Who here can explain the Catholic Protestant conflict in Ireland?

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Christine

it goes way back.... read the following link, start with 'the flight of the earls, then move on to Oliver Cromwell (still one of the most hated men in Ireland) and the Battle of the Boyne - but thats just the start (goes back to Tudor times).

The most recent troubles from the 60s started when the Catholic minority in Ulster got inspired by the work of Mathin Luther King in the US, and decided to march for their rights too....but unfortunately, due to a number of factors it turned violent(many reasons and many to blame)

david d

It would be better to see the conflict as an issue of 'National Identity', as opposed to a religous one, although, traditionally, national identity and religion have been closly aligned (not in all cases by any means).

The National Identity problem's main source is the 'Plantation of Ulster'.
This was an event in history when thousands of people from Britain moved en masse to North-East Ireland (using military force) and established themselves there, staying to one part of the Island and failing to integrate with the native Irish.

My Dose Makes Angels

Where in Ireland? I live in Dublin and there's no conflict here.

deburca98

not that easy to explain as catholics and protestants both fought together for home rule from the british, 1798 rebellion seems to be the one rebellion were catholic fought with protestant against crown forces.
I think you mean Notrhern ireland. as in the republic (the free part) there is no religious conflict, catholics and protestants get along. In northern ireland, the part occupied by the british there is a conflict but that has eased off in the past 10 years.

Its difficult to explain and more complex historically than a simple them vs us conflict

riviva

I am assuming you ask for an assignment...

Way too much to sum up here. Check an encyclopedia or other reputable source

Orla C

First of all, they are not really fighting ... just a few glorified drugs dealers and bank robbers who need to fund their 'cause' on either side. Ordinary people are happy to move away from this mindset and get on with their lives.

I assume you mean Northern Ireland, because that is where the conflict was concentrated during the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. People living in the Republic were often just as horrified at the atrocities committed by both sides as everyone else who was watching it.

It's too long a story to tell here. You need to go to an Irish history site and start there. It all began in 1169 when one Irish King stole another Irish King's wife, and one of the King Henrys had killed off a Bishop and had to make it up to the Church in Rome (there were no Protestants around in the 12th century) and promised to get Ireland back into the real Christian Church ....

Keywords: Normans, Henry VIII and the creation of English Protestantism, Oliver Cromwell, King William of Orange, Penal Times, Young Irelanders (and you'll find some surprises there, Dublin Protestant stock who wanted Ireland to be independent), Daniel O'Connell (every town has a street named after him), Charles Stuart Parnell, Easter 1916, The War of Independence, Partition in 1921, and the Irish Civil War .... you need to read up about these a bit to get some insight into the complicated situation that was Northern Ireland during the Troubles in the second half of the 20th century. Then you can start reading about the Troubles properly!

Enjoy!

peter k

I see the Free State Bas***ds are still alive and kicking

Teri ann Sensible.

Goes way way back my father was born in bantry southern Ireland,my mother was born county Tyrone northern Ireland both met and married in London and had five children me obviously being one of them .I often used to ask your question but it totally confused me because i never knew where i fitted in was i Irish? English? all i did know is that we were all catholics and i was persecuted for being so as a child growing up in England

Richard B

There was an independence movement in Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom. (Ireland or as it's also called Eire is an independent country.) The Catholics favored this movement. The Protestants wanted to remain united to the Throne of England. This political conflict took on the religious overtones because one of the Loyalists was a priest of the (protestant) Church of Northern Ireland. It just got worse and worse until it was Catholic against Protestant. All fighting has ceased and various negotiations about Northern Ireland are still in the works.

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