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Thirteen Questions about Northern Ireland
Ireland’ s history is a long story about suffering, suppression and poverty, but also one of strong people who refuse to
give up and who manage to see things from a humorous side in the face of hardship. After most of Ireland got its
freedom from Britain, the northern part remained in union with England, Scotland and Wales. In the following text we
will look at some frequently asked questions (FAQ) in connection with the situation in Northern Ireland.
What is the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland?
Ireland – or the Republic of Ireland as it is officially named – is now a completely separate country and has no longer
any formal bond to the UK. Northern Ireland, on the other hand, is still a part of the UK (the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland), together with England, Scotland and Wales.
Therefore, Northern Ireland is now isolated from Ireland.
Why is there so much talk of Catholics and Protestants in the conflict in Northern Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is historically a Catholic country and a large majority of the Irish are Catholics. Many people
in Northern Ireland are descendants of the original population of this region and are also Catholics. However, the
majority of the Northern Irish have forefathers who emigrated from England and Scotland and these two countries have
been Protestant for almost 500 years. Therefore, we end up with a rather confusing situation with a split population
belonging to different cultural and religious backgrounds.
Why has this separation between the two Irish nations taken place?
Ireland is one of England’s first colonies. Already in the 1100s, England started to gain control over this region. Since
that time the Irish have continued to rebel against their oppressors.
The English had a particularly difficult job in ruling the peasants in the northern corner of the country (called Ulster).
To increase their control they sent Protestant Englishmen and Scots to settle in this area and simply take over land from
the Irish. This immigration proved very effective and by 1703, less than five per cent of the land of Ulster was still in
the hands of the Catholic Irish.
In 1801, the Act of Union made Ireland a part of the United Kingdom. The Catholics were suppressed through
discriminatory laws and regulations, and they started several uprisings which were swiftly crushed by the police and
the British Army. The wish for independence grew stronger and stronger and England had more and more difficulty in
controlling the rebellious Irishmen.
After a period of guerrilla war, an agreement was reached with England about Irish independence in 1921. The only
condition was that the six counties in the north (Ulster) were were to remain in the union with Great Britain. This was
of course done because the majority in the north was Protestant and wanted to keep the bond with Britain. In Ireland
this decision stirred strong feelings and disagreement threw the country into a civil war. Many felt that giving up the
North would mean to betray that region. Still, the negotiators had never planned this arrangement to be permanent.
When things cooled off, the North could be reunited with the rest of Ireland. The war did not change the decision.
Ireland was liberated, but divided in two. Now more than 80 years later the situation is still unresolved.
What do the Catholics and the Protestants want in Northern Ireland?
The Catholics want to be reunited with the rest of Ireland and to leave the union with England, Scotland and Wales.
The Protestants on their side wish to remain within the UK because they feel culturally and historically a part of this
union since their ancestors emigrated from England and Scotland some hundred years ago.
Is the conflict a religious one?
The conflict is primarily a social and cultural one. Religious teachings are not an issue between the Catholics and
Protestants. They do not believe in different gods. Historically, the Catholics have been poor, oppressed and often
unemployed whereas the Protestants have represented the oppressive British side consisting of the privileged classes in
society with better jobs, brighter opportunities, and better wages. So the conflict is cultural, social and historical rather
than religious, although religion is indirectly linked to the conflict because the names of two directions within
Christianity happen to be identical with the two opposing sides.
What is the IRA and the Sinn Fein?
The IRA (the Irish Republican Army) is a Catholic paramilitary organization whose goal is to force the British out of
Northern Ireland and to be reunited with the Republic of Ireland. This terrorist organization has existed since 1919 and
is said to be responsible for the deaths of more than 1,700 people between 1969 and 1993. Violence against civilians
has been accepted by the IRA as a means in the fight for independence.
The Sinn Fein is the political party in Northern Ireland which has had the closest bond to the IRA. This party has
official MPs who are legally elected for Parliament in London. However, they refuse to take their seats there as a
protest against British political and military presence in Northern Ireland. To go to London would mean to
acknowledge/that they accept being part of the union and that they would swear loyalty to the Queen.
What does ‘RUC’ mean?
