Nowadays the island of Ireland is divided into two countries: Eire (Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom). This scission is the result of the treaty signed by the Irish leader Michael Collins on the sixth of December 1921, which founded the Irish Free State. Because of the opposition from the Unionist Protestants of Ulster the Counties of Derry, Antrim, Down, Tyrone, Armagh and Fermanagh were left under British authority. From this moment this part of the island developed independently. Nevertheless tensions between the Unionists (in favour of the union with Great Britain) and the Nationalists (in favour of a 32 Counties Irish Republic) intensified. Religious discrimination toward Catholics led to the first expressions of discontentment of part of the society: civil rights demonstrations (October 1968).
The violent repression of these peaceful marches by the British army (particularly on the 30th January 1972 with Bloody Sunday) was the starting point of the deadly decades of "The Troubles". When the "Good Friday Agreement" was signed in 1998 in order to defuse the situation, 3000 people had already died.
Nevertheless, as the bomb attack in Omagh in August 1998 reminds us, extremist groups still constitute a potential risk.
The violent repression of these peaceful marches by the British army (particularly on the 30th January 1972 with Bloody Sunday) was the starting point of the deadly decades of "The Troubles". When the "Good Friday Agreement" was signed in 1998 in order to defuse the situation, 3000 people had already died.
Nevertheless, as the bomb attack in Omagh in August 1998 reminds us, extremist groups still constitute a potential risk.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire