The document outlines the history of the Irish political landscape from the establishment of the Home Rule movement in the late 19th century through key events such as the Easter Rising and the Irish Civil War. It discusses the formation of various political factions, the impact of World War I, and the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, highlighting the competing visions for Irish nationalism. The narrative describes significant figures, legislative developments, and the socio-economic context that shaped Ireland's quest for independence.

1. Keith Kiely
History
Study
Keith
Kiely
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2. Keith Kiely
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Home Rule
Home Rule Timeline
1870 Home Rule Association founded by Issac Butt.
Soon renamed the Home Rule League.
Gladstone introduces the First Land Act.
1875 Charles Stuart Parnell elected M.P. for Co. Meath.
Shortly after assumes leadership of Home Rule League from Butt.
1879 Michael Davitt forms the Irish Land League working for land reform and
opposing evictions
Parnell becomes its President.
1880 Gladstone introduces Second Land Act.
1884 Reform Act leads to increase in the electorate.
G.A.A. founded.
1885 First Home Rule Bill defeated in the House of Commons.
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3. Keith Kiely
The Conservatives campaign against Home Rule - Lord Randolph
Churchill tells an Orange rally in 1886 that "Ulster will fight and Ulster
will be right".
1889 Parnell named in O‟Shea divorce petition.
Home Rule League splits. John Redmond, John Dillon and William
O‟Brien lead different factions over the next twelve years.
1893 Second Home Rule Bill passed by the House of Commons but stopped by
the House of Lords.
Gaelic League founded by Douglas Hyde.
1901 Irish Parliamentary Party reunites Home Rule M.P.‟s under the leadership
of John Redmond
1903 Wyndham Land Act.
1909 Birrell's Land Act.
Budget Crisis in Britain when the House of Lords rejects the
Government‟s budget.
1910 Two general elections leave the Irish Parliamentary Party holding the
balance of power.
Veto in the House of Lords is abolished. Two year delay allowed.
1912 Third Home Rule Bill is passed by the House of Commons but again
rejected by the House of Lords.
Home Rule to become law in 1914.
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4. Keith Kiely
The Irish Volunteers:
Eoin McNeill said:
Irish Nationalists should follow the example of Ulster Unionist and form their
own organisation to defend Home Rule
The IRB told McNeill to hold a meeting in Dublin to form that organisation.
They called the organisation The Irish Volunteers. It pretty soon had 75 or
more members
The popularity of The Volunteers threatened the position of the Irish Home Rule
Party.
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5. Keith Kiely
Redmond forced the members of the Home Rule Party to join the volunteers and
he took over
The success of the Ulster Volunteers in getting arms gave the Irish Volunteers
some hope in seizing some to ship abroad.
It looked as if there would be a civil war of the Home Rule Bill came in as a law.
This crisis came to end at the start of the First World War and The Volunteers
split.
John Redmond thought that it was a perfect time for them to show loyalty to
England and join the English army to help them in the war. A lot of people
supported Redmond and became known as The National Volunteers.
The minority of the people who did not support Redmond‟sviews continued as
The Irish Volunteers and it was mainly ran by the IRB.
These all planned on a rebellion against England while they were at war in the
First World War
The First Sinn Fein
Arthur Griffithwas the founder of the Sinn Fein Party.
He was a Republican but didn‟t think that people would support the rebellion.
He published an article The Resurrection of Hungary. It involved the way
Hungary got their parliament and government.
It involved:
Dual Monarchy- separated parliaments but same king/queen.
Parliamentary Abstention- not in the Westminster but separate
Passive Resistance
Protectionism
All of this became the policy of Sinn Fein.
By Sinn Fein had branches
It allowed women in the party as full members
The party won seats at local elections
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6. Keith Kiely
In Sinn Fein was in decline:
Griffith was not easy to go on with
His newspaper now called Sinn Fein had financial trouble
Home Rule had the balance of power so it seemed more likely
World War One Impact
on Ireland:
The Home Rule Crisis of - war ended. The Third Home Rule Bill became law in
September but was suspended till the war was over.
Carson agreed with the unionists that this would be accepted understanding that it
would not operate
Carson called the Ulster Volunteers to join the British Army
This would show loyalty to the British Empire
It would guarantee consideration of the Ulster Question after the war.
About Ulster Volunteers joined the British Army along with some southern
unionists.
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7. Keith Kiely
Also members of the National Volunteers joined the army
They were not given their own regiments or emblems
They wanted to make sure Home Rule would be accepted after the war
They joined also for personal and possibly religious beliefs
Over overall joined the army and about or more was killed in the duty of war. The
enlisting numbers then started to decline around 5.
Industry: The economy of Belfast and north-east Ulster all benefited in the
increased demand their ships but the rest of the country was not developed enough
to develop
Farming: these benefited from the increase in demand of food from Britain
Inflation: overall prices increased but wages did not improve during the war
The First World War added to the decline of Redmond and the Home Rule Party
Conscription:the British army needed more solders so the government
introduced conscription for the year
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8. Keith Kiely
The 6 Rising
Revived IRB:
In the twentieth century the IRB was revived. They thought their physical force
would do well in the Rising or Rebellion.
Volunteers Split:
They split because of Ireland in the First World War. The Minority of them were
IRB Ruled and Ran the Volunteers were run by Eoin McNeil. They provided the
armed group needed in the Rising.
Britain in War:
Ireland believed that when Britain was at war with Germany was the best
opportunity to fight them and organising the Rebellion against them.
Blood Sacrifice:
Some of the leaders including Patrick Pearcebelieved that the Rising did not need
military success. All it needed was the deaths of Irish people to revive the nation.
Planning:
The military council was led by Pearce Plunkett Ceannt MacDonagh
Clarkeand MacDermott. They made sure it was kept secret to the Supreme
Council.
The Military Council wanted to ensure the Rebellion plans of the Easter Rising
was kept secret and told nobody because they believed previous rebellions were
unsuccessful because of the G-Men Spies
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9. Keith Kiely
German Help:
The Military Council needed weapons. They sent Roger Casement over to
Germany to try retrieving some.
His mission was:
To form an Irish brigade
To get arms off Germany
The Plan Goes Wrong:
The German AUD sent Arms to Ireland but they were captured by the British at a
Kerry Harbour. Now there were little or no arms.
The Military Council had a plan to trick MacNeill by letting him believe his
Volunteers were going to be arrested in order for him to help fight the British.
MacNeill found out that it was not true and the letter had been forged and also the
aud was captured and cancelled his help.
Now the Military council had no men or arms so the plans of the Rising were
fallen apart to ruins. It was moved to Easter Monday and just a Dublin Rising and
not nationwide.
The Rising:
On Easter Monday around 6 volunteers and Citizen Army men marched the
Streets of Dublin near Liberty Hall.
Some of the men took the GPO where they set up the headquarters.
The main ideas were:
A Revolutionary Tradition
Demanding a Republic
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10. Keith Kiely
Results
About 5 people were killed and it was mainly ordinary civilians‟ and 5 injured
during this.
The executions and arrests had a huge influence:
It declined Home Rule and rose Shin Fein
The idea of a republic took over Home Rule a solution for the Irish Question.
There was an increase of an anti-English feeling
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11. Keith Kiely
The War of Independence
The War of Independence was a war between Sinn Fein and the British
Government.
Aspects of war:
Political Aspect: they used passive resistance
Military Aspect: they used guerrilla warfare
The first Dail met on 1st of January
It included:
The Declaration of Independence
The provisional Constitution of a Republic
A message to the free nations of the world to get recognition
Activities of the Dail:
Aurthur Griffith- Minister for Home Affairs
Cathal Brugha- Minister for Defence
Michael Collins- Minister for Finance
W.T Cosgrave- Minister for Local Government
Sinn Fein had a number of problems in setting up the government:
They lacked experience
The British Government banned the Dail so there was no conflict with the British
Government
There was difficulty in decisions about power and control
They lacked money
De Valera spent most of the war in America and got little or no recognition for
Ireland from the Republican Parties
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12. Keith Kiely
Role of Collins
The IRA looked at Collins for instructions and not Minister for Defence
Collins was determined that spies and informers would not betray the IRA and he
set up a Spy Network
He managed to evade arrests
Collins got his Squad to murder English spies and G-Men
Early
During the British government paid little attention to Ireland because they were
involved in the Paris Peace Conference
The Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries came into Ireland and they were very
difficult to deal with.
The Ordinary people began to fear and Hate the Black and Tans.
This increased the support in the IRA
General Macready Commander in chief of British forces in Ireland was giving the
authority to arrest and imprison people thought to be in the IRA without trial.
The Government of Ireland Act
The Parliament in Belfast controlled the six counties
The country was partitioned
The Unionist accepted the act
Sinn Fein rejected it
Flying Columns:
In late as the IRA formed a new group called the Flying Columns. The leaders of
them included:
Tom Barry
Sean MacEoin
Liam Lynch.
They were a group of men that staged hit and run ambushes on British forces
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13. Keith Kiely
In December a bunch of auxiliaries burned the centre of Cork City.
The British Government enforced martial law on the streets and arrests had
weakened the IRA.
Truce:
Factors towards Truce:
Public opinion in Britain and abroad favoured peace
Lloyd George had to Fully Defeat IRA or negotiates
Sinn Fein won a good number of seats in the election
De Valera was also under pressure to make peace
Irish people was growing tied in conflict
Lloyd George made a speech at the opening of the Northern Ireland Parliament
which began the process
The truce became in operation on June 6th
Sinn Fein won the right to negotiate directly with the British government
By agreeing to talk to Lloyd George de Valera also agreed to work out a
compromise
The Anglo-Irish Treaty
Preliminary negotiations July-October:
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14. Keith Kiely
Negotiations began between De Valera and Lloyd George. They met four times in
London
De Valera wanted a county republic
Lloyd George wanted Ireland to stay in the Commonwealth
He also wanted the government in Northern Ireland
Lloyd George invited the Irish Delegation to London to talk and negotiate the
Irish demands and see what could be reconciled.
