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During the bus ride on my solo trip to Belfast, our tour guide gave us an overview of the history of Northern Ireland and the underlying tensions between the Unionists and Nationalists.
City Hall – Belfast – Footprints in Culture
Starting with the Ulster Plantation in the 1600s – King James of England sought to make Ireland more British, by giving land in Ireland to English settlers loyal to the crown. The Irish were basically kicked off their land. This resulted in a huge divide in Ireland, which led to violence.
When Ireland sought independence from Britain, the north was very much against it. However, Ireland became independent in 1921, but the island was divided into two parts – the free state of Ireland (now the Republic of Ireland as of 1948) and Northern Ireland, which to this day remains a part of the United Kingdom.
There was tension between the Unionists and Nationalists in Northern Ireland as a result of the division of society and inequality between the two groups, especially against the minority Catholics. This tension was persistent throughout the 30s and 40s. By the 1950s, the tension in Northern Ireland between the Unionists and Nationalists had spilled over to violence in the streets. This eventually led to the Troubles in the 1960s/70s. It is easy to categorize the tension as a conflict between Catholics and Protestant, but there is more to it.
Peace Wall – separates the Loyalist/Unionist Protestant neighborhoods from the Republican/Nationalist Catholic neighborhoods
The whole conflict comes down to a matter of sovereignty. On one hand you have those who want the island to be free and separate from the U.K. and on the other hand, you have those who want it to remain under the U.K. The violence continued over the years. It wasn’t until April 10, 1998, when the Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement) was signed that there was finally peace.
Brexit and The Open Border
It was only less than a month since journalist Lyra McKee had been fatally shot by a stray bullet during an incident of violent unrest in Derry, Northern Ireland. There was talk that tensions seemed to be rising again with the looming Brexit. Many ask the question why, after so many years, would Brexit cause unrest to the country?
Driving through the open border so freely and gaining a better understanding of the history of Northern Ireland sheds light on the issues with Brexit. There is no hard border or checkpoint between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. According to our tour guide, the only way to really tell when you’ve reached the other side is by looking at the lines on the side of the road. If it’s a solid line you’re in Northern Ireland and if it’s a broken line you’re in the Republic of Ireland. Seriously, I didn’t even see a sign.
Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, and if the United Kingdom exits the European Union, Northern Ireland would likely go with it. The issue with this is that under the rules of the European Union, an EU country cannot share an open border with a non-EU country. Hence, what do we do with Northern Ireland who shares an open border with the Republic of Ireland?
Nationalists are hopeful that Northern Ireland will finally be united with and become a part of the Republic of Ireland. Unionists, obviously do not want that to happen and want to remain a part of the U.K. If Northern Ireland remains a part of the U.K., the countries will more than likely have to close the border between them. That may be problematic as it would result in having to put up the infrastructure and checkpoints along the entire border, especially in a place that has had an open border for years.
Whatever the outcome, one party will not be happy. Given the history, I can see why tensions may flare up again. However, the tensions we are speaking of today are not near the levels they were years ago during the Troubles and will likely only be in certain areas. As with anywhere in the world, you always need to be alert and aware, wherever you go. Northern Ireland is a beautiful country. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely visit.
Thank you for sharing what you learned regarding the implications with Ireland and Brexit, very insightful!
Thank you Andre! I really appreciate it. It was a great learning experience. Thanks for reading!