six years in slavery before escaping and training as a missionary. • Brought Christianity to Ireland • His day is the only national holiday in Ireland • Morning mass, parades, bacon and cabbage
Shamrock • Legend: Patrick explained the Holy Trinity with this plant. • First reference to it in 16 th century • Worn on St. Patrick’s Day • Was considered so rebellious that in Queen Victoria’s time the Irish regiments were forbidden to display it.
Celtic Cross • Many free-standing crosses erected in Ireland from the 7 th century. Some with runes. • Different interpretations about the original meaning: - Circle: symbol of eternity that emphasizes the endlessness of God’s love. - Great stone Celtic crosses were carved from the standing stones of the Druids and were originally phallic symbols.
Leprechaun • Irish fairy • They are unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes. • Possess a hidden pot of gold. • You can track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker's hammer. If caught, he can be forced to reveal his treasure.
Milestones of Irish History 4 th c. BC-12 th c. AD 9 th – 10 th c. 12 th c. 16 th – 18 th c. 1800 First half of 20 th c. 1999 • • Independence, partition Protestant colonisation Union with Britain Viking invasion Norman invasion Celtic Ireland Self-government in Northern Ireland Ceasefire, first Protestant-Catholic coalition government Protestant settlers to Ulster, penal laws against Catholics, uprisings Small kindgoms/tribes, no unity, St. Patrick converts the Irish Walled towns, Normans assimilate, Gaelic revival Civil war, republic, civil rights protests, 'The Troubles', IRA First towns are founded, international trade, Brian Boru unites land Catholic emancipation, no home rule, famine, emigration
Milestones of Irish History 4 th c. BC-12 th c. AD 9 th – 10 th c. 12 th c. 16 th – 18 th c. 1800 First half of 20 th c. 1999 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Celtic Ireland Viking invasion Norman invasion Protestant colonisation Union with Britain Independence, partition Self-government in Northern Ireland Small kindgoms/tribes, no unity, St. Patrick converts the Irish First towns are founded, international trade, Brian Boru unites land Walled towns, Normans assimilate, Gaelic revival Protestant settlers to Ulster, penal laws against Catholics, uprisings Catholic emancipation, no home rule, famine, emigration Civil war, republic, civil rights protests, 'The Troubles', IRA Ceasefire, first Protestant-Catholic coalition government
Celtic Ireland Book of Ballymote Ardmore Ogham
Celtic Ireland • 4 th c. BC Celtic tribes begin to invade • 5 kingdoms: Ulster, Meath, Leinster, Munster, Connaught + Tara (Tara: the seat of the high-king), each kingdom was further subdivided into mini-kingdoms (tuath) ~150 • Class society: king, druids, bards, soldiers, craftsmen, farmers, herdsmen, slaves • No towns, but farms with large families • "Writing": Ogham - an alphabet used primarily to represent Gaelic languages. 5 th century: St Patrick brings Christianity: ~800 monasteries were built
The Rock of Cashel
The Book of Kells • Monasteries are centres of education and religion (eg. Glendalough, Cashel) • Missionary activity abroad
Viking Invasion Their main target: monasteries (great treasures) decline of the great monasteries BUT: • established the first towns in Ireland (Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Waterford) • extensive international trade (slave, silver, etc) with far away lands (Mediterranean, Baltic, etc. ) What is the common point between Rhodri the Great, Kenneth Mac. Alpin and King Alfred the Great? Brian Boru: Defeated the Vikings started to assimilate United the country: First king of all Ireland (1002) (after him Ireland is divided again by powerful warlords)
Norman Invasion 12 th century: Invited by the king of Leinster to help him become the king of all 5 kingdoms. They were paid with land. Henry II of England becomes the overlord of Ireland, a century later ¾ of Ireland belongs to the Normans 14 th-15 th century: Irish Revival: Anglo-Norman influence shrinks to Dublin (the English are busy fighting in France the Hundred Years War and then the War of Roses) • Intermarrying among Normans and Irish (in spite of laws forbidding it) • Renaissance of Gaelic language and culture
Protestant Colonisation Henry VIII: First English king to control all Ireland call himself king of Ireland TO CONVERT IRELAND • Monasteries closed (1539) • Catholic churches and cathedrals are turned into Anglican • 1550 s: First English settlers (Protestants)
Protestant Colonisation Elisabeth I • 1560 s Irish rebellions …………. . come to help: but the …………… . . . . is destroyed • 1590 s O’Neill’s Rebellion in the North (Ulster): first Irish victories, then Elizabeth’s army defeats the Irish (Battle of Kinsale) Thousands flee to ………….
