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Unionism
Overview
Terminology
Key documents
Parties & Organisations
Publications
Cultural
Songs
Strategies
Symbols
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Unionism, in Ireland, is a belief in the desirability of a full constitutional and institutional relationship between Ireland and Great Britain based on the terms and order of government of the Act of Union 1800 which had merged both countries in 1801 to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (the successor entities being the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State). A Lambeg drum is a large Irish Drum, beaten with curved malacca Canes It is used primarily in Northern Ireland by Unionists The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ulster loyalism is a militant unionist ideology held mostly by Protestants in Northern Ireland. The King was the Head of state of the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Irish republicanism (Poblachtánachas is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a single independent Republic Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach refers to political and sociological movements and sentiment that embodies a love for Irish ancestry, culture and language and Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The phrase Act of Union 1800 (or sometimes Act of Union 1801) (Acht an Aontais 1800 is used to describe two complementary Acts whose official United Kingdom titles are The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by The term owes its origins to the campaigns by opponents of Irish home rule in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to prevent the creation of an all-Ireland home rule parliament within the United Kingdom. Home rule refers to a demand that constituent parts of a state be given greater self-government within the greater administrative purview of the central government Because of their desire to maintain the Act of Union as created in 1800, without any system of devolution, they came to be known as Unionists. Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a State to government at subnational level

Some believe that the unionist opposition to home rule was not simply based on a desire for a different structure for governance, but reflected a fundamental difference in perspective, beliefs, definition and culture between Irish Nationalists and Unionists. Whereas Nationalists were predominantly, but not exclusively, Roman Catholic, Unionists were predominantly, but not universally, Protestant. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Almost all were descendants of English and Scottish settlers who arrived in the province of Ulster, especially from the Plantation of Ulster, in the early 17th century, onwards. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster The Plantation of Ulster (Irish Plandáil Uladh) was a planned process of Colonisation which took place in the northern Irish province of Ulster

Contents

Sense of Britishness

Irish Unionism is centred on an identification with Britishness, though not necessarily to the exclusion of a sense of Irishness. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands It originated in Dublin in 1885, and was taken up through Ulster later that same year. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster Whereas Irish Nationalists believed in the need for separation from the United Kingdom (whether the 19th century concept of Repeal or home rule, or the 20th century desire for complete independence), Unionists believe fundamentally in the need to maintain and deepen the relationship between the various nations of the United Kingdom, expressing a pride in symbols of their Britishness. The Repeal Association was an Irish mass membership political movement set up by Daniel O'Connell to campaign for a repeal of the Act of Union of 1800 between Home rule refers to a demand that constituent parts of a state be given greater self-government within the greater administrative purview of the central government A definition of their own Britishness does not prevent some Unionists from also perceiving themselves as Irish as well as British; some Unionists, for example former Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Member of Parliament Ken Maginnis, openly supports the all-island Irish rugby team. The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Kenneth Wiggins Maginnis Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (born January 21, 1938) is a Northern Irish Ulster Unionist politician who sits in the The Ireland rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in Rugby union, which is a popular sport throughout both the Republic of Ireland and

A key symbol for unionists is the Union Flag. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unionist areas of Northern Ireland often display one or more symbols, most often the red, white and blue of the Union Flag, to show the loyalty and sense of identity of the community.

Loyalism has tended to concern itself with other aspects of Britishness, such as loyalty to the British monarch. Ulster loyalism is a militant unionist ideology held mostly by Protestants in Northern Ireland. While this is the case for many loyalists, and for many unionists also, it is not a defining feature.

Unionism throughout Ireland

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries unionism had supporters throughout Ireland. As late as 1859 the Unionist Irish Conservative Party was predominant, winning more seats than either the Irish Liberal Party or the various Nationalist parties. The Irish Conservative Party, often called the Irish Tories, was one of the dominant Irish political parties in Ireland in the 19th century The Liberal Unionists were a British political party that split away from the Liberals in 1886 and had effectively merged with the Conservatives by the By the early 20th century however the previously formed Irish Unionist Party had become predominantly associated with a geographic area covering six of the nine counties of Ulster in which settlers had settled during the Plantation of Ulster. The Irish Unionist Alliance (also known as the Irish Unionist Party) was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in the second half of the 19th century Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster The Plantation of Ulster (Irish Plandáil Uladh) was a planned process of Colonisation which took place in the northern Irish province of Ulster In 1920 the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Government of Ireland Act which partitioned Ireland into two jurisdictions, one of which, Northern Ireland, came to be dominated by the Ulster Unionist Party. An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 1920, (and sometimes called the Fourth Home Rule Act) was an Act The Partition of Ireland took place on 3 May 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party Unionism in the newly-independent southern state, known from 1922 as the Irish Free State, declined with many ex-Unionists opting to associate with Nationalist parties such as Cumann na nGaedhael and the Centre Party. The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by Cumann na nGaedhael (ˈkʊmən nə ˈŋɰeːɫ "Society of the Gaels" sometimes spelt Cumann na nGaedheal, was an Irish language name given The National Centre Party, initially know as the National Farmers and Ratepayers League was a short-lived political party in the Irish Free State. Today unionism is largely associated simply with Northern Ireland, though some Unionists remain in what is now the Republic of Ireland (See Southern Irish Unionism/Neo-Unionism below). Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe.

Religion

Though both Unionism and Nationalism attracted a number of supporters from outside their main religious faiths (Protestantism for the former, Roman Catholicism for the latter), whereas Nationalism did have a number of Protestant leaders (from Henry Grattan to Theobald Wolfe Tone and Charles Stewart Parnell), Unionism was invariably led by Protestant leaders, with few prominent Catholics involved in the Unionist parties, even if they voted for the parties at election time. Henry Grattan (3 July 1746 &ndash 6 June 1821 was a member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the Theobald Wolfe Tone, commonly known as Wolfe Tone ( 20 June, 1763 – 19 November, 1798) was a leading figure in the United Charles Stewart Parnell ( 27 June 1846 &ndash 6 October 1891) was an Irish Protestant landowner nationalist The lack of Catholic leadership led to accusations of sectarianism, particularly during the period of Unionist leadership of Northern Ireland (1921–1972), when only one Catholic served in government throughout the period. Sectarianism is Bigotry, Discrimination, Prejudice or Hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Dr. G. B. Newe was specially recruited to cabinet from outside the Ulster Unionist Party to boost cross-community relations in the last government under UUP Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Brian Faulkner. The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the De facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. Arthur Brian Deane Faulkner Baron Faulkner of Downpatrick, PC ( February 18, 1921 - March 3, 1977) was the sixth and last Ulster Unionist Leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner David Trimble conceded that Northern Ireland had been a "cold house for Catholics" in the past. The Nobel Peace Prize ( Swedish, Danish and Nobels fredspris is one of five Nobel Prizes Bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor William David Trimble Baron Trimble (born 15 October 1944 is a Northern Irish Politician from Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster


