NORTHERN IRELAND

Cecilie gave us a lecture about Northern Ireland and the conflict there. Northern Ireland is located on the northern part of the Irish island and is in union with the United Kingdom. They have been a part of United Kingdom since 1922. The capital is Belfast and the official languages are English and Irish.

The conflict involved the IRA (Irish Republican Army) and the British. In 1923 the British invaded Northern Ireland because they meant that they should be a part of Great Britain. The IRA’s original goal when this happened was to get all of the British establishments out of Ireland and get up an independent Irish government.

The conflict in Northern Ireland had political and religious roots from old times. Some people in Northern Ireland, especially the Protestants, believed it should remain part of the United Kingdom. Others, and then particularly the Catholics, meant it should leave the UK and become a part of Ireland.