The Irish Delegation as envoy plenipotentiaries
De Valera was not included in the delegation because:
He was head of state and didn‟t want to leave
He was needed in Dublin to keep all the extremist republicans in place
He would give the delegation and excuse to refer British proposals to Dublin
Later it was believed that that Lloyd George would not want to give Ireland a full
Republic and De Valera knew this and didn‟t want to go and get the blame.
Negotiations by delegation October-December:
De Valera was excluded as he was because he was the only person who knew and
understood the external affairs and negotiated with Lloyd George
The negations were held in London at the centre of the British Empirewhich gave
psychological advantage to the British.
It was a long serving British Delegate that included long serving politicians
including
“The Welsh Wizard” Lloyd George was also at the Paris Peace Conference.
The Issues:
How much independence Ireland gets and how much is linked to Britain
Will Ireland have 6 counties or counties?
Will Ireland join with British Enemies if they have independence?
The Negotiations:
The early parts of the negotiations were difficult and split up into sub-committees.
There was an agreement on the British naval bases in Ireland and the trade and
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15. Keith Kiely
Portions of UK debt that had to be paid by Ireland.
De Valera‟s External Association was proposed by the Irish delegation and was
rejected
Because it meant leaving the empire and agreeing in alliance with the treaty.
There was an eventual agreement on the Oath of Allegiance for Dail members.
The oath was recognised as a domination status for Ireland
The terms of the Anglo Irish Treaty:
Domination status for the south of Ireland
Known as Irish Free Sate
Oath of Allegiance for the Dail
Boundary commission between Ireland and the North
Treaty Debates
The cabinet debated the Anglo Irish treaty. The people that were for the Anglo
Irish Treaty were:
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16. Keith Kiely
Michael Collins
Arthur Griffith
W.T Cosgrave
The people who were against the treaty were:
De Valera
Cathal Brugha
Stack
The IRA was divided:
Some did not want normal everyday life
People thought treaty was a sell out
People influenced by Collins
The IRB was hugely in favour of this treaty because of the influence of Collins.
The Anti-Treaty Case
Extreme republicans were against the treaty because it did not give the full
demands of the full republic. They said:
Republic declared in 6 Proclamation
Delegates that negotiated this treaty betrayed the republic
They would fight a war if necessary
Would not accept the decision of the Dail if they favoured the treaty
Moderate republicans that rejected the treaty were because:
They thought a better deal could have been negotiated
They felt British would interfere with Irish affairs
They felt Ireland would not be able to follow an independent foreign policy
The Pro-Treaty Case
Those who were in favour of the treaty said:
It was the best deal we could get
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17. Keith Kiely
A new war would fail as all the main leaders were now well known and would not
be able to surprise Britain and also would get less support
They believed it was a good step towards getting a full republic
They also believed domination status was better than Home Rule
The Vote
Six women TD‟s spoke against the treaty
There was a reference to partition as they believed the Boundary Commission
would end it
During this many people were influenced by the amount of people that wanted
peace. The final vote tally was in favour of the treaty
Irish Civil War
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18. Keith Kiely
Causes:
Some of the IRA was attached to the ideal full republic and the treaty did not give
them the ideal republic.
They swore an oath to the republic
They fought for a republic and some died for the republic
The IRA had already operated under Sinn Fein and the Dail during the War of
Independence.
The commanders of the flying columns fought the war independently
They claimed success in the War of Independence
De Valera campaigned against the treaty in his speeches that were very extreme
Collins and De Valera made an election pact to fight the election together and
form a coalition government afterwards. Collins called off this pact just before the
election.
Pro- Treaty candidates‟ won the election easily. This showed that the majority of
people supported the treaty
The election results gave Collins the go-ahead to attack the Four Courts garrison
The anti-treaty forces kidnapped General O‟Connell of the Free Sate Army and
this gave Collins and excuse to attack the Four Courts.
The Civil had now begun
The pro-treaty were called the Regulars
The anti-treaty were called the Republicans
The fighting lasted about a week. The leader of the Four Courts was captured.
Cathal Brugha was killed on O‟Connell‟s St
The centre of the city was destroyed twice in 6 years
The Republicans retreated into Munster near Limerick and Waterford.
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19. Keith Kiely
More people joined the Regulars and forces came up to 6 and had a successful
attack on Limerick and Waterford.
The Civil War became very bitter as the Republicans used guerrilla warfare
The government used internment to hold anti-treaty prisoners and the war ended
when Liam Lynch the chief of staff in the IRA was shot dead.