The Unionist vision is for Northern Ireland to continue with England, Scotland and Wales as part of the United Kingdom

Terminology

The terms Unionist and Loyalist are often used interchangeably, particularly by the media. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ulster loyalism is a militant unionist ideology held mostly by Protestants in Northern Ireland. However, the term 'loyalist' is now often used in recent times to describe extremists who are prepared to break the law to maintain the status quo or whose views are unusually hardline. Most unionists do not describe themselves as loyalists. Strictly speaking, the definition of 'unionist' incorporates everyone who supports the continued union between all parts of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The term 'loyalist' could therefore be interpreted as either loyalty to the union or loyal to the British Crown. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy

On the opposite, nationalist, side, the term republican traditionally refers to the more extreme element which in the past advocated physical force to achieve its ends (such as Sinn Féin) or those who continue to do so to this day (such as Republican Sinn Féin). Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach refers to political and sociological movements and sentiment that embodies a love for Irish ancestry, culture and language and Irish republicanism (Poblachtánachas is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a single independent Republic Sinn Féin () is a political party in Ireland. The current party led by Gerry Adams was formed following a split in January 1970 Republican Sinn Féin ( RSF; Irish: Sinn Féin Poblachtach) is a Political party operating in Ireland.

This violence was primarily aimed at the state of Northern Ireland and its residents and security forces, though it has also been aimed at the independent Irish state (from the Irish Free State to the present Republic of Ireland) which has been considered just as illegitimate by various Republican groups, stemming from divisions of the Irish Civil War era. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The Irish Civil War ( June 28 1922 &ndash May 24 1923) pitted supporters of the Anglo-Irish Treaty against its opponents The term nationalist, on the other hand, traditionally describes the more moderate element, which has consistently supported constitutional politics (e. g. , the Social Democratic and Labour Party, or SDLP) in order to bring about a United Ireland. The Social Democratic and Labour Party ( SDLP; Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre is one of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland A United Ireland is the term used to refer to a sovereign state encompassing the whole of the island of Ireland.

Development

Home Rule

The political union is symbolised by the Westminster Parliament
The political union is symbolised by the Westminster Parliament

Prior to 1912, Unionists wished to see the Act of Union 1800 (which had merged the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801) remain in place. The phrase Act of Union 1800 (or sometimes Act of Union 1801) (Acht an Aontais 1800 is used to describe two complementary Acts whose official United Kingdom titles are The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 They opposed Irish Home Rule, which mainstream southern Irish nationalists had sought since the 1860s as they thought that a self-governing Irish Parliament voted in by the Catholic majority - that would be dominated by nationalist movement- would be to their economic, social and religious disadvantage, and would move eventually towards total independence, thus threatening their natural British nationality and identity. Home rule refers to a demand that constituent parts of a state be given greater self-government within the greater administrative purview of the central government The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the USA was completed in 1869

Home Rule would have involved Ireland having its own regional parliament while still remaining in the United Kingdom. This demand, the policy of nationalist leaders such as Isaac Butt. Isaac Butt 6 September 1813 &ndash 5 May 1879) was an Irish Barrister, and the founder and first leader of a number of Irish nationalist William Shaw, Charles Stewart Parnell, John Redmond and John Dillon, became first the aim of the Nationalist Party, subsequently known as the Home Rule League and later the Irish Parliamentary Party which won the majority of Irish parliamentary seats in the Westminster parliaments from the 1880s until 1918. Charles Stewart Parnell ( 27 June 1846 &ndash 6 October 1891) was an Irish Protestant landowner nationalist John Edward Redmond (Seán Éamonn Mac Réamoinn (1 September 1856 &ndash 6 March 1918 was an Irish nationalist Politician, Barrister, MP John Dillon (4 September 1851 – 4 August 1927 was an Irish land reform agitator Irish Home Rule activist nationalist politician Member of Parliament The Nationalist Party was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from The Home Rule League, sometimes called the Home Rule Party, was a Political party which campaigned for Home rule for the island of Ireland from 1873 to The Irish Parliamentary Party (IPP (commonly called the Irish Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing

While most Unionists outside Ulster were almost made up of the governing and landowning classes and the minor gentry, Unionism had a broad popular appeal among Protestants of all classes and backgrounds in the North-East which, in contrast to the rest of Ireland, had developed through the Industrial Revolution and had an economy that closely resembled Great Britain. Gentry generally refers to people of high Social class, especially in the past Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands

Various British governments introduced four successive Bills to set up an Irish Home Rule parliament in Dublin. The Irish Home Rule bills were bills introduced in the British House of Commons during the late 19th and early 20th centuries intended to grant self-government and The Irish Home Rule Bill 1886 never made it through the House of Commons but managed to destroy the Liberal Party government, with Whig and Radical elements leaving to form the Liberal Unionist Party in alliance with the Conservative Party. The First Home Rule Bill (official name Irish Government Bill 1886) was the first major attempt made by a British parliament to The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords The Liberal Party was one of the two major British political parties from the early 19th century until the rise of the Labour Party in the 1920s and a third party The Liberal Unionists were a British political party that split away from the Liberals in 1886 and had effectively merged with the Conservatives by the The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Eventually the two parties merged, calling themselves the Conservative and Unionist Party. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom.