Protestant Colonisation Elisabeth I • 1560 s Irish rebellions Spanish come to help: but the Spanish Armada is destroyed • 1590 s O’Neill’s Rebellion in the North (Ulster): first Irish victories, then Elizabeth’s army defeats the Irish (Battle of Kinsale) Thousands flee to Spain English and Scottish Protestants are settled (the Plantation) 40. 000 Scots by 1618! (no intermarriages, as different religion) Why does Northern Ireland (Ulster) have a Protestant majority today? • O’Neill’s lands were in Ulster (confiscated) • Land is the most fertile in Ulster • That is where Protestants were settled first and in the largest numbers
Protestant Colonisation 1641 Protestant settlers were massacred in Ireland, Catholics temporarily regained their lost lands Charles I needs money to raise an army against Ireland Civil War in England (1642 -5) Cromwell’s pay off (1649 -52): • Invaded Ireland (massacred the population) • Population reduced from 1. 5 million to half a million. • Most Irish land was in Protestant (English, Scottish) hands from the 1650 s until the 1920 s! • 60. 000 Irish Catholics became indentured servants in the ……………….
Protestant Colonisation 1641 Protestant settlers were massacred in Ireland, Catholics temporarily regained their lost lands Charles I needs money to raise an army against Ireland Civil War in England (1642 -5) Cromwell’s pay off (1649 -52): • Invaded Ireland (massacred the population) • Population reduced from 1. 5 million to half a million. • Most Irish land was in Protestant (English, Scottish) hands from the 1650 s until the 1920 s! • 60. 000 Irish Catholics became indentured servants in the Caribbean Islands
Protestant Colonisation James II: Flees to Ireland when his daughter and son-in-law (…………………) are invited by Parliament to take his place on the throne (……………. Revolution 1688) Battle of the Boyne (1690): biggest battle ever fought on Irish ground …………………. …defeats James II
Protestant Colonisation James II: Flees to Ireland when his daughter and son-in-law (William of Orange) are invited by Parliament to take his place on the throne (Glorious Revolution 1688) Battle of the Boyne (1690): biggest battle ever fought on Irish ground William of Orange defeats James II PENAL LAWS: All power given to the Protestants (10% of population).
Protestant Colonisation Catholics could NOT: Change at the end of the 18 th century: • Celebrate mass (including Christenings, marriages, funerals) • Inherit or buy land • Britain needed Irish soldiers to fight in the American War of • Live in larger towns • Independence Attend Catholic schools (these were closed or turned into Protestant • The American War of Independence convinced the British of the schools) • importance to give limited self-government to its colonies Go to university • Take office (teacher, lawyer, Member of Parliament, army) • Vote - Catholics can inherit land (why isn’t it a danger? ) • Carry weapons - Catholic priests can return to Ireland • Marry a Protestant - Catholic Relief Act: 1795 Protestants establish the Orange Order - named after their hero, William of Orange - to defend and preserve Protestants and their rule in Ireland - Still active in Northern Ireland, processions on Catholics 12 July every year to commemorate the victory o All Catholic priests had to leave the country - death sentence for those • Can vote (but they could not vote FOR a Catholic person, who refused and to those giving them shelter! French priests poured in of William of Orange over the Irish a source Catholics cannot be MPs) as missionaries risking their life • Could become sheriffs, jurors, officers (why isn’t it a o of conflict between Catholic and Protestant Attending the Anglican church service was compulsory (missing it cost 12 danger? ) pence each Sunday) • Could own weapons (under specific conditions) o sections of towns. Anyone reporting a priest or any offence against the Penal Laws was Protestants become alarmed rewarded
Act of Union – 1800 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland created Daniel O’Connell “The Liberator” (a Catholic lawyer educated in France). Aim: peacefully achieve the right for Catholics to be MPs. • Success: Partial emancipation to Catholics, Relief Acts: Catholics can become MPs in Westminster • But: no home rule granted to Ireland (only in 1914, taking effect in 1921)
What does this map show?
