In Northern Ireland, the more or less constant friction between Protestants and Catholics continued to create difficulties for the new state.  Approximately one third of the population was Catholic, most of whom did not favour partition and who were, consequently, reticent in playing any active role in maintaining the state’s existence.  The Protestant population was defensively minded, recognising that the continued existence of Northern Ireland was by no means assured.  Communal violence, which still continued from time to time, allied with Unionist domination in government, both local and regional, created a growing sense of alienation between the two communities.  With the advent of the civil rights movement which swept through Western societies in the 1960s, areas of discrimination were highlighted within Northern Ireland.  What began as a civil rights movement within Northern Ireland which included both Catholics and Protestants, gave way to serious inter-communal violence and the “troubles”.

This is as far as we can go in tracing Irish history since now we are at the stage of dealing with the present.  This has not been a comprehensive record of Irish history; such has not been our intention.  It has, we hope, highlighted enough of our history to enable us to move to the next stage in the process of reconciliation; repentance and forgiveness.

Compiled by Bill Roy and Brendan McCarthy, The Alternative/Jubilee Gatherings.

Dictionary meanings at the bottom of some of the pages are taken from the Chambers Dictionary.

---