The Irish Home Rule Bill 1893 passed in the Commons but succumbed to the veto of the House of Lords. The Irish Government Bill 1893 (known generally as the Second Home Rule Bill) was the second attempt made by William E The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" The House of Lords had far more Conservatives than the House of Commons. The Home Rule Act 1914 passed (or at least passed all stages under the Parliament Act, 1911, which curbed the veto power of the Lords) but never came into force, due to the onset of World War I (1914 – 1918). The Home Rule Act of 1914, also known as the ( Irish) Third Home Rule Act (or Bill) and formally known as the Government of Ireland Act 1914 The Parliament Acts are two Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed in 1911 and 1949 that form part of the Constitution of the United World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The fourth Bill, known as the Government of Ireland Act 1920, envisaged two Irish home rule states: Southern Ireland which would have had a nationalist majority, and Northern Ireland which would have a much smaller Unionist majority. An Act to Provide for the Better Government of Ireland, more usually the Government of Ireland Act 1920, (and sometimes called the Fourth Home Rule Act) was an Act Southern Ireland (Deisceart Éireann was the short lived autonomous region (or Constituent country) of the United Kingdom established on 3 May Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The 1914 Act also envisioned such a partition as a "temporarily" measure, although how long this temporary solution would continue was left unstated. In the end, only Northern Ireland became a reality, the planned Southern Ireland was superseded by the Irish Free State.

Sir Edward Carson signing the Ulster Covenant
Sir Edward Carson signing the Ulster Covenant

Irish unionists opposed Home Rule for many reasons. The Ulster Covenant was signed by just under half a million of men and women from Ulster, on and before September 28, 1912, in protest against the Much of their support in southern and western Ireland (the provinces of Munster, Leinster and Connacht) came from landed gentry who feared that a nationalist assembly would introduce property and taxation laws more suitable to a small island than the laws imposed from Westminster, which were designed for a much larger area, the entire United Kingdom. Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland. Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Gentry generally refers to people of high Social class, especially in the past Some also feared that they would experience a similar sort of discrimination that the British monarchy up to 1800 had practised on non-Conformists, namely the Penal Laws, or the more subtle discrimination that followed, although this is hard to credit as Ireland would have remained part of the UK. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy Nonconformism is the refusal to conform to common standards conventions rules customs traditions norms or laws The Penal Laws in Ireland (Na Péindlíthe refers to a series of laws imposed under British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour Others identified strongly with the Crown and British rule, and wished to see both continue unchanged in Ireland. However, one should not presume that Irish unionist support came entirely from the landed gentry, or that all Protestants supported Unionism. Many working-class and middle-class Unionists and some gentrified Catholics supported the maintenance of the union, while many Protestants (most notably Charles Stewart Parnell) supported home rule. Working class is a term used in academic Sociology and in ordinary conversation to describe depending on context and speaker those employed in specific fields or types The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. Charles Stewart Parnell ( 27 June 1846 &ndash 6 October 1891) was an Irish Protestant landowner nationalist Other unionists, particularly in Ulster, had economic fears, suspecting that a nationalist parliament in Dublin, on a predominantly agricultural island, would impose economic tariffs against industry.

For much of the period up until 1920, though the Unionist support base predominated in four of the nine counties of Ulster (where the Protestants outnumbered the Roman Catholics), the Irish Unionist Party's leadership came from the rest of Ireland. Its most prominent leader, the Dublin-born barrister and politician Sir Edward Carson, opposed not merely Home Rule but any attempt to divide Ireland into two. Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Edward Henry Carson Baron Carson, PC, Kt, KC (often known as Sir Edward Carson or Lord Carson) ( The Partition of Ireland took place on 3 May 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Other southern Unionist leaders included the Earl of Middleton and the Earl of Dunraven.

When, following the curbs placed on the power of the House of Lords in 1911 it became clear that home rule would come, Unionists, particularly in parts of Ulster, mounted a campaign that threatened to establish a Provisional Government of Ulster if Home Rule were to come about. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" They set up the Ulster Volunteers, a militia, and imported 25,000 rifles from Imperial Germany, to defend the Provisional Government should it ever become necessary. The Ulster Volunteers were a unionist militia founded in 1912 to block Home Rule for Ireland. The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification

90,000 men had joined by the middle of 1914. Irish Unionism received the support in the period from the 1880s until 1914 from leading mainland Conservative politicians, notably Lord Randolph Churchill and future British prime minister Andrew Bonar Law. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill ( 13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895) was a British Statesman. Andrew Bonar Law (16 September 1858 &ndash 30 October 1923 was a Canadian -born British Conservative Party statesman and Prime Minister. Slogans such as "Ulster Will Fight and Ulster Will Be Right" expressed the determination of unionists to oppose Irish Home Rule by whatever means it deemed necessary.

Northern Ireland

The Union Flag represents England, Ireland and Scotland united together
The Union Flag represents England, Ireland and Scotland united together
The Ulster Banner - the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland 1953-72
The Ulster Banner - the flag of the former Government of Northern Ireland 1953-72
St. Patrick's Cross represents Ireland in the Union Flag
St. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Ulster Banner was the official name given to the Flag of the Government of Northern Ireland between 1953 and 1972 Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Patrick's Cross represents Ireland in the Union Flag

The creation of Northern Ireland, with a unionist majority, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, and the later creation of the Irish Free State, in the territory the above Act had called Southern Ireland, separated southern and northern unionists. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by Unionists were in the majority in four counties (Antrim, Londonderry, Down and Armagh) but insisted on control over the counties of Fermanagh and Tyrone as well. County Antrim ( Contae Aontroma or simply Aontroim in Irish) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, and one of nine counties County Down, ( Ulster Scots: Coontie Doun. is one of the nine counties that form the province of Ulster and one of six counties that form County Armagh ( Contae Ard Mhacha in Irish - from the height of Macha) is a county in Ulster in the north east of Ireland County Fermanagh (fɚr'mænɘ Contae Fhear Manach or Fear Manach ('Men of Monach'in Irish) is the westernmost of the six counties that form Northern

As these counties had a large land area but were thinly populated compared to the other four, it was felt that the slight dilution of the pro-Union population was worth it for the extra territory. The exclusion of three Ulster counties, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan from Northern Ireland, and hence the United Kingdom, left Ulster unionists there feeling isolated and betrayed. Donegal ( Irish: Dún na nGall) is a town in County Donegal, in the Province of Ulster, in Ireland. Monaghan (Muineachán is a town in Ireland, the administrative capital of County Monaghan. Cavan (ˈkævən) is the county seat of County Cavan in Ireland. Ulster ( Ulaidh ˈkwɪɟɪ ˈʌlˠu / ˈʌlˠi is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in addition to Connacht, Munster and Leinster They established an association to canvass their fellow unionists to reconsider the border, but to no avail. Many assisted in the policing of the new region, serving in the B-Specials, while continuing to live in the Free State. The Ulster Special Constabulary (USC (commonly called the "B-Specials" was a reserve police force in Ireland. See (external link).