Famine – 1845 -1848 Potato crop was attacked by a fungus - 1 million people starved to death - People couldn’t pay rent to the landlords had to leave the land + their home - 1 million emigrated to the USA (Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada) on “coffin ships” (20% of the people died before landing) Second half of 19 th century: fights for independence support from America put down
Partition of Ireland
Partition of Ireland 1916: Easter Rising: - Post Office occupied on Dublin’s O’Connell Street and Ireland’s independence declared - 5 days later a British gunboat sailed up the Irish Sea and the River Liffey and bombarded Dublin - 16 leaders executed (some could escape: Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, Éamon De Valera) nationalist sentiments stronger than ever 1919 -21 Anglo-Irish War (War of Independence): Nationalists Fighting for an independent Irish Republic; Led by Michael Collins vs Unionists Protestants fighting to remain within the Union
Éamon De Valera Michael Collins
Partition of Ireland 1921 Dec. : Anglo-Irish Treaty - Partition of Ireland. - Ireland is divided: 6 counties in Ulster remain within the UK - Irish Free State created: 26 counties become independent from Britain but remain a dominion (have to remain within the Commonwealth and loyal to the English monarch) not a republic yet! 1921 -22 Civil War: initiated by Éamon De Valera’s party (Sinn Fein). Michael Collins is the Commander of the Irish forces and the President of the Irish Free State (for 10 days before he is killed). Later De Valera wins the elections (PM for 16 years then President for 14)
Partition of Ireland New Constitution (1937) (mainly the work of De Valera) - The territory of the state was declared to be “the whole island of Ireland” - But Irish laws applied only to the 26 counties - The head of the state is the President (~republic!) - Conservatively Catholic: • Divorce was made illegal • The place of women was to be “within the home. Mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties within the home. ” 1949 Ireland is a republic! Withdraws from the British Commonwealth
Abortion ships and abortion drones
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland …
Meanwhile in Northern Ireland …
The Troubles - Civil Rights movement in Northern Ireland Separate schools, neighbourhoods, sports teams for the 1972 July 21: Bloody Friday – 20 bombs explode all over Belfast Catholic and Protestant communities within 1 hour (130 injured + 9 killed) 19 bombs in other Northern Irish towns Clashes between Catholics and Protestants on the streets British soldiers are sent to Northern Ireland (Belfast and Derry 1984 bomb aimed at Margaret Thatcher (she is saved, but 5 die and especially) The IRA begins its killing and bombing campaign many more wounded) to force the British government to pull back its soldiers 1993 Downing Street Declaration: Ulster will join the Republic of 1971 -75 the policy of internment – (IRA) terrorist suspects Ireland only if and when the majority of the voters would decide for can be arrested without any proof or process reunification on a referendum (principle of self-determination) Signed by the British and Irish PM 1972 January 30: Bloody Sunday – mass demonstration in 1994 IRA announces a cease-fire. Talks begin between IRA + Derry against internment; British troops shoot into the crowd. politicians 3 days later: IRA burns down the British Embassy in Dublin
Self-Government in Northern Ireland April 1998: Good Friday Agreement: signed by Tony Blair - New Northern Irish Assembly in Belfast - Coalition government (Catholics and Protestants together in gov. ) - Decommissioning of paramilitary weapons - Changing the composition of the Northern Irish police - Modify the Irish Constitution (1937): The territory of the state should not be declared to be “the whole island of Ireland” - Release political prisoners
Which side of the conflict do the following murals represent?
Which side of the conflict do the following murals represent?
Which side of the conflict do the following murals represent?
Which side of the conflict do the following murals represent?
Which side of the conflict do the following murals represent?
Which side of the conflict do the following murals represent?
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