Impact:
About people died soldiers and civilians
The centre of the city of Dublin was destroyed
There was still bitterness after the war
The economy had been disrupted again like to was in the 6 Rising and then again
in the War of Independence
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20. Keith Kiely
Language Religion and
Education
Language Education and Culture:
The Free State government wanted to revive the Gaelic culture and the
education system was the main part of achieving this. Eoin MacNeill
was Minister for Education and he changed the curriculum to achieve
this:
Irish language and history had to be thought in primary schools and
the Irish had to be thought at least one hour a day.
The teachings in history was designed to show the patriotic people of
Ireland
A School Attendance Act was passed to make sure that there was a
full school attendance up to the age of
In second level education only about per cent of people attended
New examinations at intermediate and Leaving Certificate were now
introduced
There was special grants to schools that did all their teachings in Irish
and extra marks given to students that do their exams in Irish
Irish came compulsive to learn if you wanted any civil job
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21. Keith Kiely
Religion:
The Catholic Church was concerned with their morals on attitude and sexual
matters with the effect of the radio and the English press.
The Bishops wrote pastorals attacking drinking violence gambling and modern
dancing
Modern fashions were criticised because of the danger of immortal behaviour
Most of the laws made followed the issues of the church like on divorce drinking
and censorship
Films could be cut off if it went against the church morals
Opening hours of bubs was cut back
Divorce was banned
When De Valera came into power in he was a devout catholic
The Eucharistic Congress was organised successfully
De Valera made a holy year pilgrimage to Rome in
The government put a tax on foreign newspapers
But on political matters De Valera took an independent line on the entry of the
Communist Solvent Union
After the Second World War the catholic religion strengthened as it became more
conservative
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22. Keith Kiely
The Eucharistic Congress
The Eucharistic Congress
The Eucharistic Congress is an International Catholic religious festival bringing
together clergy, religious and laity from all over the world. The 31st Eucharistic
Congress was held in Dublin in 1932 to celebrate the 1,500 year anniversary of St.
Patrick‟s arrival in Ireland. The Congress was the idea of the Cumann na nGaedheal
government but took place after Fianna Fail won the 1932 General Election.
The Events of the Congress
July 1932 saw the new Irish State entertain thousands of churchmen who came from
all over the world for the 31st Eucharistic Congress. There were incredible scenes of
devotion and a papal mass in the Phoenix ParkA live papal broadcast from Rome was
done and it was felt to be a milestone for all who attended it.
The Congress Demonstrated
The importance of the Catholic religion.
The close relationship between politicians and the Catholic Church. The confidence of
the new state as it deployed its resources to provide a spectacular occasion.
The monolithic nature of Catholicism - the implications for minority groups such as
Protestants and for relations with Protestant-dominated north.
Importance for Free State
Ireland sought to organise a Congress to be even more impressive than the previous
one in Chicago.
City of Dublin underwent makeover for purposes of international publicity and
celebration. Spotlights, illuminations, decorations show enormous effort in planning
and preparing for event.
Importance of Catholicism to Ireland
Catholics 93% of population following partition; Protestant-dominated north is
separate.
Catholic Church hierarchy saw chance to make a Catholic state; it was in a
homogeneous state in which the Church could impart social and moral stability.
Politicians wanted to build a state that would reflect Catholic values which almost
everyone shared.
Independent Ireland could assert independence of England as the dominant Protestant
power.
Catholicism was a binding force unifying Ireland after the scars of the divisions
caused by the Civil War.
It demonstrated that the collective loyalty of the Irish people was to the Catholicism
although the Constitution of 1922 forbade the government from giving privilege to
any one faith over another
It paved the way for the Constitution of 1937.
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23. Keith Kiely
Catholic Church has enormous impact on society in many ways: the running of
hospitals, schools, orphanages etc as well as missionary efforts overseas and help for
the poor.
Church and Politics
The organisation of the Eucharistic Congress involved both Cosgrave and deValera
De Valera's speech emphasised the persecution the Irish had suffered for Catholicism.
Politicians share a platform with clergymen.
The Catholic Church “forgets” about the condemnation of Civil War violence and the
excommunication of de Valera and co-operates with politicians.
The influence of John Charles McQuaid - later Bishop of Dublin
This close relationship was evident in the legislation of the period, for example:The
Intoxicating Liquor Act 1924, Censorship of Films Act 1923, Censorship of
Publications Act 1929, The Criminal Law Amendment Act banning contraceptives,
The Public Dance halls Act and 1937 Constitution.
Divisions
It was repugnant to northern Protestant identity because of the stress on Catholic
infallibility which clashed with Protestant regard for the conscience of the individual.
It showed the need for a border in many Protestant eyes. There were attacks on
northern Catholics coming south for the occasion.
Southern Protestants felt that this was an expression of Catholic triumphalism that
emphasised their minority status.
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24. Keith Kiely
The Emergency
Neutrality
Ireland had to declare their neutrality when World War Two started. The years to
come in Ireland in this war timebecame known as The Emergency
The Emergency Powers Act that gave the government extensive powers to secure
public safety and the preservation of the state.
