‘Omagh’ An Introduction
‘Omagh’ An Introduction. Ireland. Conflict began in 12 th century British rulers took land for their own men Reformation further divides Ireland “plantations” of English and Scottish Religious Conflict- Ulster large protestant influence- all of Northern Ireland- local Irish Catholic
‘Omagh’ An Introduction
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Presentation Transcript
Ireland • Conflict began in 12th century • British rulers took land for their own men • Reformation further divides Ireland • “plantations” of English and Scottish • Religious Conflict- Ulster large protestant influence- all of Northern Ireland- local Irish Catholic • 1800 Act of Union- joined Ireland to Great Britain to create the United Kingdom
20th Century- Ireland starts to agitate for Independence • Nth- 2/3s Protestants, fear losing their religious freedom and economic advantage to Catholic Majority in Sth. • Country divided in 2: Unionists (pro-England, generally protestant) and Nationalists (pro-independence and generally Catholic) • 1921: Ireland formally partitioned: • 26 Southern counties independent Republic of Ireland • 6 North Eastern counties part of UK • Very violent for next three years in Ulster By 1960s relative stability achieved- Catholics discriminated against
‘the Troubles’ • Civil rights protests led by Catholics demanding equal power and cultural recognition • Formation of Ulster Volunteer Force- parliamentary group, lasted until the early 21st Century • Very violent both nationalists and unionists perpetrators and victims • British Army involved • Creation of the Provisional Irish Republican Army-radical
The peace process • Delicate ceasefire negotiated in 1994 • Collapsed in 1996- armed force main form of negotiation • Sinn Fein (political wing of IRA) led by Gerry Adams- VIP • Good Friday Agreement- 10 April 1998: • Proposed a constitutional future for Northern Ireland decided upon by citizens • Approved by Britain and Ireland and endorsed by major political partied
Radicals in PIRA disgruntled with Gerry Adams for signing- form the Real IRA • The Real IRA are the group who took responsibility for the bombing in Omagh August 15 1998 • Omagh is a Northern Irish town
The Omagh Bombing • 29 killed • Hundreds wounded • Victims not involved in peace negotiations • Destroyed families • Town feels it is very difficult to get justice as authorities believe it will jeopardise peace negotiations • Omagh self help support Group