Northern Ireland has historically been divided along religious lines between its Protestant and Catholic populations. Centuries of English rule and settlement led to discrimination against Irish Catholics. While Ireland gained independence in 1921, Northern Ireland remained part of the UK. This led to sectarian conflict and violence throughout the 20th century as Catholics faced discrimination and demanded civil rights. Key events like Bloody Sunday exacerbated tensions and fueled support for paramilitary groups on both sides. Peace negotiations in the late 1990s led to the Good Friday Agreement and establishment of local government, but divisions remain between the two communities.

1. Northern Ireland

2. NORTHERN IRELAND
• The population is composed of Protestants and Catholics.
• 900 000 Protestants and 680 000 Catholics.

3. Northern Irish people

4. History
• England brought Ireland under systematic rule in the
sixteenth century.
• English and Scottish Protestant settlers took the best land.
• The English tried to destroy Irish language, culture and
Catholisism.

5. Independence
• Inspired by the American and French revolutions, the Irish
began their long struggle to be free.
• The Irish got finally their independence in 1921.
• Ulster, a province of Ireland that would later become
Northern Ireland, did not get freedom.
• Britain had big political and economic interests there.

6. Ulster
• London allowed the Northern Irish to govern themselves.
• Northern Ireland became controlled by the Protestants.
• The Protestants excluded the Catholics for political power.
• They discriminated against them in housing and
employment.

7. Parliament building

8. The Troubles
• The shipbuilding industry declined in the sixties.
• Northern Ireland became one of the poorest parts in
Britain.
• The Catholics got no jobs and they got angry.
• In 1968 they went out in the streets to demonstrate.

10. Bloody Sunday
• The demonstrations got into violence.
• The Catholics formed the IRA.
• The Protestants formed the Ulster Defence Association and
the Ulster Volunteer Force.
• In January 1972 British troops killed 13 unarmed
demonstrators.
• The IRA got many supporters after the Bloody Sunday.
•

11. Belt worn by Patrick Doherty, one the people shot by
soldiers.There is a hole in the belt caused by the bullet
that killed him

13. • The province got under direct rule from London.
• 500 people died in 1972 as a result of violence.
• There were IRA bombs, troop violence and sectarian
killings.

15. Catholics
• The IRA developed to be a small army.
• The IRA etablished a political wing – Sinn Fein.
• The majority of the Catholics supported the Social
Democratic Party ( SDLP).

17. • Most of the Protestants supported the Ulster Unionist
Party.
• Ian Paisley formed the Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP).
• The Unionists were fragmented.

18. ● Ian Paisley,leader of the Democratic Unionist Party

19. London and Dublin
• From 1972 to 1985 London tried to foster the middle
ground among the peaceable majority of both
communities.
• But the efforts were destroyed by radical politicians on
both sides.
• The government in Dublin supported the Catholic
community in Ulster.
• Ireland criticised British policy and practice.

20. • London and Dublin wanted to cooperate politically.
• The British government began to negotiate an agreement
with Dublin.
• The Anglo Irish agreement of 1985.
• This weakened IRAs position.
• It gave Ireland an advisory role in the government

22. • In 1988 IRAs Gerry Adams and SDLPs John Hume began
secret talks.
• In August 1994 the IRA announced a cease-fire.
• The British government wanted that the IRA
decommissioned its weapons.
• The IRA refused.
• In 1996 a big bomb exploded in the Docklands

24. • Tony Blair wanted peace talks with Sinn Fein if the IRA
abandoned violence.
• Sinn Fein and the IRA accepted Tony Blairs challenge.
• A new cease fire began.
• Nationalists and Unionists began negotiations.
• A peace plan was clear 10. april 1998.

26. • The peace plan included:
• The establishment of a Northern Ireland assembly.
• Establish a North South ministerial council.
• The establishment of a council for the Isles.

27. • Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein and David Trimble of the Ulster
Unionist Party tried to reach an agreement.
• 71% of the people supported the agreement
• The IRA refused to decommision its weapons.
• In August 1998 the Real IRA detonated a bomb in Omagh,
killing 29 people.

28. Gerry Adams and David Trimble

31. • The two communities are segregated.
• Protestants and Catholics have moved to their own areas.
• Education has always been segregated.
• Only 10 % of children attend integrated schools.

32. • In 1995 unemployment stood for 18 % for Catholics and 8
% for Protestants.
• Unemployment in both communities recrute young men
for terrorists.

33. The Orange Order
The Orange Order is an organisation created by
protestants to protect protestant supremacy in
Northern Ireland

34. • In July each year the Orange Order organise
parades to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne.
• Some of the marches go through Catholic
areas.
• The Orangemen see it as a celebration of
community identity.
• Catholics see it as a provocation.
• In 1998 the Orangemen were forbidden to
march down the Garvaghy Road in
Drumcree.

36. Drumcree Church
●

37. • The Catholic population is young, but the
Protestant population is old.
• The Protestants political power is
decreasing.

38. ● Thanks for listening !