Why was Ireland neutral
This was a huge test for Ireland to show that they had good self-determination and
assertiveness to their independence.This was all part of a very complex political
strategy. Neutrality was also the policy of national unity.
It was a popular among the majority of the Irish population.Ireland's military
weakness was glaringly exposed because of return of the Treaty ports in. De
Valera was disillusioned with the League of Nations and had to believe that small
nations should not be the pawns of larger nations.
De Valera claimed that partition remained a continued affront to Ireland and that
military collaboration could not come about whilst Ireland remained divided.
Britain briefly was willing to consider the possibility of reunification.
Dealing with the British
Neither Germany nor Britain gambled on invading Ireland. Britain had use of Irish
bases and felt that invasion would present more problems than it would solve.
After the immediate threat to Britain receded and De Valera took a strong line
with the IRA in order to avoid the angering Britain.
5 IRA members spent the war interned in the Curragh. De Valera insisted that
Hempel's the German ambassador radio transmitter was shut down in because
American and British pressure. John Maffey the British representative developed
a good working relationship with De Valera.
De Valera and the US
David Gray the American representative disliked De Valera and Irish neutrality
The American Note demanded that the German and Japanese missions in Dublin
were to be closed in order to prevent details of Normandy Landings leaking out.
De Valera refused – the Allies imposed a ban on travel to and from Britain until
after D-Day.De Valera's biggest blunder was signing the book of condolence on
Hitler's death
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25. Keith Kiely
Censorship
The censor stopped anyone from publishing information that would favour one
side over another. Knowledge of the war was limited to the public knowledge. All
accounts of Nazi atrocities were denounced as propaganda and the Irish lived in
ignorance – most of the press colluded willingly in this.
Escaping the Bombs
Neutrality was popular - civilian escaped the suffering elsewhere. The Belfast
Blitz provided a demonstration of this. There were a few bombings on the South
One dropped on the North Strand Dublin in May killing people
Probably accidental but may have been a warning from the Germans about the
consequences of siding with Britain.
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26. Keith Kiely
The Apprentice Boys of Derry, one of the Protestant Loyal Orders, is based upon this
defiant action of “no surrender”.
New Apprentice Boys can only be initiated inside the city, in ceremonies in August
and December each year.
The order holds its main parade in Derry on 12 August to celebrate the relief of the
city and the end of the siege.
Usually some 10,000-12,000 members take part.
There is a lesser demonstration on 18 December, to mark the shutting of the gates,
when an effigy is burned of Colonel Lundy, an officer who tried to negotiate the
surrender of the city in 1689.
Even today those regarded as traitors to the unionist cause can be referred to as
Lundies.
There were serious riots in Derry after the August 1969 march, and parades were
banned for the following two years.
The then Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Brian Faulkner, an Apprentice Boy
himself, was expelled from the order in 1971 for being associated with the ban.
In 1972 the parade was limited to the predominantly Protestant east side of the River
Foyle, the Waterside area.
Bogside Controversy
The order‟s general committee decided to call off the parade but many Apprentice
Boys gathered at the Waterside to be addressed by fellow member, the Reverend Ian
Paisley.
The order was allowed to parade within the old walled city again in 1975, but were
banned from taking their usual route around the walls because they overlooked the
mainly Catholic Bogside.
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27. Keith Kiely
In 1985 Unionists boycotted the local council for changing its name from
Londonderry to Derry.
Two leading Apprentice Boys officials refused to support the boycott and were
dropped by the order.
James Guy, who was replaced as Lieutenant Governor, became Mayor of Derry in
1987-8.
In recent years, renewed controversy over parades by the Protestant Orange Order,
and the Apprentice Boys, either through or near to Catholic nationalist areas have led
to clashes.
Violent clashes
Lengthy negotiations have often been held in an effort by local community leaders
and politicians such as SDLP leader John Hume to avoid violence.
In August 1995 the „feeder parade‟, on its way to the main demonstration in Derry,
resulted in violence on the nationalist lower Ormeau Road, in which 22 people were
injured.
In Derry, the Apprentice Boys marched around the city‟s historic walls for the first
time in many years, and republicans who mounted a sit-down protest were removed
by the RUC.
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28. Keith Kiely
Why were British troops sent into Northern Ireland in 1969?
The conflict between Northern Ireland is part of a larger conflict with a long-term
history between the Irish Catholics and the Irish Protestants. The conflict between
these two groups became so violent that Ireland had to be divided. Some Catholics
found themselves in the minority in the Protestant controlled North, where they were
treated unfairly sparking a series of Civil Rights marches in the late 1960‟s. The
violence escalated, and this is why British Troops were sent to the area to maintain the
peace.
The struggle between Irish Catholics and Irish Protestants had a long-term history.
The Nationalist‟s wanted an Independent Ireland but their rebellion, the Easter Rising
on 1916, failed because the British quickly defeated them. It was difficult to control
the situation as hundreds of constables were resigning because they feared for their
lives. Both sides were constantly gunning down innocent people. The Government of
Ireland Act 1920 failed miserably so it was decided on to create the Anglo-Irish treaty
which consisted of Ireland being free state and the Irish MP‟s would have to swear an
oath of allegiance to the King. The British Army was to be removed but Northern
Ireland was to be kept a part of the United Kingdom and a Boundary Commission
would decide on the exact border between the North and South.