Edward Carson had expressly urged the Northern Ireland Unionist prime minister, Sir James Craig to ensure absolute equality in the treatment of Roman Catholics, to ensure the stability of the new entity. Edward Henry Carson Baron Carson, PC, Kt, KC (often known as Sir Edward Carson or Lord Carson) ( James Craig 1st Viscount Craigavon, Bart, PC ( 8 January 1871 – 24 November 1940) was a prominent Irish unionist However, discrimination took place although its extent is debated. Basil Brooke, whose son had been kidnapped by Irish republicans and was embittered and suspicious of the Catholic community, called for Protestants to employ only Protestants. Basil Brooke may refer to Basil Brooke (metallurgist (1576 - 1646 of Madeley Shropshire ironmaster and metallurgist Some boundaries demarcated electorates in such a way as to produce Unionist majorities in areas that would otherwise have produced nationalist councillors. However, there was also widespread poverty among Protestants and recovery operations in working class areas after the Belfast Blitz in 1941 revealed that both communities were disadvantaged. The Belfast Blitz was an event that occurred on the night of Easter Tuesday 15 April 1941.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble, has admitted that Northern Ireland was a 'cold house of Catholics' for most of the 20th century a process he said the Belfast Agreement must change. The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party William David Trimble Baron Trimble (born 15 October 1944 is a Northern Irish Politician from Northern Ireland who served as leader of the Ulster The Agreement, most often referred to as the Belfast Agreement (Comhaontú Bhéal Feirste Belfast Greeance or the Good Friday Agreement (Comhaontú Aoine an Many unionists, particularly in the Democratic Unionist Party, deny that organised discrimination took place and point to the poverty shared by many people in both communities due to wider economic conditions. The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP) is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland.

The Troubles

Main article: The Troubles
Ulster Defence Association mural in Shankill, Belfast
Ulster Defence Association mural in Shankill, Belfast

By the 1960s, reforms by a moderate new Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terence O'Neill, to create a more equitable society between unionists and nationalists resulted in a backlash led by fundamentalist Protestant preacher-politician, Ian Paisley. The Ulster Defence Association ( UDA) is a loyalist Paramilitary criminal organization in Northern Ireland, outlawed as a Terrorist Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the De facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. Terence Marne O'Neill Baron O'Neill of the Maine, PC ( 10 September 1914 &ndash 12 June 1990) was the fourth Prime Minister Fundamentalism refers to a "deep and totalistic commitment" to a belief in and strict adherence to a set of basic principles (often Religious in nature a reaction Ian Richard Kyle Paisley (born 6 April 1926 styled The Rt Hon There was considerable community tensions in which both sides were responsible. Nationalists launched a Civil Rights movement and serious rioting took place in Derry[1] and Belfast in 1969. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. With a collapse in law and order the British government sent troops to Northern Ireland to protect the Catholic community from violence and intimidation. The presence of British troops gave the IRA the opportunity to further involve the mainland British government in the violence and the IRA went about targeting British troops despite the reason for their deployment in the first place. Ultimately this led to the controversial killing of 13 unarmed civilians by the British army Parachute Regiment in Derry on Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972) coincided with the emergence of extremist paramilitary groups on both sides. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. The Parachute Regiment is the Airborne Infantry element of the British Army. Bloody Sunday (Domhnach na Fola is the term used to describe an incident in Derry, Northern Ireland, on 30 January 1972 in which 26 Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. This led to the abolition of the Stormont parliament and government (30 March 1972). The Parliament of Northern Ireland was the home rule Legislature of Northern Ireland, created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

A power-sharing government between moderate nationalists and moderate unionists in 1974 was brought down by the Ulster Workers' Council Strike. The Ulster Workers Council (UWC Strike was a General strike that took place between Wednesday 15 May 1974 and Tuesday 28 May 1974 This was followed by a plan for rolling devolution through an assembly between 1982 and 1986 but this was boycotted by nationalists. Violence continued throughout this period.

After nearly three decades of conflict, a ceasefire and intense political negotiations produced the Belfast Agreement on 10 April 1998 (also known as the "Good Friday Agreement"), which again attempted with mixed success to produce a power-sharing government for Northern Ireland with cross-community support. The Agreement, most often referred to as the Belfast Agreement (Comhaontú Bhéal Feirste Belfast Greeance or the Good Friday Agreement (Comhaontú Aoine an Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) supported the agreement but it was opposed by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and other smaller parties. The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP) is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland.

Unionism in Northern Ireland today

British identity in Northern Ireland is expressed in a number of different ways through passive everyday preferences (some of which can be a combination of British and Irish) such as choice of newspaper or sports team, participation in a locally developed unionist culture or electoral support for unionist political parties and candidates. It is only through elections that unionism can be statistically analysed but surveys have studied trends of support for the union within the province's population.

Unionism and religious background

While some commentators regularly use the religious terms 'Catholic' and 'Protestant' interchangeably with 'nationalist' and 'unionist' in Northern Ireland, this is a simplification. Not all Catholics support nationalist causes, for example. The Ulster Unionist Party has some Roman Catholic members, including Sir John Gorman, who was one of its most respected MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1998 to 2003. The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party Sir John Reginald Gorman, CVO, CBE, MC, DL, (b February 1 1923, Omagh, Northern Ireland) was between A Member of the Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an Electoral district to the Legislature or Legislative The Northern Ireland Assembly ( Irish: Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann, Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann Semmlie) is the devolved Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

Many Roman Catholics served in the Royal Irish Constabulary, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and now serve in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and in the British armed forces, despite opposition, threats and attacks from Irish republicans. The Royal Irish Constabulary ( RIC) ( Irish: Constáblacht Ríoga na hÉireann) was one of Ireland's two police forces in the early twentieth century The Royal Ulster Constabulary GC was the name of the Police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001 The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the Police service that covers Northern Ireland. The Armed forces of the United Kingdom, commonly known as the British Armed Forces or Her Majesty's Armed Forces, and sometimes legally the Armed Forces Though this does not unnecessarily mean that they would describe themselves as unionist. Just as several nationalists were members of the RIC there were several nationalist members of the RUC. The current leader of the SDLP, Mark Durkan's father was a nationalist Catholic serving in the RUC. Today despite 50:50 quotas of Catholic to Protestants a substantial number of the PSNI's Catholic officers are Catholic Poles and therefore not native Northern Irish citizens with historical affiliation to the question of Unionism/Nationalism as was intended.

The nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), meanwhile, has often attracted sympathetic Protestants, some of whom have been elected. The Social Democratic and Labour Party ( SDLP; Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre is one of the two major nationalist parties in Northern Ireland Sinn Féin has also has some Protestant members and elected officials. .

Current Public Support for Unionism in Northern Ireland [1]
Indicator Survey Date Overall % Protestant % Catholic % No religion %
Support for the union as long-term policy [2] 2006 54 85 22 46
Unionist personal identity [3] 2006 36 69 3 17
British personal identity [4] 2006 39 63 11 35
Support for unionist political party [5] 2006 32 63 2 20


Northern Ireland has an increasing number of citizens who are neither Catholic or Protestant. Increasingly, the trend has been to ignore the question of religion, particularly as the numbers of practising church-goers, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, have been in decline. This led to a new question on the census form, asking residents to describe their religious background as well.

This decline does not mean that nationalists and unionists have equal numbers. Polls taken over the years have suggested that as many as one in three Catholics could be considered Unionists, regardless of what political party they may vote for at election times, although this percentage seems very high, and contradicts Sinn Féin's recent ascendance.

Furthermore, a strong decline in the Roman Catholic birth rate may slow down or even reverse the growth in the Catholic population. However, that may be balanced in turn by an increased rate of emigration of young Protestants, often to study and then work in Britain. How these changes will affect the long-term number of Protestants and Catholics is hard to assess. Recent influxes of immigrants from outside the British Isles are also having a significant effect on the demographic balance although it is too early to assess the long term effect of this.

The rapid pace of economic growth in the Republic of Ireland in recent years is felt by many to closed the economic gap between Ireland and the UK and hence weakened the economic case for Unionism. Celtic Tiger (Tíogar Ceilteach is a name for the period of rapid Economic growth in the Republic of Ireland that began in the 1990s and slowed in 2001 Although many Unionists insist that the Irish economic boom is exaggerated and there are still clear economic benefits from being part of the UK, the world's fourth largest economy, though Northern Ireland constitutes a negligible amount, and should it leave the UK's status as the fourth largest economy globally would remain unchanged.

Political Unionism

Northern Ireland currently has a number of pro-union political parties, the largest of which is the traditionalist Democratic Unionist Party led by Ian Paisley, followed by the more moderate Ulster Unionist Party led by Reg Empey. The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP) is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Ian Richard Kyle Paisley (born 6 April 1926 styled The Rt Hon The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party Sir Reginald Norman Morgan Empey MLA (born October 26, 1947) is a Northern Ireland politician and a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Both parties are active across Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of

On a smaller level, the Progressive Unionist Party, which is political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) paramilitary group, attracts some support in the greater Belfast area, while the UK Unionist Party is centred on North Down and the United Unionist Coalition is a loose grouping of independent candidates across the province. See Ulster Progressive Unionist Association, for the political group founded in 1938 The Progressive Unionist Party ( PUP) is a small The Ulster Volunteer Force (more commonly referred to as the UVF) is a Loyalist group in Northern Ireland. The UK Unionist Party ( UKUP) was a small unionist Political party operating in Northern Ireland from 1995 to 2008 North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The United Unionist Coalition, also known as the United Unionist Assembly Party, was formed by a collection of unionist members of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The pluralist Conservative Party (officially named the Conservative and Unionist Party) also organises in the province. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. While the Alliance Party supports the status quo position of Northern Ireland, it does not define itself as Unionist. The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI is a Political party in Northern Ireland.

Moderate unionists who support the principle of equal citizenship between Northern Ireland and Great Britain have campaigned for mainstream British political parties to organise and contest elections in the province. Equal citizenship pressure groups have included the Campaign for Equal Citizenship (CEC), Labour Representation Campaign, Democracy Now and, currently, Labour - Federation of Labour Groups. Labour – Federation of Labour Groups is the formally registered name of a collection of political organisations in Northern Ireland who aspire to become part of the Labour Momentum for this concept picked up after the Conservative Party Conference voted in favour of working in Northern Ireland in 1989. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The Conservatives currently have one councillor on Down District Council, who was elected as an Ulster Unionist. Down District Council is a Local Council in County Down in Northern Ireland. No Conservative has been elected in Northern Ireland since the early 1990s.

Under legal pressure from local trade unionists, Labour accepted members from the province in October 2002 [6] and in September 2006 agreed to organise through a forum [7]. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The Liberal Democrats have a branch in Northern Ireland but do not contest elections [8]. The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the

Recent Unionist Electoral Performance in Northern Ireland [9]
Level Election Total seats Unionist seats Unionist poll Unionist % vote
Northern Ireland Assembly 2007 108 55 329,826 47. The Northern Ireland Assembly ( Irish: Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann, Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann Semmlie) is the devolved 8%
House of Commons 2005 18 10 371,888 51. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords 8%
Local Government 2005 582 302 343,148 48. Northern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes 8%
European Parliament 2004 3 2 266,925 48. The European Parliament ( Europarl or EP) is the only directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU 6%
Northern Ireland Assembly 2003 108 59 352,886 51. The Northern Ireland Assembly ( Irish: Tionól Thuaisceart Éireann, Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann Semmlie) is the devolved 0%

Pro-union parties and independents contest elections and represent their constituents at a number of different levels. There is a unionist presence at election time in all parliamentary constituencies. Northern Ireland is divided into 18 Parliamentary constituencies - 4 Borough constituencies in Belfast and 14 County constituencies elsewhere A Unionist win is a virtual certainty in ten constituencies:

Twenty peers in the House of Lords owe their peerages to a direct connection with Northern Ireland [10], usually through a political party. East Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. North Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. South Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Belfast North is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Belfast East is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Lagan Valley is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. East Londonderry is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Strangford is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Upper Bann is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Of these eight Ulster Unionists (sitting as Cross-benchers) three DUP, two Conservative two Labour and one Liberal Democrat and the rest independent. The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party In certain legislative assemblies, especially those which are based on the Westminster system, a crossbencher is a member of the assembly who is a member of neither The Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP) is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a liberal Political party in the United Kingdom, formed in 1988 by merging the As well as the two Unionist MEPs in the European Parliament, DUP MP Nigel Dodds is also an alternate member of the UK Parliament delegations to the Council of Europe and Western European Union [11] and Unionists also participate in the EU Committee of the Regions [12]. The European Parliament ( Europarl or EP) is the only directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union (EU Nigel Alexander Dodds, OBE, MP, MLA, BL (born Derry, 20 August 1958) is a Barrister and Northern The Council of Europe (Conseil de l'Europe is the oldest International organisation working towards European integration, being founded in 1949 The Western European Union ( WEU) is a partially dormant European defence and security organization established on the basis of the Treaty of Brussels of 1948 The Committee of the Regions (CoR is a body of the European Union (EU established in 1994

Unionist candidates stand for election in most district electoral areas (small areas which make up district councils) in Northern Ireland. Exceptions, in 2005, were Slieve Gullion in South Armagh, Upper and Lower Falls in Belfast, Shantallow, Northland and Cityside in Derry - all of which are strongly nationalist. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Likewise, nationalist parties and candidates did not contest some areas in North Antrim, East Antrim, East Belfast, North Down and the Strangford constituency which are strongly unionist and therefore unlikely to return a candidate. North Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. East Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Belfast East is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. North Down is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Strangford is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.

Local government in Northern Ireland is not entirely divided on nationalist-unionist lines and the level of political tension within a council depends on the district that it represents and its direct experience of the Troubles.

Future elections

Strategically, South Belfast and Fermanagh and South Tyrone will be the key target seats for unionism in the next general election, but previous experience indicates that neither seat can be won without an electoral pact between the DUP and the UUP. Belfast South is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons. Fermanagh and South Tyrone is a Parliamentary Constituency in the British House of Commons. Leadership of the main parties David Cameron became Conservative leader in December 2005 replacing Michael Howard. Both seats were lost, in 2001 and 2005 respectively, due to a divided Unionist vote.

Unionism and Republicanism

Some unionists are British republicans. Republicanism, in the United Kingdom, is the movement which seeks to remove the British monarchy and replace it with a Republic that has a non- There is no accurate statistical information available for how much actual support exists for the current monarchy, or an alternative British republic within unionism. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that, while support for the monarchy amongst unionists is not perhaps as universal as is commonly assumed, the attitude among unionists who don't support the monarchy is mainly one of indifference rather than outright hostility towards the institution.

Many unionists express loyalty to the monarchy and three members of the current Royal Family hold titles with roots in Northern Ireland: The Duke of York (Baron Killyleagh), The Earl of Ulster and Baron Downpatrick. For the nursery rhyme see The Grand Old Duke of York. The title Duke of York is a title of Nobility in the British Peerage The title of Earl of Ulster has been created several times in the Peerages of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Duke of Kent is a title which has been created various times in the peerages of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, most recently as a royal dukedom for the fourth

Previous royal Irish titles included Lord of Ireland, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Earl of Athlone and Baron Arklow. The Lordship of Ireland ( 1171 - 1541) was the nominally all-island Irish state created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169-71 The title Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was granted by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to her third son Prince Arthur The title of Earl of Athlone has been created three times It was created first in the Peerage of Ireland in 1692 along with the subsidiary title of Baron Aghrim Duke of Clarence is a title which has been traditionally awarded to junior members of the English and British Royal families. The Queen is still technically Sovereign of the Order of St. Patrick, the highest Irish order of chivalry, and the Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is an officer in the College of Arms, London. The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick is a British Order of chivalry associated with Ireland. Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating Heraldry and granting new Armorial bearings for England, Wales London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. All other royal links with Ireland were broken as the Republic of Ireland gained its independence and Irish peerages disappeared when the House of Lords was reformed. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those peers created by British monarchs in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords"

Southern Irish Unionism/Neo-Unionism

See Also "Unionism throughout Ireland" above

After 1890 and particularly during the period from the start of the First World War to the mid 1920s, the number of Unionists in what is now the Republic of Ireland declined to a point where their numbers were widely regarded as almost insignificant. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. This is attributed to a number of factors.

  1. World War I: A higher rate of participation in World War I amongst Irish Unionists than among Nationalists (who were split on the issue of Irish participation in World War I) combined with the very high casualty rate amongst Irish regiments in the conflict. (Note: military conscription did not apply in Ireland. Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority )
  2. Irish War of Independence: An alleged campaign of murder and ethnic cleansing in parts of the country, by some members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) of Protestants and Unionists, particularly during and after the Anglo-Irish War, and especially in Cork where the Protestant community was largely working-class. Ethnic cleansing is a Euphemism referring to the persecution through imprisonment expulsion or killing of members of an ethnic minority by a majority to achieve ethnic homogeneity The Irish Republican Army ( IRA) (Óglaigh na hÉireann was a military organisation descended from the Irish Volunteers, established 25 November 1913 and who The Irish War of Independence (or Tan War, or Anglo-Irish War, Irish: Cogadh na Saoirse) from January 1919 to July 1921 was a guerrilla The Cork Protestant community was famous for being unrepentantly Loyalist and became a target for an equally fanatical Republican movement. Cork Loyalists were set apart from Protestants in the rest of the country due to their large concentrated numbers and the fact that they were in the most part working-class, unlike the richer Protestants in Dublin. However, their numbers were not large enough to defend themselves or to make a large stand like the Protestants in Ulster. Many simply migrated or were forced into migration. There is disagreement among historians over whether such murders were part of a widespread organised campaign or just a handful of isolated incidents.
  3. Emigration: Large numbers of Unionists leaving Ireland (voluntarily or otherwise) in the years before and after independence, mainly for Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Canada. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page
  4. Assimilation: Many of those remaining to some degree underwent a gradual process of cultural assimilation into Irish society and culture. A region or society where several different groups are spontaneously assimilated is sometimes referred to as a Melting pot. This was encouraged by the Free State government and was largely accepted as it was generally perceived that the issue of Unionism had (as far as the South was concerned) become "a lost cause" also during the Irish Civil War most Unionists found themselves supporting the Pro-treaty government (if only as "the lesser of two evils"). The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by The Irish Civil War ( June 28 1922 &ndash May 24 1923) pitted supporters of the Anglo-Irish Treaty against its opponents -On the other hand to some extent the process of assimilation had begun even prior to Irish independence with many Protestants playing leading roles in the Irish Nationalist and Gaelic revival movements. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Irish nationalism (Náisiúnachas Éireannach refers to political and sociological movements and sentiment that embodies a love for Irish ancestry, culture and language and For the Gaelic resurgence to overthrow English supremacy in the 14th-16th century see Gaelic resurgence.
  5. Intermarriage and the Ne Temere decree: The decline in the numbers of Unionists reflected the decline in the Protestant Population in the Republic (Unionists were/are largely, though not exclusively Protestant) Much of which was down to the fact that In most areas of the Free state Protestants were a small minority of the population and the widespread practice of bringing children of mixed (Protestant/Roman Catholic) marriages up as Roman Catholics (often because of community/family pressure and the Ne Temere decree). Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Ne Temere (literally meaning "not rashly" in Latin) was a decree (named for its opening words of the Roman Catholic Congregation of

