why did the protestants and cathloics fight in northern ireland?
541348
In the 20th Century, you saw Northern Ireland become a war between Protestants and Catholics. But really, it has always been a war between England and Ireland.\n\nThe English invaded Ireland and through many centuries committed terrible acts of genocide and bloodshed. In response, Irish nationalists also undertook terrible evil acts.\n\nNow, Irish history and northern Irish history is steeped in blood and pain. (see one-Ireland.org). Until Ireland is united, the war in Ireland is merely in a state of pause.
576660
You need to draw a distinction when giving opinions on the situation in Ireland, as there are two very different situations in place. The Republic of Ireland is a democratic independent country for nearly 80 years, while Northern Ireland is still part of the UK. The history of both states has been very different since the 1920's, when the partition of the country was introduced.\n\nIn the Republic of Ireland, things were very tough, right up to the 1990's, with widespread emigration, high unemployment and very low income per capita. It was a poor country, often referred to as the "sick man of Europe". It was primarily an agricultural country, and the Catholic Church had huge prominence in the country, because the government did not have the resources to invest in schools and hospitals. The only thing it did have going for it was a good education system. But since the 1990's things have improved significantly. EU membership and massive inward investment, particularly from US IT companies and healthcare companies, propelled Ireland from the bottom of the league right to the top. It is now one of the richest countries in Europe, and huge amounts of money are being spent on bringing the infrastructure up to date. The Catholic church's influence has declined greatly and the country is at full employment. Most people in Ireland look at the country primarily from an economic perspective. Politically it is very stable and democratic, with no major conflicts and issues internally or with other countries. Most issues these days tend to be economic and how to cope with the demands of an increasing economy. \n\nNorthern Ireland was set up as a kind of British enclave, on the lines of a Protestant state for a Protestant people, notwithstanding the fact that it had a sizable Catholic population in its midst. Demands for greater Catholic civil rights in  the 1960's lead to riots and eventually the onset of the Troubles where the IRA decided to fight Britain using guerrilla warfare tactics. 3500 dead people later, the IRA decided to call it quits, and now things have begun to normalise in Northern Ireland. It's a much more peaceful place with an economy that is beginning to find its own feet. However huge scars still exist - Catholics and Protestants are still very divided, and it will probably take generations for these old divisions to be properly sorted out. The real issue for Northern Ireland nowadays is how the two communities can reach an accomodation with each other, and how the political leaders in the region can take full ownership over their own local problems. Re-integration with the rest of Ireland is a long way down the road. Nobody, except the most hardline, want to go back to the bad old days of the Troubles.
631864
The conflict is political not religious. England has for centuries tried to conquer and rule Ireland. It has even tried to outlaw Catholicism in Ireland like it did once in England.\n\nBoth England and Ireland were Catholic for centuries. Then King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church so that he could get a divorce. Since then England has been Protestant. \n\nIreland has constantly tried to regain its freedom and independence. England has so far been pushed back to occupying six counties in Northern Ireland.\n\nThe media, which sadly always looks for short and easy ways to tell complicated stories, calls the Irish who wish a unified Ireland "Catholics" and the Northern Irish who wish to remain with England "Protestants" although there may be Catholics and Protestants on either side.\n\nI don't see know it relates to Romeo and Juliet.
387082
Ireland is free. Northern will not be "free" until the British Army leaves.
1185249
Northerners weren't gung-ho about going to war and especially about being drafted. In New York City, a riot of draft resisters broke out at Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan. Bloody mess. Also most northerners didn't know how to use firearms because they never hunted for wild game. It was new to them. Also the North couldn't find a military leader. They changed them like shirts until U.S. Grant took over. To get soliders the north recruited from Ireland and Germany.
454464
The Troubles refers to the period of violent conflict in Northern Ireland beginning with the Civil Rights marches in the late 1960s to the political resolution enshrined in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. During that time more than 3,000 people were killed, most of them civilians. Explore the history of the period through articles, video footage, audio clips and photographs.  \n\n \n An exploration of the Northern Ireland conflict \n \n \n \n  \n Origins and Civil Rights\nThis section provides an historical backdrop to the 1921 partition settlement that led to 50 years of Unionist rule in Northern Ireland. This came to an end in 1972 when the British government imposed direct rule from London. Partition, civil rights, internment and Bloody Sunday are some of the themes explored. \n \n \nPower-sharing\nFollowing the collapse of 50 years of Unionist rule in 1972 an agreement reached at Sunningdale in 1973 introduced power-sharing between unionists and nationalists. This section looks at how a loyalist strike in May 1974 brought this new model of governance to an end.  \n \n \n Hunger Strikes\nFrom the removal of Special Category Status in 1976 to the end of the hunger strikes in 1981, republican prisoners mounted one protest after another in support of their demand for political status. This section looks at the Blanket Protest the Dirty Protest and the seven-month hunger strike that led to the death of ten republicans. \n \n \nAgreement\nFrom the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 politicians sought to find a resolution to the Troubles. This section looks at some of the political gains and violent setbacks on the path to peace. \n \n \nFor more follow the link.
478805
The two are almost definitely the same. Many of the Presbyterian settlers who took part in the plantation of Ulster in Ireland came originally from Scotland, whereupon many moved on to America. \n\nI have a link for the Ulster American museum in Northern Ireland which may be of use to you. If you call the museum they may be able to help you with further references etc. There are also similar emigration museums in North America and Australia which might be helpful also.
1131132
I completely agree, it has been proven in many surveys that the VAST MAJORITY of Republicans do not care.\nOur news reports very little on the North.\nI think it is to do with ireland's wealth because if you are rich then what is the point of dying for independence if everyone was already happy? It would be pointless- you can see that any state that ever fought for independence had its people being treated badly, etc.\nAnd yes, we are not racist or bigoted- both Catholics and Protestants in the North are simply far too bitter for my liking.\nJust leave things they way they are- were happy enough.
922759
well this happened Saturday 18 June 1994 \n6 Catholic civilians were killed in a gun attack on a bar in Loughinisland, County Down. The attack was carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). \n\nand you really need an atlas if you think Belfast is in London, it's not even in the same country
1061879
sadly they did at the turn of the last century ireland wanted to rule themselves but britain had other ideas resulting in a lot of irish people losing their lives                really good question
471589
Because they are secure. Same goes for the Irish.\nWhen other groups resort to violence and continual protests over portrayal you have to wonder if they are secure.
233812
The Citizens of one county fighting each other.\nThere was a huge Civil War in the USA - Citizens from the North fought the Citizens from the South - with a tremendous loss of life.  Most of the men fighting and dying do not really understand what they are fighting for.
874264
How can you say 'everyone would be happy'? Nationalists would still be living on a divided island, and unionists would no longer be part of the UK. FYI this idea was mooted in the 1940s, when the Unionist government was unhappy about the left-wing social programmes being imposed on them by the UK Labour government, but it was a non-starter then and is a non-starter now.
255208
The wearing of orange signifies anti-catholic protestant irish.   http://www.thebards.net/music/lyrics/The_Orange_And_Green.shtml
457228
They were both created at the same time. It was the first conflict involving two people. One iniated the situation and the other tried getting out of it. Makes sense to me.
525334
Technically the Irish were first. In Scotland there were Picts, they didn`t become SCOTTISH until later.
659697
The majority of people in the six counties of Northern Ireland wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom and they still do, although a higher birth-rate among the minority Catholic population means they they will eventually become the majority and may then wish to become part of the Irish Republic.\n\nBy the way, "Ulster" is the part of Ireland that remained part of the UK rather than the part that became the Irish Free State, although I believe that Catholics insist that "Ulster" is more than the six counties.