Northern Ireland was in Protestant control. In the Northern Ireland parliament there
was always a majority of Unionist MP‟s, even when the Protestants were in a
minority. The control was established in local councils by only restricting the vote to
householders and property owners. Boundaries were reconstructed to contain the
highest possible number of Unionist councillors. This was a method called
“gerrymandering”. Catholics were treated with no respect and were left to live in
poverty. The living conditions were terrible and efforts were made to put the situation,
affected by gerrymandering, right. The new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
promised there would be reforms to help the Catholics, but they were slow to come
into action. The Civil Rights Association in the 1960‟s was then formed.
New groups were formed in an attempt to secure equality of civil rights. The Prime
Minister made attempts to improve the affairs between the two communities, but this
made the Protestants believe the Catholics were questioning their superiority. In
retaliation the Orange Order re-emerged, as did the UVF, which lead to Catholic
buildings being attacked and several Catholics were murdered. The police took little
action and instead of protecting the Civil Rights marchers, some of them joined in
attacking them in Derry. There was a demand for more Civil Rights not only in
Northern Ireland but also in the USA. The general culture of the 1960‟s/70‟s was that
of equality and rights, people believed they were not being treated fairly.
The Catholics felt very threatened and realised they were to get no help from the
police so they barricaded themselves in Derry‟s Bogside area. The situation worsened
and the the march by the Apprentice Boys which passed by the Catholic Bogside
brought huge amounts of violence to the streets, this resulted in the “Battle of
Bogside”. Riots and violence escalated and the new Prime Minister of Northern
Ireland asked the Government of Westminster to send in troops to restore the order.
The Downing Street Declaration was published on 19 August 1969 to calm the fears
of the Northern Ireland population; it stated “…there shall be full equality of
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29. Keith Kiely
treatment for all citizens.” The Catholics were happy when the troops were sent into
Northern Ireland because they were seen as their protectors.
From the information in this essay I can conclude that the reason the British troops
were sent in was part of a long-term history. Ireland was partitioned in 1920 after a
long period of violence between the Protestants and the Catholics. This was expected
to bring an end to the hostility, but in fact the relations between them got worse, so
eventually the troops had to be sent in.
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30. Keith Kiely
The Colraine Controversy
Background
Jan. 1962 – Stormont officials meet the University Grants Committee to
discuss the establishment of a second university in Northern Ireland
Coleraine and Armagh begin to lobby to host the second university
May 1963 – Stormont establishes a committee under Sir John Lockwood
to investigate higher education
The Lockwood committee comprises 8 members, 4 from England and no
Catholics. Lockwood Committee meets. Decides to meet fifteen times at
three/four week intervals.
Terms of reference should cover academic, social and other factors
relating to a suitable location and the choice of a specific site should be
left to the government
Main Criteria
Jan. 1964 – Lockwood Committee visits Queens University and confirms
need for second university
Feb 1964 – University Grants Committee warns main cost is building of
halls of residence. It advises main criteria be:
Existence of higher technical institutions that are potential
universities
Regional planning needs
Availability of sites of over 200 acres with room for further
expansion
The proximity of a town with reasonable facilities
Magee College, Derry
Feb 1964 – Lockwood Committee visits Magee College and members are
unimpressed. They report “lack of dynamism” among college community
who have no “clear idea about how the college should develop”
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31. Keith Kiely
May 1964 – Senior official from Department of Commerce, Labour and
National Insurance tells Lockwood Committee that industrialists think
Derry “too remote”.
June 1964 – Lockwood Committee draws up its shortlist – Magee
College is not included.
Dec 1964 – Stormont cabinet recognises backlash of “killing Magee” and
O'Neill aware of the support for Magee College
Derry being side-lined
Jan 1965 – Basil McFarland, former mayor of Derry, says he doubts
Lockwood report will “do Derry much good” leading to foundation of
University for Derry Committee 8th Feb 1965 – Large protest meeting
held at the Guildhall in Derry.
10th Feb 1965 – Lockwood Report published recommending Coleraine as
site for new university and Magee College to be closed down. Caused
surprise and anger
Protests in Derry
18th Feb 1965 – Two-minute silence in Derry with many shops and
businesses closed in protest. Opposition is cross-community. 2,000
vehicle motorcade to Stormont led by Derry's Unionist Mayor and
Nationalist MP.
19th Feb 1965 – O‟Neill secretly meets „faceless men‟ – leading Unionists
in Derry
Mar 1965 – Lockwood shocked at bitter reaction to his decision and at
length of parliamentary debate took three days. Despite heated
discussion and defection of two Unionists, O'Neill's government wins the
vote 27:19.
