the current issues between Ireland and Northern Ireland

Question

Visiting Ireland at the moment and I don’t want to misunderstand or say anything incorrect when conversations come up!

In: 0

Answer 1

If you want a rough Irish history speedrun:

Starting around the 12th century or so, Ireland began to be raided by/invaded by/occupied by/settled by/unioned with whoever was in power in Britain at the time. As often happens, the reaction in Ireland to this varied over the centuries depending on the living and economic conditions, from acceptance when things were relatively good to outright hatred when things were terrible (19th century famines especially).

In the early 20th century, a short independence struggle lead to a treaty agreeing that Ireland could leave the UK, but the part of Ireland where the largely Protestant, “Unionist” descendants of the (17th century) settlers were in the majority, could remain in the UK. And they chose to do so.

So Ireland split, between an independent state in the (Republic of) Ireland, and Northern Ireland which remained in the UK. The history of Northern Ireland was very troubled, with a lot of discrimination against the Catholic “Nationalist” minority, attacks, reprisals, collusion by security services. Things got very ugly from the ’60s onwards.

Things, IMO, were greatly helped by the US’s involvement as a 3rd party. They helped encourage an agreement (the Good Friday Agreement) which had something for everyone. Anyone in Northern Ireland can have an Irish passport, or a British one. Can travel freely across the border to (the Republic of) Ireland, or travel across the sea to the rest of the UK. Plus the Republic gave up its claim to Northern Ireland, and both Ireland and the UK acknowledged that Northern Ireland is free to choose its own path.

Things have been relatively better, but potential changes due to the UK leaving the EU are shaking the foundations again, with customs and freedom-of-movement issues arising. Suddenly there’s the potential of border patrols and checkpoints being introduced, and it’s making people fear a return to the violence of the 60s/70s/80s.