The Anglo-Irish conflict

An island. Two territories. The geopolitical situation of the island of Ireland is the consequence of several centuries of bitter struggle, during which Ireland was forced to live under English occupation. A conflict which has now subsided, but which is still very much alive, particularly in Northern Ireland…

Ireland fought against English occupation for 8 centuries

12th century: Anglo-Normans force their way into Ireland

Monasterboice – © spectrumblue

The Anglo-Irish conflict had its roots in the 12th century, when wealthy Normans from England decided to raid Ireland. At this time, they landed on Irish soil, pillaging and ransacking monasteries (including Monasterboice).

The latter strongly covet the island of Ireland. They then planned to colonize it, and extend their oppression over the Irish, whom they considered simple and uncivilized.

Their objective is clear: they want to settle and impose English culture on Irish territory by force.

But this invasion is not to the Irish people’s taste. Numerous wars and power struggles ensued to crush Ireland under the British boot.

The English deprive the Irish of their culture

The English then mobilized their troops in Ireland, forbidding the Irish to speak Gaelic (their traditional language) and their music, and depriving them of their most basic freedoms. At the same time, the deeply Catholic Irish were called upon to convert to Protestantism.

An impossible situation, leading to countless deadly wars, sieges and the sacking of local towns, where women and children are also raped and killed.

Cromwellian conquests and Ulster plantations

Oliver Cromwell – Public Domain

To consolidate their presence on Irish soil, Oliver Cromwell, an English soldier, decided to take matters into his own hands. He landed in 1649 with over 12,000 men. He sacked many Irish towns, raped, killed and massacred men, women and children.

These acts (known as Cromwell’s Conquests) lasted 3 years, and were so deadly that the Irish population fell from 1,466,000 to 616,000. A veritable hecatomb.

At the same time, Oliver Cromwell invited British colonists to settle in Ulster (known as”Plantations”). He encouraged the arrival of high-level English leaders, and wanted to expand the colonization of the region. (This policy is at the root of the current situation in Northern Ireland, where the Northern Irish have to live alongside many British people. This greatly exacerbated the Anglo-Irish conflict in the 20th century).

The 20th century marks a troubled era

Irish people during Easter Rising – Public Domain

Numerous Irish rebels tried to fight against this domination over the centuries… until 1916, the date of the Easter Rising, when the Irish attempted to retake Dublin by force… in vain.

A war of independence broke out from 1919-1921. England conceded independence to Southern Ireland, but intended to keep Northern Ireland under its rule.

This heartbreaking situation led to a terrible civil war (1922-1924) in which the Irish fought each other over the Treaty of London (the famous treaty that allowed the British to annex Northern Ireland).

A historic conflict, still deeply rooted in people’s minds because of Northern Ireland

In the 1960s, Northern Ireland was still in the hands of the United Kingdom. But armed factions continue to clash over the question of Northern Ireland. Militias such as the IRA and UVF clash relentlessly, with bomb attacks and high-intensity violence. Cities like Belfast and Londonderry were surrounded by barbed wire, and sensitive neighborhoods were invaded by tanks and British troops.

One blunder followed another: British troops fired on a crowd of peaceful demonstrators on January 30, 1972 (known as Bloody Sunday). Hundreds of Northern Irishmen, suspected of insurrection, are being held without trial in local prisons…

And the toll is heavy. Between 1960 and 1990, more than 3,480 people died as a result of stray bullets, bombings and other guerrilla attacks. Both Northern Irish republicans and British loyalists mourn the loss of life.

Until that day in 1998, when Northern Ireland signed a historic act: the Good Friday Agreement. Peace was the order of the day: the armed militias were ordered to start dismantling, and a peace process was put in place.

Today, Northern Ireland has mellowed, and the Anglo-Irish conflict seems to have subsided… despite some palpable tensions. Many Orangemen still parade the streets in summer to commemorate their historic victory over the Irish… A situation that is tending to affect the sensitive areas of Belfast and Derry, where there have been a number of skids and acts of violence.

However, acts of violence are now few and far between. Sensitive neighborhoods have reopened up to others, and quality of life has improved. You can travel there without fear.

The Anglo-Irish conflict isn’t completely over yet, however: indeed, the Brexit is reportedly currently awakening some ghosts from the past. In the event of a hard Brexit, Northern Ireland could be completely cut off from the rest of Ireland. A terrible economic situation, which might require the creation of a border, as well as the introduction of customs regulations that would have a huge impact on the Northern Irish province.

Although the region is still in a state of limbo, anger is reportedly growing. Many Northern Irish feel they are being held hostage by the United Kingdom… and are calling for a referendum on Irish reunification.

An expectation rejected out of hand by the United Kingdom, which clings to Northern Ireland by every means at its disposal… even today.