May 1965 – Magee College trustees agree to compromise – the college
will become part of Coleraine University, with full degree courses –
broken promises
29-Feb-12

32. Keith Kiely
Why was Coleraine Chosen?
Most people in Derry felt that O‟Neill‟s government had influenced
Lockwood in choosing Coleraine. Lockwood denied that this has
happened. Sectarian tensions in Derry did not make it suitable for a
university.
Derry was 70% Catholic and Unionists were afraid any increase in
Catholic numbers because of a university would upset their control of the
city
Certain leading Unionists (faceless men) influenced O‟Neill against
choosing Derry
O‟Neill shared the view of Derry Unionists. He asked „If Derry
industrialised, how is it possible to insure against a radical increase in
R.C. papes?‟
Magee College was too small, in need of repair and no new site was
offered.
29-Feb-12

33. Keith Kiely
The Sunningdale Agreement
Background
1972 Whitelaw (N.I. Secretary) calls a meeting for all parties
Border Poll to ease Unionist worries: boycotted by Nationalists but Unionists vote
99% support for remaining part of the UK
White paper from Whitelaw has 4 key components:
Assembly
Executive
Council of Ireland
Guarantee that Northern Ireland remains part of UK as long as majority
want it.
Splits in Unionism
Split in Unionists: Faulkner and moderate Unionists agree to White Paper and pledge
their support called Pledged Unionists
Those Unionist against: Paisley and DUP, Craig and his Vanguard Party, Orange
Order and the Unpledged Unionists led by Harry West.
The SDLP welcome White Paper with cautious support
Republicans reject it as it reinforces partition
Election 64% in favour of PowerSharing, 36% against
All factions of Unionists results: 26 seats for antiWhite Paper 24 seats for proWhite
Paper
Faulkner in difficulty trying to unite Unionists within his own party and the more
extreme Unionists.
Talks Begin
Whitelaw has great skill and patience as a negotiator
Faulkner wants a Unionist majority in the Executive
Council of Ireland agreed on and would have influence on policing and
representatives from the Dail.
SDLP agree to end rate strike against internment
During Talks Whitelaw called back to London and replaced by Francis Pym
The Agreement
6th Dec. meet in Sunningdale, Berkshire
Liam Cosgrave, Taoiseach along with Garret Fitzgerald and Conor Cruise O Brien
attend
John Hume from SDLP chief negotiator for Nationalists gets real power for the
Council of Ireland which could open doors for a United Ireland at a later date
. Prime Minister Heath chairs the meeting and quickly gets impatient with Unionists.
Irish Government agrees to give a verbal agreement on Northern Ireland remaining
part of the UK as long as the majority wanted it.
Conference ends 9th Dec with Sunningdale Agreement
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34. Keith Kiely
PowerSharing Executive
1st Jan 1974, Faulkner as Chief Minister and Gerry Fitt (SDLP) as Deputy,
PowerSharing Executive begins
Orange Order, DUP, Vanguard and Unpledged Unionists led by Harry West unite to
form the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC)
UUUC is created to resist powersharing and a Council of Ireland.
Faulkner resigns as leader of the Unionist party after a motion on the Council of
Ireland fails to pass at a meeting. He is replaced as leader by Harry West.
Faulkner sets up the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
Unionists now deeply split and Faulkner becoming isolated
IRA and Loyalist attacks continue
British General Election
Election called by Heath against the advice of the Executive who said it was bad
timing
UUUC use election as a referendum on Sunningdale and put forward one
antiAgreement candidate in each constituency
UUUC win 11 out of 12 of the Westminster seats (Paisley, Craig and West all win)
Gerry Fitt the only proagreement candidate to win a seat.
In Britain, Heath (Conservative) loses the election and Wilson becomes PM (Labour
)
Pym replaced by Meryln Rees as Northern Ireland Secretary (indecisive and not as
committed a party)
Assembly remained despite violent and abusive behaviour from antiagreement
members
Ulster Workers Council Strike
Many Northern Ireland industries employed predominantly Protestant workers.
The Ulster Workers Council was a group of loyalist workers who worked in
shipbuilding, engineering and electricity generation.
15th May 1974, the UWC called a strike
Loyalist paramilitaries became involved and workers were persuaded not to return to
work. Road blockades were established and youths armed with clubs turned back
lorries delivering milk, groceries or petrol.
Strikers managed to cut electricity output by 60% and more factories were forced to
close.
The British Army and Police stood by and did nothing.
Many Protestants supported the strike.
The UWC made sure needed supplies got through to Protestant areas in order to keep
support for the strike in Protestant areas.
Loyalists were strongly suspected of bomb attacks in Dublin and Monaghan in May.
The Executive was isolated and had no control.
Rees the Northern Ireland Secretary failed to stop the strikes.
Faulkner tried to get the Dublin government to reduce the powers of the Council of
Ireland and despite them agreeing to hold off implementing it was too late.
Hospitals were about to close and the Executive resigned.
The PowerSharing Executive had ended in failure.