Some Unionists in the south simply adapted and began to associate themselves with the new southern Irish regime of W. T. Cosgrave and Cumann na nGaedhael. William Thomas Cosgrave (Liam Tomás Mac Cosgair 6 June 1880 &ndash 16 November 1965 known generally as W Cumann na nGaedhael (ˈkʊmən nə ˈŋɰeːɫ "Society of the Gaels" sometimes spelt Cumann na nGaedheal, was an Irish language name given On January 19, 1922, leading Unionists held a meeting and unanimously decided to support fully the government of the new Free State. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Many gained appointment to the Irish Free State Senate, including the Earl of Dunraven as a Senator when Thomas Westropp Bennett an Anglo-Irish Catholic was Cathaiorleach (pronounced 'ka-here-loch'). The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by One Unionist political family, the Dockrells, joined and became TDs (MPs) over a number of generations for Cumann na nGaedhael and its successor party, Fine Gael (the governing party in the 1920s, the main opposition from 1932 onwards). A Teachta Dála (ˈtʲaxtə ˈdɑːlə is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower chamber of the Oireachtas (Parliament of the Republic of Ireland. Cumann na nGaedhael (ˈkʊmən nə ˈŋɰeːɫ "Society of the Gaels" sometimes spelt Cumann na nGaedheal, was an Irish language name given Fine Gael – The United Ireland Party, shortened to Fine Gael (ˌfina gail meaning Family of the Irish or Tribe of the Irish, is the second largest

However since the late 1920s there have been few actual Unionists elected to the Dáil or Senate. The Dublin borough of Rathmines had a unionist majority up to the late 1920s, when a local government re-organisation abolished all Dublin borough councils. Rathmines ( Ráth Maonais in Irish) is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre

Having lost their privileged status, most Irish Unionists simply withdrew from public life. The number of Protestants declined in the Irish Free State and in its successor state, the Republic of Ireland. The Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann (1922&ndash1937 was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by Succession of states is a theory in International relations regarding the recognition and acceptance of a newly created State by other states based on Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. IRA attacks in the 1920s drove away many who assisted the British in the Anglo-Irish War, in the process burning many historic homes as reprisals for the Crown forces' destruction of the homes and property of republicans, suspected or actual. This article deals with the Irish republican organisation opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty styling itself "Irish Republican Army" as it existed from the time of the Treaty The Irish War of Independence (or Tan War, or Anglo-Irish War, Irish: Cogadh na Saoirse) from January 1919 to July 1921 was a guerrilla Irish republicanism (Poblachtánachas is an ideology based on the Irish nationalist belief that all of Ireland should be a single independent Republic

Others had suffered disproportionately in World War I, losing their sons and heirs on the bloodied fields of Flanders and the Somme. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. The Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. Some that remained became victims of the Roman Catholic Church's Ne Temere decree imposed by Pope Pius X, which required Catholics in mixed marriages to ensure that all children of the marriage were brought up to follow the Roman Catholic Church. Ne Temere (literally meaning "not rashly" in Latin) was a decree (named for its opening words of the Roman Catholic Congregation of Saint Pius X ( Latin: Pius PP X) ( June 2, 1835 &mdash August 20, 1914) born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the It is unclear to what extent this decree contributed to the decline in the southern Protestant population.

As a result, many eligible Protestant women, who because of the deaths of Protestant men in World War I were denied the availability of Protestant husbands, either married Catholics or remained unmarried, either way ending the Protestant family line. This reversed an earlier trend of Catholics becoming Protestant to avoid discrimination.

Furthermore, land reform from the 1870s to the 1900s broke up many of the large estates. Land reforms (also Agrarian reform, though that can have a broader meaning is an often- controversial alteration in the societal arrangements whereby government Protestant families, who had owned most of the land, saw it returned to their largely Catholic tenantry. Many chose in the 1920s to use their compensation money to settle in Britain, often in other estates they owned there.

