The document provides information about the political history and current state of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It discusses how Ireland became the Republic of Ireland in 1949. It outlines the creation of Northern Ireland as part of the UK and the conflicts between nationalists and unionists known as "the Troubles" that have resulted in over 3,000 deaths. It also provides brief summaries of Scotland and Wales, including descriptions of their capital cities and governments.

2. The Republic of Ireland
Eire is the official name for Ireland between
1937 and 1949, when it became the Republic of
Ireland.
The name Eire is still sometimes used outside
Ireland. The Irish Free State is a state consisting
of the whole of Ireland except Northern Ireland.
It was created by the Anglo- Irish Treaty of 1921.
Its name was changed to Eire in 1937 and to
the Republic of Ireland in 1949.
The Republic of Ireland is the official name
for Ireland since 1949.

3. Irish State map
Irish State Flag
Great Seal of Irish

4. Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, with its population of about
1.6 million, is a part of the United Kingdom. It is
made up of six counties and the capital is Belfast.
Once famous for its textile and shipbuilding
industries, it is now a popular tourist destination,
with its beautiful scenery.
Unfortunately, Northern Ireland is still best
known for the years of conflict called ‘the
Troubles’, in which more than 3000 people have
died.

5. The relationship between Ireland and Great
Britain has been marked by violent conflict for
800 years. During the 17th century, Protestants
from England and Scotland took control of Ulster
by setting up farms on land that had belonged to
Irish Roman Catholics.
By the late 19th century, Protestants made up
approximately two-thirds of the population.
They felt strong ties to Britain, and when
Ireland won its independence in 1921, six
counties voted to remain part of United Kingdom
and be governed by the Parliament of Northern
Ireland at Stormont Castle.

6. The way Northern Ireland was governed
favoured the Protestant majority, and in the late
1960s Catholics campaigned against inequalities
in areas such as employment, housing and voting
rights. Civil rights protests led to violent
confrontations between republicans and
Loyalists.
The mostly protestant police force
intervened, which led the Prime Minister to call
in the British Army to protect Catholics, but the
troops soon became the target of Irish
Republican Army attacks.
In 1971 the British government introduced
internment which led to more violence.

7. In 1972, the year of Bloody Sunday, direct
rule from London was introduced and the
Stormont parliament abandoned. Paramilitaries
became involved in organized crime, and the
police and the army were accused of
cooperating with Loyalists.
In 1997, after many attempts to stop the
violence, the paramilitaries announced
ceasefires. In 1998, after negotiations with the
Irish and British governments, the political
leaders signed the Good Friday Agreement.
This created a Northern Ireland Assembly
based at Stormont.

8. A Nationalist-Unionist coalition
government took power in 1999, but this was
suspended in 2002.
In 2005 it was announced that the Irish
Republican Army had given up all its weapons,
but many Unionists still believe the Irish
Republican Army will restart its campaign of
violence if it does not achieve its goal, the end
of British rule in Ireland.
Republicans feel that the political system,
the judiciary and the police force are still based
against Catholics.

9. Despite the ceasefires, paramilitaries
remain active and are involved in organized
crime. Racist violence has also increased
dramatically in recent years. In other ways,
however, the quality of life in Northern Ireland
has improved.
Companies have begun to invest. New
shops, restaurants and bars have opened, and
Belfast has become much more cosmopolitan.
The province has the youngest population in
the UK and the sectarian divide is less strong
amongst the young.

10. Despite the ceasefires, paramilitaries
remain active and are involved in organized
crime. Racist violence has also increased
dramatically in recent years. In other ways,
however, the quality of life in Northern Ireland
has improved.
Companies have begun to invest. New
shops, restaurants and bars have opened, and
Belfast has become much more cosmopolitan.
The province has the youngest population
in the UK and the sectarian divide is less
strong amongst the young.

11. Scotland State map
State Flag of Scotland
Royal Arms of Scotland

12. Scotland
The Scotland Office is a British
government department responsible for matters
outside the control of the Scottish Parliament,
including employment, foreign affairs, defense
and social security.
It is led by the Secretary of State for
Scotland and is part of the Department of
Constitutional Affairs.

13. Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland
and a popular tourist centre. It has a famous
castle, the Scottish Parliament, a zoo, two
universities and many museums and art
galleries.
Other famous features of the city include
the Royal Mile and Princes Street. In the 18th
century Edinburgh was known as ‘the Athens
of the north’.
The name Edinburgh means ‘Edwin’s fort’.
The city was made a World Heritage Site in
1995. Since 1996 it has been governed as
officially called City of Edinburgh.

14. Edinburgh city
Edinburgh castle

15. Auld Reekie is a popular name for Edinburgh.
It means ‘old smoky’ and refers to the smoke from the
city’s many chimneys.

16. The Duke of Edinburgh is the title by
which Prince Philip the husband of Queen
Elizabeth II, is usually known. His father was
Prince Andrew of Greece and his mother was
Princess Alice of Battenberg, sister of Lord
Mountbatten.
He was educated in Britain and was in the
Royal Navy in World War II. In 1947 he married
Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen
Elizabeth II. Among his many interests are
British industry, projects for young people, wild
animals and various sports.

17. Queen Elizabeth II

19. Queen Elizabeth II is the queen of the United
Kingdom since 1952. She is the daughter of King
George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth. She had
one sister, Princess Margaret.
In 1947 she married Prince Philip of Greece,
who had just been made the Duke of Edinburgh,
in Westminster Abbey. Her father died in 1952
and Elizabeth was crowned on 2 June 1953.
She is a respected and well-loved monarch
with a great interest in the Commonwealth. The
Queen and Prince Philip have four children,
Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward.

20. Royal Family

22. The Edinburgh Festival is a festival of
music and drama that has been held in
Edinburgh for three weeks every summer since
1947.
The shows and concerts include hundreds
that are not part of the official Festival.
There are known as the Edinburgh Fringe,
and are now considered as important as the
Festival itself because of the many new and
exciting ideas they contain.

23. Edinburgh Festival

24. Wales
Wales State map
State Flag of Wales
Royal Badge of Wales

25. The Wales Office is a British government
department responsible for representing Welsh
interests within the British government, and
representing the British government in Wales.
It is led by the Secretary of State for Wales and
is part of the Department for constitutional
Affairs.
Cardiff is a capital city of Wales, in the
south-east of the country.
It is important industrial city and port, and
a major cultural centre.