29-Feb-12

35. Keith Kiely
Why Did The Sunningdale Agreement Fail?
Northern Ireland Secretary Rees was unwilling to use the police and army to stop the
strike.
The Labour party under Wilson who were in power were not as keen as the
Conservatives about the Agreement.
The UWC strike brought the North to a halt.
The Council of Ireland was greatly feared by the Unionists as they believed it would
lead to a United Ireland.
29-Feb-12

36. Keith Kiely
ESSAY:
Why did the Sunningdale Agreement fail to achieve powersharing?
The inability of the Northern Ireland government under Brian Faulkner to stop
paramilitary violence and the reaction of the Catholic population to internment led the
British government to suspend the Northern Ireland government and impose direct
rule from Westminister in March 1972. William Whitelaw was appointed the first
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Whitelaw ordered the the dismantling of
barracades in nogo areas around the North. This led to increased support for and
paramilitary activity by the IRA.
In an effort to undermine the paramilitaries on both sides Whitelaw published a White
Paper for negotiations that would lead to a powersharing arrangement between
Nationalist and Unionist politicians. Almost immediately divisions arose in the
Unionist Party over the measures proposed in the White Paper. Those like Brian
Faulkner who supported the proposals became known as pledged Unionists, those in
oppostion were known as unpledged Unionists and supported Harry West. Even
before the Sunningdale Agreement was negotiated the divisions that would lead to its
downfall were begining to emerge.
Within the Catholic community, Nationalists around the SDLP supported the
measures while Republicans opposed the White Paper on the basis that it reinforced
partition. The SDLP actively engaged in the negotiations and called off the rent and
rate strike that was taking place to protest against internment. A majority of Catholics
supported the efforts towards powersharing as it would be seen as a significant
improvement on the existing arrangements.
The election to the new assembly resulted in almost twothirds of the electorate
supporting candidates in favour of a powersharing arrangement. However a majority
of the Unionists elected, based around the unpledged Unionists, Ian Paisleys DUP and
William Craigs Vanguard Party, were opposed to the proposals. This placed Faulkner
in a very difficult position in trying to unite unionism in support of the agreement and
further undermined the possibility of the powersharing arrangement succeeding.
Among the proposals put forward during the negotiations was the establishment of a
Council of Ireland that would involve Southern politicians and would have control
over a number of areas including policing. Despite outright opposition by the more
extreme Unionists the Sunningdale Agreement was signed in December 1973 and the
powersharing arrangement was due to be established on 1 January 1974. The Council
of Ireland was to be a major focus of opposition by Unionists opposed to the
agreement. They regarded it as a step towards a united Ireland.
The Orange Order, the DUP, the Vanguard Party and the unpledged Unionists come
together and form the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) to resist powersharing
and the Council of Ireland. After the General Council of the Unionist Party rejected
the Council of Ireland Faulkner resigned from the party and established the Unionist
Party of Northern Ireland. His position within Unionism is now completely
undermined and the UUUC launch a campaign to bring an end to the powersharing
arrangement.
29-Feb-12

37. Keith Kiely
The powersharing Executive received a further blow at the begining of February when
Edward Heath called a British General Election. The UUUC took the opportunity to
use the election as a referendum on the Sunningdale Agreement. The antiagreement
Unionists selected a single candidate to run in each constituency. The general election
resulted in the UUUC winning eleven of the twelve Westminster seats in the North.
Ian Paisley, William Craig and Harry West were all elected. The only proagreement
candidate elected was Gerry Fitt of the SDLP in West Belfast. The election result put
further pressure on the powersharing executive and particularly on Brian Faulkner and
the Unionists who supported him.
Following the general election the Labour Party under Harold Wilson replaced the
Conservatives in government. The Labour Party appeared less committed to the
Sunningdale Agreement than the Conservatives. They reaslised the difficulties that the
powersharing executive was in and didnt want to be associated with its failure. The
new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Merlyn Rees, was to prove indecisive
when confronted with the opposition of Unionists.
On 15 May the Ulster Workers Council called a general strike in an effort to bring
down the powersharing executive and the council of Ireland . Loyalist paramilitaries
forced many workers to stay at home. Road blocks were established by Loyalist
paramilitaries in many parts of the North. Merlyn Rees proved indicisive in dealing
with the strikers. When electricity supplies were interupted Faulkner decided that it
was no longer possible to maintain the powersharing executive. Along with his fellow
Unionist ministers he resigned from the executive. The powersharing executive
collapsed and direct rule from Westminster was reimposed.
The Sunningdale Agreement failed to achieve powersharing as a result of opposition
from Unionist politicians and the Protestant population. The continuing paramilitary
campaign of the IRA and Loyalist paramilitaries compounded the problem. The
powersharing executive was finally brought to its knees by the strike organised by the
Ulster Workers council and imposed by Loyalist paramilitaries. Sean Farren, a leading
member of the SDLP, has described the Sunningdale Agreement as an agreement too
soon.
29-Feb-12