1. Conflict in
Northern Ireland

2. Introduction
● Conflict in NI killed thousands
● Political and religious roots
● Protestant Unionist community : remain part
of the United Kingdom.
● Catholic Nationalist community : leave the
UK and become part of the Republic of
Ireland

3. Origins / Brief history
● 1170: Ireland becomes England’s first colony
● 16th century: reign of Henry VIII, beginning of
Protestantism
● 17th century: English and Scottish Protestants move
to Ireland and begin to take Catholic lands
● 1690 : Battle of the Boyne : Protestant King William
of Orange defeated Catholic King James II

4. ● 1916: The Easter Rising : Irish rebels fight against
the British Army in Dublin, five days of fighting
● 1922: Independence from Britain, area with
Protestant majority remained. Northern Ireland
was created.
● Many members of IRA imprisoned
● 1960: Civil Rights Movement

6. The Troubles
● Refers to 3 decades of violence 1969-99
(More than 3000 deaths)
● Began in 1969 : civil rights protests and Loyalist
counter protests begin violence
● Conflict between British troops and IRA
● Loyalist groups respond with sectarian violence
against Catholics
● 1972 : Bloody Sunday : civil rights march in Derry,
British Army kill 14 men
● 80s/90s : bombs, hunger strikes, terrorist attacks

7. Issues of conflict
●Economy
●National Identity
●Equal rights and opportunities
●Independence after colonisation

8. Peace in sight
● 1998 : Good Friday
Agreement : two
terrorist groups come
to a ceasefire. They
learn to share power
● 2005 : IRA agree to
end violence and
destroys weapons

9. Nowadays
● Underlying conflict still remains
● Bomb scares etc
● Catholic and Protestant areas/schools
● Different celebrations (12th July)
● Flag conflict
● Peace line
● Young people involved in politics
● Distinguish politics and religion
● Less discrimination

14. Conclusion
● Ongoing conflict today
!
● Young people in politics will help improve the situation
!
● In my opinion, Northern Ireland is in a strong position
while we are part of the UK
!
● People who remain backward and cause conflict need to
change their attitude in order to stop the cycle of
sectarianism through the generations

15. Speaking questions
● What did you know about the conflict in Northern
Ireland before seeing this presentation?
● World media often represents Northern Ireland as a
violent place. Is this a fair representation?
● What do you think the people of Northern Ireland
should do to ensure a peaceful future?