The troubles in Ireland There are many challenges in Northern Ireland. The challenges are mainly caused by a territorial conflict between the Protestant Unionists and the Catholic Nationalists. The Protestants want to stay with the United Kingdom and they want the Catholics to go join the Republic of Ireland. The Troubles came to be about 40 years ago. The Nationalists wanted to unify with the Irish Republic. They began a violent catastrophe. During the Troubles, the death numbers exceeded 3000 and over 50, 000 were hurt and injured.
In 1998 the political parties of Northern Ireland decided to sign the Good Friday agreement. This agreement ended the Troubles. It brought a government consisting of both Catholics and Protestants. The agreement also meant that Northern Ireland, would still be a part of Britain. The agreement allows power to be shared by the major political groups. When the majority of people inside Northern Ireland want to join the Republic of Ireland then the British state will allow it. But until then, Northern Ireland would remain a part of the United Kingdom. This was meant to bring peace, but instead it brought walls separating the Catholics and the Protestants.
The walls are actually segregating the two communities instead of unifying them as one and bringing peace. Even the schools are segregated. Over 90 percent of kids attend segregated schools. There was actually less segregation a decade ago, then there is now. Even flags were flown to mark the areas, parades continued along with riots.
Many groups like the IRA, which was a Catholic group, wanted to join the Republic of Ireland. They used violent ways like bombings and murder. Many people still don’t feel a sense of security, and wouldn’t want the “ peace walls” to come down. Even still some of the groups still decide to use explosives and kill. There are still many conflicts and murders/killings. During the same year the Good Friday Agreement was signed, three children that were Catholic were killed when the Ulster Volunteer Force, which is the biggest outlawed Protestant group, bombed their house.
In August 15 1998, the Omagh car bomb, killed nearly 30 people. In June 25 Orangemen have to postpone a parade because the Parades Commission insist they must go through an abandoned factory site. One other example of extreme violence would be August 4. The Ulster Volunteer Force, lead an attack on the police after raids on some of the Ulsters members. They injure over 40 police men. There are still many acts of violence, but the situation is continuing to improve. Although the walls still separate the two communities, the government stated that its goal will be to remove the peace walls by the year 2023.
I hope that the situation continues to improve, and the groups can get along so there doesn’t have to be walls separating the groups.
