ANGLAIS CPGE - M.Delaby

Fiches culturelles

CHAPITRE 60

L’IRLANDE The British came in Ireland in the 12th century with the Anglo-Norman troops of Henry II. In 1609, English and Scottish Protestants arrived while native Irish were Catholic, it led to an uprising in 1641 and to the intervention of Cromwell with massacres or deportation to stop it. The battle of the Boyne in 1690 established Protestant supremacy and the 1800 Act of Union included Ireland within the United Kingdom. MILESTONES

- 12th century: Henry II

invaded Ireland with Anglo-Normand troops

- 1641: First religious riots. - 1690: Battle of Boyne to establish Protestant supremacy.

- 1800 : Act of Union which included Ireland within the United Kingdom

- 1845 – 1848: The great famine caused by the potato blight

- 1848: Creation of the Irish Republican Brotherhood

- 20th century: Fighting

between the National Volunteers (Catholic) and the Ulster Volunteer Force (Protestant)

- 1919: Sinn Fein won the

During the great famine (1845 to 1848) caused by a potato blight, one million Irish died and others emigrated (to other European countries or the US). In 1848, the Irish Republican Brotherhood was formed to gain Ireland independence by force but failed. In the beginning of the 20th century, two armed groups appeared: the National Volunteers (Catholic) in favor of Ireland independence and Ulster Volunteer Force (Protestant) who feared a Catholic domination. In 1916, after 5 days of fighting and 400 killed, the Ulster Volunteer Force prevented the seizure of the power by a splinter group of the National Volunteers. In 1919, the Sinn Fein party in favour of independence won the election and gain the support of the IRA (Irish Republican Army), the new name of the Irish Volunteer Army. From 1919 to 1921, the IRA harassed and murdered British Policemen and soldiers to force them to withdraw. The symbol of this fighting was the Bloody Sunday on November st 21 1920 when a paramilitary organization (working for the British) shot 12 spectators during a match in retaliation of the murderer of 14 men suspected of being English Secret Service Agents. At the end of 1922, after more than 5,000 dead in a civil war, Ireland became a dominion except Northern Ireland which remains today part of the UK. Finally, the Republic of Ireland (also called Eire) was declared in 1949. On a geographic level, only 10% of the population was protestant in the Eire whereas there was a majority of 2/3 in Northern Ireland. In 1968 the “Troubles” started pitting the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the IRA. It led to more murders and bombings. In 1969, the British army helped the Ulster on its land and was seen as an “invasion” by Catholics. The Belfast Agreement (or Good Friday Agreement) ended 30 years of civil war on April 10, 1998. On May 2000, the disarming of all paramilitary groups started and even if it is not achieved, most violence has ceased.

election and gain the support of the IRA

- November 21st 1920: Bloody Sunday

- 1949: Republic of Ireland (or Eire) was declared

- 1968: “Troubles” started - 1969: British intervention in Ulster

- April 1998: The Belfast (or Good Friday) Agreement was signed

- May 2000: Beginning of the disarming of all paramilitary groups

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