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Ireland is an island slightly northwest of England.  “Northern Ireland” is in the northeastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland.  Northern Ireland has about a million people, with slightly more Protestants than Catholics.  It is part of the United Kingdom rather than the country of Ireland.  Its Northern Ireland Assembly has 108 elected officials, of whom 59 are “Unionists” (who support remaining in the United Kingdom) and 42 are “Nationalist” (who seek joining the independent Irish Republic).  The other seven do not specify their allegiance.  The largest Christian denominations are Catholic,  the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Anglican Church of Ireland, and the Methodist Church, with the total number of Protestant members outnumbering the Catholics.

Ireland is an island slightly northwest of England.  “Northern Ireland” is in the northeastern one-sixth of the island of Ireland.  Northern Ireland has about a million people, with slightly more Protestants than Catholics.  It is part of the United Kingdom rather than the country of Ireland.  Its Northern Ireland Assembly has 108 elected officials, of whom 59 are “Unionists” (who support remaining in the United Kingdom) and 42 are “Nationalist” (who seek joining the independent Irish Republic).  The other seven do not specify their allegiance.  The largest Christian denominations are Catholic,  the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Anglican Church of Ireland, and the Methodist Church, with the total number of Protestant members outnumbering the Catholics.

Irish rebellions against British control date back to rebellions in 1798 and 1803, and several secret Irish societies (such as the Defenders and Ribbonmen) played roles in those uprisings.  There was an Irish Republican Army that fought the British at the Battle of Ridgeway.  There was the Easter Rising from April 24 to 30, 1916, during which Irish rebels capture key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic.  The British suppressed this and executed its leaders.  But on 1919, the Irish Republic was declared through the efforts of its leader, Michael Collins (1890-1922). Unfortunately, Michael Collins was killed just three years later during an Irish civil war.

Irish rebellions against British control date back to rebellions in 1798 and 1803, and several secret Irish societies (such as the Defenders and Ribbonmen) played roles in those uprisings.  There was an Irish Republican Army that fought the British at the Battle of Ridgeway.  There was the Easter Rising from April 24 to 30, 1916, during which Irish rebels capture key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic.  The British suppressed this and executed its leaders.  But on 1919, the Irish Republic was declared through the efforts of its leader, Michael Collins (1890-1922). Michael Collins was killed just three years later during an Irish civil war.

Northern Ireland remains in control of the British, despite the objections of the growing Catholic minority.  On “Bloody Sunday” (1972), the Irish held a peaceful march for freedom in Derry, Northern Ireland. The British soldiers responded by shooting thirteen unarmed protesters dead, including six minors, and another died from the wounds a few months later.  Five had been shot in the back.  Army vehicles ran over two protesters.  The British never punished those responsible and several songs (one by John Lennon, and other by U2) commemorate the tragedy.  There is a Christian rock group that dedicates its name to the event, calling themselves “Bloody Sunday.”

Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom by the consent of the majority of the poipulation, and devolved government in Northern Ireland involves cross-community co-operation. This is despite the long campaign of murderous terrorism waged by the IRA, including numerous bombings of 'soft' targets (shops, restaurants, railway stations and the like) in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and a lessser but none the less deadly campaign of terrorism by Loyalist groups. The IRA terrorism campaign was financed by Americans, and the support of much of the American judiciary made the United States a safe haven for terrorists attacking an American ally.  

 

This event made many Irish feel that complete independence is the only solution, and that armed revolt is the only way to achieve independence.  Membership in the IRA then soared.  At one point they launched handheld missiles on the headquarters of the British prime minister, in the hopes of killing John Major.  He escaped injury.  More recently, violence in Northern Ireland has subsided, but there is no end to the controversy over whether the Protestants or Catholics should rule that northeastern corner of Ireland.

'''B. Terrorism'''

'''B. Terrorism'''