The RUC is the police force in Northern Ireland – the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Although the police is supposed to
serve the public independent of Catholic or Protestant connections, the fact that more than 90 % of the police officers
have been Protestants has made Catholics very sceptical towards the police. This has become a vicious circle. Because
of the great majority of Protestants in the police it is difficult for Catholics to be recruited and at the same time few
Catholics would want to join the force because that would involve a loyalty bond to a British government they do not
acknowledge. To many Catholics the IRA has therefore served as a kind of special police force to see to their needs for
protection and to assist them if they have been ill-treated in various situations.
What are the ‘Troubles’ and why are there British soldiers in Northern Ireland?
After Irish independence was a fact, the struggle continued to get Ulster back from the British. The biggest obstacle
was that the majority of people in this region did not want to be liberated, they were Protestants and were happy as
citizens of the United Kingdom.
In the 1960s the confrontations hardened and the revolutionary spirit that swept across Europe and the USA affected
the green island as well. The Catholics felt suppressed and demonstrated for civil rights and equal treatment with the
Protestants. Protestants, however saw this action as a provocation against them as a group and the situation ran out of
control. The period after1968 has been called the ‘Troubles’. British soldiers came in 1969 to bring order to society, but
unfortunately took sides and the discrimination against Catholics went on. Terrorism and murder were carried out both
by extreme Catholics and extreme Protestants. A lot of civilians have been hurt or killed. People suspected of being
terrorists could be kept in internment (in practice the same as jail) for years without a trial. Most people who were
brought in were Catholics. The soldiers’ presence in Northern Ireland today is extremely provoking to the Catholic
side.
How do people in Northern Ireland react to the use of violence?
Although many people are trapped by their views of who is right, the majority on both sides are tired by all the
violence and the personal losses caused by it. More than 3,500 people have been killed in this conflict and with a total
population of just 1,5 million this is a very large number.
Many saw the Good Friday Peace Agreement in 1998 as a milestone for peace, since it was signed by the most
important political leaders on both sides. The referendum following (this) showed that approximately 3 out of 4 said
‘yes’ to the agreement. The political leaders Catholic John Hume and Protestant David Trimble later received the
Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution.
What about the future?
The Peace Agreement and the optimism it created was soon followed by the worst terrorist action in the history of
Northern Ireland. On 15 August 1998, terror struck in the quiet village of Omagh. A car bomb of 650 kilo went off in
the middle of the main street. Twenty-nine people were killed and more than 200 wounded. The terrorist group behind
the bomb was against the peace process and wanted to ruin the productive communication between the two sides by
creating new hatred. They were not successful.
There has been some progress as a result of the Good Friday Peace Agreement, but the terrorist organizations who
acknowledged it have not kept their deal entirely, which was to hand in their weapons without delay. Some weapons
have been returned, but not nearly enough to satisfy the opposing side. Therefore, the communication has broken down
several times, but they have continued their cooperation and the fact that both sides actually keep a dialogue instead of
killing each other is a positive sign. Northern Ireland has had its own government in the period following the Peace
Agreement. However, in the autumn of 2002 they were governed from London again because of too much
disagreement between the different sides. Time will show when they get their own government back.
Why do not the Catholics move south to Ireland?
A lot of people wonder why the Catholics who feel suppressed simply do not move down south to the Republic of
Ireland where they would be among their own. And some people do move, but obviously to many Catholics this is a
too simple solution to a very complex question. The Catholics of the northern region feel that the area is theirs and they
do not accept to turn their backs on it just to avoid difficulties. Also, it is important to remember that the actual fighting
is limited to a small part of Northern Ireland. Most people who live in the countryside do not witness the violence in
any other way than TV viewers around the world. Belfast and Londonderry are cities with many Catholics and
Protestants alike. It is here most of the fighting has taken place. They are both small cities and to compare them to
Norway, even the capital Belfast is smaller than Oslo.
How do people live in Belfast?
Certain parts of the city are Protestant whereas others are Catholic. Some of these areas are physically divided by a
wall, absurdly called the Peace Line. Enormous paintings on various buildings show which area you are in. It can be
very dangerous to be in the neighbourhoods of the other side, but there are also neutral districts in Belfast. Although
there are some integrated schools, most children go to separate schools and a lot of inhabitants have never spoken to
Protestants or Catholics, respectively. Still, they are convinced that the other side is wrong. People in Northern Ireland
are born and bred with scepticism and even hatred towards those on the other side. It is still the hope that more
integrated schools and the fact that people are tired of violence may lead to reconciliation, although this may take a
generation or more to achieve. As always, the hope for a better future lies with the children, who are not as
overpowered by hatred as adults.
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