Who can explain the current relationship between the parts of the UK?

[Barb D]

DS is reading an article about the fight for Irish home rule in the 1910's and 1920's. He wants to know what the current situation is...and I realize that I don't really understand it myself. I know that there is still conflict in Northern Ireland, but can anyone here provide a concise explanation of what is going on and why?

AND, I understand that England, Wales and Scotland are Great Britain (and along with Northern Ireland are the United Kingdom), but how do the Welsh, and Scots feel about it? Is there still animosity between any of the groups?

 

[Feralpeg]

You might want to move this to the UK board. You'd probably have more success.

 

[Princess Aurora45]

In anwser to your questions - yes there are still conflicts. They dont happen so much in the UK - most of the IRA (Irish Republic Army basically a terroist group) have been captured and peace treetys have been signed. But within Northern Ireland there are loads of problems between the Catholics and Protestents (sp?) - they are always fightening and blowing things up.

Great Britian is made up of England, Wales, scotland and Northern Ireland.

I dont know what the Walsh and Scots think, but they dont have a very high opinioun of the English. I thinks it is like the US and Canda (but I dont know what your relationships are like).

I hope this has helped and answered your questions. If you want more details post it on the UK boards.

 

[Disney Doll]

I think those folks are at the point where they don't even know what they are fighting about!!!!

 

[Barb D]

Great idea! Is there a way for us to move our own posts?

In the meantime, I'll go over there and post a link to this thread...

 

[Princess Aurora45]

I think those folks are at the point where they don't even know what they are fighting about!!!!

I couldn't agree more with you, I think you will find it the same for things. Which I find a really shame.

There was a musical based on this topic that you might want to check out. It was called the Beautiful Game by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

 

[Mpet]

Wow - The Northern Ireland topic would involve a lot of reading to understand all of the problems.

Here is a web site that is aimed at school pupils studying the subject

http://www.schoolshistory.org.uk/Ireland/

At the moment the situation in Northern Ireland is relatively peaceful - I say relatively compared to the 1970's when the fighting was probably at it's most intense.

We here in the 'mainland' sufferred bombings as the IRA were making their political point. Attempts were made to mortar bomb 10 Downing Street (The prime ministers official residence) and bombs were set off in railway sations and even on buses. As far as I can recall there have not been any such events in England for a number of years now.

I can't speak for the English people, but personally, I have no animosity towards the people of Northern Ireland - the terrorist members of the IRA are another matter though!!!

What I don't understand is the terrible animosity between (some) Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland - as I said this is an extensive subject which i'm not sure you can summarise easily


Maxine

 

[bigandy6]

I am a Scotsman and can only give my opinion. There is not as much dislike for the English as is led to be believed. Where i live there is a lot of English people living here and we all get on well with one another. Admittedly there might be some dislike of each other in sport etc, but only by the minority. I also live where the Northern Ireland ferries come and go and a lot of NI people come here for day trips or pass through and there is never any trouble from either Nationalities. As for NI itself, there is not so much trouble as in the past (Maybe Iraq keeps it out the news).

We are all human beings on 1 planet so lets get on with each other, we are not here long enough to squabble.
Andy

 

[edie w]

Well in simple terms...

Scotland has its own Parliament, within the framework of the UK parliament. Wales and NI have assemblies, which have less power. These are all recent developments.

Sinn Fein (Irish nationalists) has now been accepted as part of the political framework despite links with the paramilitary IRA who have been responsible for atrocities in NI and England. The IRA has supposedly renounced violence - the Real IRA has not. Loyalist (pro- UK) paramilitary groups have also retained their weapons.

Political killings have lessened considerably but not ceased within NI. However, I would now happily travel to Belfast whereas a few years ago I would not have.

In community terms there is still conflict and animosity, but at the same time there has been progress.

Across the UK there is considerable political conflict between the countries, just as there is conflict between the main political parties (Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats). However this does not really translate into personal conflict between ordinary individuals. I've travelled extensively in Scotland and Wales and work with lots of Scottish, Welsh and Irish (North and Republic) people and have never experienced any problems.

Here's a link to the BBC's children's news pages. There might be something useful here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/

This is a very complicated issue with no simple (or maybe even complex) solutions.

 

[Dan Murphy]

You did the right thing, Barb, adding a link there and asking there too. That way you will get input from both the UK CB and this CB, lots of ideas. I have none though, LOL.

 

[jjcollins]

Great post Barb D i hope you DS is enjoying his reading - So heres some info from a Belfast guy lol


Heres how Northern Ireland came about


The 1801 Act of Union merged the Kingdom of Ireland and the Kingdom of Great Britain (itself a merger of England and Scotland in 1707 under the 1707 Act of Union) to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Under the terms of the merger, Ireland continued to have over 100 MPs representing it in the united parliament, meeting in the Palace of Westminster. Part of the trade-off was to be the granting of Catholic Emancipation. However this was blocked by King George III who argued that emancipating Roman Catholics would breach his Coronation Oath.


Finally in December 1922, twenty-six of Ireland's counties exited from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and formed an independent Irish Free State. Six counties, called Northern Ireland, remained in the United Kingdom, which was renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.


Did you know this??

The Union Flag ( union jack )

The flag created by the merger of the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801 still remains the flag of the current United Kingdom. Known as the Union Flag or the Union Jack, it combines the then flags of England and Scotland with St. Patrick's flag from Ireland. The red cross, St. George's Cross, represents England. The Blue background, on which St. Andrew's Saltire (in the shape of a white 'x') appears, repesents Scotland, while the red 'x' which overlays the white x' on the blue background of Scotland, is known as 'St. Patrick's Cross' and represents Ireland.


jj........