In addition, the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland from 1871 by an Act of Parliament led that Church to sell many of its estates and bishops' palaces, in the process laying off many Protestant workers who themselves then moved away. The Church of Ireland (Eaglais na hÉireann is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating across the island of Ireland. (Previously, the Church had had considerable wealth thanks to tithes (mandatory taxes) which the local Roman Catholic, Presbyterian and Methodist communities had to pay to the (Anglican) Church of Ireland. A tithe (from Old English teogoþa "tenth" is a one-tenth part of something paid as a (usually voluntary contribution or as a Tax or levy Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations The loss of this money underlined the economic vulnerability of the Church of Ireland. )

However, it is widely (though not universally) accepted that little evidence of widespread discrimination against Protestants in the Irish Free State/Éire exists. Éire (ˈeːrʲə) is the Irish name for the island of Ireland and of the state of the same name. The first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde (1938 – 1945), and the fourth, Erskine Hamilton Childers (1973-74), belonged to the Church of Ireland, though Childers was one of only two senior Irish politicians to attend Hyde's Church of Ireland funeral. The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Head of state of Ireland. Douglas Hyde (Dubhghlas de hÍde Pseudonym An Craoibhín Aoibhinn) (17 January 1860 &ndash 12 July 1949 was an Anglo-Irish scholar of the Irish language Erskine Hamilton Childers (11 December 1905 &ndash 17 November 1974 served as the fourth President of Ireland from 1973 until his death in 1974 The Church of Ireland (Eaglais na hÉireann is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion, operating across the island of Ireland. Mary Robinson, nee Mary Bourke, the seventh President has both Catholic and Protestant branches in her family, and is married to a Protestant, Nicholas Robinson, although her children were raised as Roman Catholics and her parents boycotted her wedding. Mary Therese Winifred Robinson (Máire Mhic Róibín born 21 May 1944 was the first female President of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997 and the United Nations

Leading ex-Unionists like the Earl of Granard and the Provost of Trinity College Dublin gained appointment to the President of Ireland's advisory body, the Council of State. Trinity College Dublin ( TCD; Irish Coláiste na Tríonóide Baile Átha Cliath; Latin: Collegium Sacrosanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae The Council of State is the name of an organ of government in many states and especially in Republics The name Council of State is applied to different

Satellite view of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Satellite view of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world

Some people draw a distinction between membership of the "Unionist tradition" (those with a strong cultural or ethnic identification with Britain) and actually advocating Unionism as a political philosophy. There is also a distinction drawn between "Partitionist" Unionism (i. e. , not desiring a United Ireland) and Neo-Unionism (the aspiration for Southern Ireland to reunify with Britain), the extent of support for which is widely regarded as negligible. A United Ireland is the term used to refer to a sovereign state encompassing the whole of the island of Ireland.

Southern Irish Unionists are sometimes referred to as "Anglo-Irish", an often incorrect term as many Irish of English descent were staunch nationalists, for example Wolfe Tone, Casement etc (or sometimes in the case of Ulster "Scots-Irish" or in America, "Scotch-Irish") or (often disparagingly) "West British". " Anglo-Irish " was a term used historically to describe a privileged Social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the West Briton (adjective West British; both often shortened to West Brit) is a Pejorative term for an Irish person who is alleged by the user

The study of Irish history from a Unionist perspective is known in The Republic of Ireland as revisionist history, although some Catholic writers are regarded as revisionists, such as Kevin Myers and Eoghan Harris. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. For the denial and distortion of well-established historical facts see Historical revisionism (negationism. This article is about the journalist For the American Pie character see American Pie (film Kevin Myers (born 30 March 1947 is an Irish Eoghan Harris is an Irish journalist columnist and politician Indeed, a (Southern) Irish Unionist is as likely to be Catholic (or of "other"/no religion) as Protestant.

However, many historians have come to view that the accepted and traditional view of the history of the British Isles, particularly that of the history of the Gaels, was already subject to historical revisionism (for example, in the Book of the Taking of Ireland, known as The Book of Invasions). Lebor Gabála Érenn ( The Book of the Taking of Ireland) is the Middle Irish title of a loose collection of Poems and Prose narratives

While Southern Unionists in many ways identify with their Northern counterparts one respect in which they differ is describing themselves as "Irish Unionists". Some Northern Unionists no longer like to regard themselves as Irish at all because, while the term may be geographically correct, it is often perceived as being synonymous with Gaelic culture and Irish Nationalist views (with which Ulster Unionists ipso facto do not identify) and prefer the term Ulster Unionist. Southern Unionists however contend that "Irish” does not necessarily imply "Gaelic” and the term "Ulster Unionist" is both geographically incorrect (part of Ulster is in the Republic of Ireland) and excludes Unionists from the other three Irish provinces (Leinster, Munster and Connaught). The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP, sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or OUP or in a historic sense simply the Unionist Party Leinster (ˈlɛnstər Irish: Laighin, lainʲ one of the Provinces of Ireland, lies in the east of Ireland and comprises the counties of Munster ( Irish: An Mhumhain, ənˈvuːnʲ Cúige Mumhan or Mumha) is the southernmost of the four Provinces of Ireland.

Today, the Reform Movement, the Irish Unionist Alliance, and the Loyal Irish Union are active Irish Unionist or Neo-Unionist organisations in the Republic of Ireland. The Reform Movement is an organisation which has the ultimate goal of the re-establishment of Ireland as a part of the Commonwealth, with the promotion of a British The Irish Unionist Alliance (also known as the Irish Unionist Party) was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in the second half of the 19th century

References

  1. ^ Due to the complexities of language between the two main communities in Northern Ireland, the city is known to Unionists as Londonderry and Nationalists as Derry. Wikipedia uses Derry to refer to the city and Londonderry to refer to the county, reflecting current official usage.

See also

Unionism in Northern Ireland

Southern/Neo-Unionism

Wider interests

Unionist political parties

Contemporary

Historic

Resources

Articles

Books and reports

Manifestos

The following Unionist parties have contested at least one election in Northern Ireland since 2001 and produced online manifestos (all PDF format):

Conservative and Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
Progressive Unionist Party (PUP)
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)

Speeches

Websites

Analytical


Analytical sites do not necessarily imply support for political causes:

Cultural

Lambeg Drum competition in Tyrone on 12 July
Lambeg Drum competition in Tyrone on 12 July

Cultural sites do not necessarily imply support for political causes:

Integrationist (with Great Britain)

Legal


A number of Acts of Parliament and other laws provide a legal framework for the union:

Political parties

Southern Ireland/Neo-Unionist

Structural

Some official agencies and organisations at a national level have developed specific structural links as part of the union. These links reflect the responsibilities of the agency or organisation to the citizens of Northern Ireland and the other UK regions. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of However, they do not indicate support for political unionism as the UK Civil Service is regulated by strict laws on impartiality. In addition, Northern Ireland is nowadays part of a web of co-operative links with the Republic of Ireland (north-south), the whole British Isles (east-west), the European Union and the United States. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Ceremonial

Central Government

Co-operation

Devolution

Parliament

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