The Divided People of Ireland

The Divided People of Ireland Ireland is a country with two very different peoples living there,

Nationalists (or Catholics) and Unionists (or Protestants). There are

many differences between the beliefs of the Nationalists and the

Unionists. The main one being that Nationalists want a united Ireland

and see themselves as Irish whereas Unionists want to be part of

Britain and see themselves as British. Before partition this caused

many problems because Nationalists resented being ruled from London,

where the politicians there probably had never even been to Ireland

and so, in their opinion could not know what would be best for the

people of Ireland. So, although they do not like partition and would

prefer Ireland was one country ruled from Dublin, they prefer

partition to how it used to be as at least they get to rule their own

affairs. Unionists also dislike partition however they like being part

of Britain and having their affairs ruled from London. So to them,

partition is preferable to a united Ireland ruled from Dublin.

One of the reasons for this clash of beliefs is the differences in

their culture. Catholics speak Gaelic and play Gaelic football while

Protestants speak English and play British football. These differences

in culture provide a wall between the two groups, which means they are

alien to each other. This divide increases mistrust and hate between

Catholics and Protestants and as this increases, the divide widens

even more. The larger the divide becomes, the less likely there will

be an end to the problems between the groups.

Children in Irela...

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... done. Incidents such as that where young Catholic children attending

Holy Cross Primary School who had to travel through a Protestant area,

were subjected to verbal abuse and violence and had to be given an

armed guard to walk to school each morning, do nothing to prove a

sides point, or to help win the "war". They merely ensure that a new

generation form a hate for some of their fellow human beings and that

the "war" continues. For centuries violence has just led to more

violence and more problems. If the problem of Ireland is to have a

solution, it will be a diplomatic one. The peoples of Ireland must

start afresh and learn to trust each other. Most importantly of all

though; remember that the past is just that, the past and should not

affect our views of others, especially not with the severity it does

in Ireland.