Religion and Politics have been intertwined in Northern Ireland since the time of the Tudors; the constant tension between Catholics and Protestants has translated into Political action with intentional Catholic targeting by Protestants and the suspension of their civil rights in the 1960's. The loyalties of the Unionist and Loyalist parties in Northern Ireland to Britain has led to their increased power through actions such as the penal laws . However, the Protestant governments that then emerged used their powers in "religious bitterness"1 to strengthen their power.
A central issue in Northern Ireland may be interpretations: Seemingly peaceful actions by one group (Orange Order marches) can be interpreted as violent by another group. Many Catholics claim during these marches that Protestants aim to cause violence by marching through Catholic areas; on the other hand we also see the interpretation that "the Catholics had started the trouble"2. This state of conflicting interpretations has led to conflict in the modern world as parties continue to interpret situations differently and so act against each other in different ways. Each party in Northern Ireland fears the other, Protestant Unionist parties fear that Britain will release them to the Republic of Ireland while Catholics continue to fear Protestant oppression through majority government. It seems clear that the violence and attitudes of people in Northern Ireland "is fed by the fears of two minority groups"1. Current attitudes in Northern Ireland are heavily founded on this historical oppression and infighting ,fuelled by conflicting interpretations however, to answer this question I will look not only at this history but (through use and analysis of source evidence) also at the events, reactions and significance of Bloody Sunday.
Many current attitudes in Northern Ireland stem from the events of Bloody Sunday and the effects it had on the coming years.
"This Sunday became known as Bloody Sunday and bloody it was. ... That day that quickly was known as Bloody Sunday. ... Most Irish Catholics lived in the Northern part of Ireland known as Ulster. ... All those people who died due to Bloody Sunday have their own story. ... Due to Bloody Sunday a revolution at an international level occurred. ...
Bloody Sunday Bloody Sunday became a touchstone in the Irish civil rights movement because it provoked a rise in IRA membership and rekindled the violence known too long in Ireland as The Troubles. Ireland has had centuries of mistrust and conflict and is divided into two countries, Northern Ireland and the republic of Ireland. ... Which is the population of Northern Ireland. ... Demonstrations protesting this unjust policy erupted throughout Northern Ireland. ... The event of Bloody Sunday more than 30years ago, the killing of fourteen people is a pivotal moment of recent Anglo-Irish relat...
In the years following the civil rights march, later known as Bloody Sunday, there were many political and social repercussions for the people of Northern Ireland. ... After Bloody Sunday, many of the Irish population distrusted the army, seeing it no longer as their protector but as their enemy. ... As a result of Bloody Sunday, a social alliance was lost between the British army and the Northern Irish population which caused major discrimmination issues of the basis of cultural background. ... This is evident in the popular protest song by U2, "Sunday, Bloody Sunday." ... However, it can he...
The political and social impact of Bloody Sunday runs deep in Northern Ireland. ... Bloody Sunday took place during a civil rights march in the famed are of the "Bogside" in Londonderry. The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association organized it, which drew over 10,000 protesters. ... This is where the division was set in motion and to this day divides much of Northern Ireland's political and social situations. ... London soon saw that Stormont had no rule over the people and decided to change things drastically, "Bloody Sunday set in train the suspension of the Northern Irela...
England still has control over Northern Ireland and what goes on there (The War in Ireland). ... In Northern Ireland there are very few Catholics and they are a minority (The War in Ireland). ... Throughout the past century the fighting in Northern Ireland has been horrible. Thousands of people have died and Britain still occupies Northern Ireland. ... This became known as "Bloody Sunday". ...
The struggle for peace in Northern Ireland is one that has raged for many decades. ... Violence escalated as the Irish Republican Army (IRA), led by Michael Collins, and fought Britain in a bloody war for independence- one that ended with the partitioning of the northern and southern parts of the island by the Government of Ireland Act in 1920. ... The bloody riots marked the beginning of "The Troubles", the euphemism for the period of violence that would continue for years in Northern Ireland. ... Soon after "Bloody Sunday," Britain disbanded the parliament and would impose direct rule ...
Few outside of Ireland today know about the events of January 30, 1972, also known as "Bloody Sunday Massacre," other than the fact that it was the inspiration for the U2 song. ... Martin Melaugh, professor at the University of Ulster, Bloody Sunday began as a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) protest march consisting of between 20,000 and 30,000 people marched in Derry to protest British military internment of Northern Ireland. ... He went on to say, "That report [by British parliament's Lord Widgery, investigating the Bloody Sunday incident.] ... (Murphy, 168-169)...
In Northern Ireland these partitions evolve ethno territorial groups. ... "Bloody Sunday- is a good example. Bloody Sunday is named after the events that occurred on Sunday 30 January 1972. ... Bloody Sunday provoked further violence that led to massive street demonstrations and it galvanized support for the IRA. ... Bloody Sunday inspired a much needed recruitment boost for the IRA. ...
In the six counties (Armagh, Derry (Londonderry), Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Down) the people had witnessed great death and destruction since 1969 and in particular since 1972, when British Armed forces opened fire on innocent republican civil rights campaigners on the 30th of January, Bloody Sunday, and as the Saville report would report in 2010 "Unlawfully terminating the lives of thirteen innocent men" (London, report of Lord Saville 2010) In the days that would follow Bloody Sunday the numbers of people involved with the Irish Republican Army (hereafter I.R.A) increased dramatically, w...