IRISH HISTORY
Seamus Heaney |
(1939 - 2013) Born on a farm in Northern Ireland Heaney was an Irish Catholic Nationalist poet.Eventually studying English at Queen’s University, Heaney was especially moved by artists who created poetry out of their local and native backgrounds. He was recognised as one of the major poets of the 20th century. He published his first poetry book in 1966, Death of a Naturalist, creating vivid portraits of rural life. Later work looked at his homeland's civil war, and he won the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature for his globally acclaimed oeuvre, with its focus on love, nature and memory. Heaney's work is often subjected to the idea of beauty and the depth of nature, and he gained great popularity among both general readers and the literary establishment. He wrote about love, mythology, memory (particularly on his own upbringing) and various forms of human relationships. Heaney also did a commentary on the sectarian civil war, known as the 'Troubles'. He faced allot of criticism for his work reflecting on the "Troubles," the often-violent political struggles that plagued the country during his adulthood. Heaney sought to weave the ongoing Irish troubles into a broader historical frame embracing the general human situation. |
The Potato Famine (1845-1852)
Its referred to as the 'Irish potato famine' because this is the cheap crop that one-third of the population relied on as a main food source and had previously provided 60% of the nations food needs. This main crop caused the deaths of approximately 1 million people in Ireland and the immigration of some 2 million people.
Death, disease and starvation were common. Irish farmers found their food stores rotting in their cellars, the crops they relied on to pay the rent to their British and Protestant landlords destroyed. Peasants who ate the rotten potato became sick and entire villages were filled with cholera and typhus. Priests desperate to provide for their community were forced to forsake buying coffins in order to feed starving families, with the dead going unburied or buried only in the clothes they wore when they died.
The cause of famine was a potato disease known as potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). Which causes spots of gray-green and water-soaked, and then soon they enlarge and turn dark brown and firm, with a rough surface.
Death, disease and starvation were common. Irish farmers found their food stores rotting in their cellars, the crops they relied on to pay the rent to their British and Protestant landlords destroyed. Peasants who ate the rotten potato became sick and entire villages were filled with cholera and typhus. Priests desperate to provide for their community were forced to forsake buying coffins in order to feed starving families, with the dead going unburied or buried only in the clothes they wore when they died.
The cause of famine was a potato disease known as potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). Which causes spots of gray-green and water-soaked, and then soon they enlarge and turn dark brown and firm, with a rough surface.
The First Home Rule Bill (1886)
The Liberal Prime Minister, William Gladstone, decided that in order to end the problems in Ireland, some action would have to be taken. He felt that by giving Ireland back their local Parliament, which was removed in the Act of Union of 1800, would solve the problem. So in 1886, Gladstone introduced the First Home Rule Bill, which would create a assembly for Ireland which would govern Ireland in specific areas.However it was defeated in the London Parliament because others, especially, the Conservative Party were against Home Rule which they thought would weaken the Empire and encourage others to break away from it too.
The Second Home Rule Bill
After the First Home Rule Bill had failed, the Conservative leader came Ulster in Ireland, where Irish Unionism was significantly stronger than anywhere else. He told the Unionists that they could count on British Unionists to help them resist Home Rule.
By 1884, the Irish Nationalists began the first phase of forging a single Irish national identity.
Two years later, the Conservatives came to power. Their policy was to introduce new and fairer laws for Ireland these gave more rights to tenant farmers and helped them to become financially much better off . This policy showed the Irish, by kindness, that Home Rule was unnecessary.
In 1892, the Liberals regained power. Despite threats from the Unionists at their 1892 conference, William Gladstone introduced the Second Home Rule Bill in 1893. It was passed by the House of Commons, but was defeated in the House of Lords, where there were more Conservatives than Liberals.
By 1884, the Irish Nationalists began the first phase of forging a single Irish national identity.
Two years later, the Conservatives came to power. Their policy was to introduce new and fairer laws for Ireland these gave more rights to tenant farmers and helped them to become financially much better off . This policy showed the Irish, by kindness, that Home Rule was unnecessary.
In 1892, the Liberals regained power. Despite threats from the Unionists at their 1892 conference, William Gladstone introduced the Second Home Rule Bill in 1893. It was passed by the House of Commons, but was defeated in the House of Lords, where there were more Conservatives than Liberals.
The Easter Rising (1916)
The Easter rising was a mass rebellion in Dublin, Ireland. It included members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) and the Irish Citizens Army against the British Empire. Their target was simple: Irish independence and the removal of all aspects of British rule from the island. As the British would be unwilling to simply go along with this, such independence would have to be fought for – hence the armed uprising.
The Irish's plans to get more men and attack were stopped by Sire Roger's capture from Germany with guns, so only 1250 men actually were involved in the rebellion. They planned to overtake different parts in the city, General Post Office, the Four Courts, Jacob’s Factory and many more places. The British were not prepared for this attack and at first didn't do much to help stop it, but later the British begun to arrive to fight them.
In total, the Rising 450 killed, 2,614 injured, and 9 missing, almost all in Dublin.
Military casualties were 116 dead, 368 wounded and 9 missing, and the Irish and Dublin police forces had 16 killed and 29 wounded. A total of 254 civilians died; the high figures were largely because much of the fighting had occurred in or near densely populated area. And 64 rebels lost there lives.
The Irish's plans to get more men and attack were stopped by Sire Roger's capture from Germany with guns, so only 1250 men actually were involved in the rebellion. They planned to overtake different parts in the city, General Post Office, the Four Courts, Jacob’s Factory and many more places. The British were not prepared for this attack and at first didn't do much to help stop it, but later the British begun to arrive to fight them.
In total, the Rising 450 killed, 2,614 injured, and 9 missing, almost all in Dublin.
Military casualties were 116 dead, 368 wounded and 9 missing, and the Irish and Dublin police forces had 16 killed and 29 wounded. A total of 254 civilians died; the high figures were largely because much of the fighting had occurred in or near densely populated area. And 64 rebels lost there lives.
Formation of the IRA (1919-22)
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) formed after the Easter Rising they came from the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB). The IRA waged in a guerrilla campaign against the British for Irish independence. Following the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty (ended the war of independence), which divided Ireland into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
After which a split happened within the IRA.. On one side, their were those who supported the treaty created the Irish National Army- Leader Michael Collins, however most of the IRA were against it and they created the anti-treaty IRA. Having lost the civil war this group was still in existence still with the goal of becoming the Irish Republic.
After which a split happened within the IRA.. On one side, their were those who supported the treaty created the Irish National Army- Leader Michael Collins, however most of the IRA were against it and they created the anti-treaty IRA. Having lost the civil war this group was still in existence still with the goal of becoming the Irish Republic.
Civil War (June 1922 - May 1923)
The Irish Civil War that took place followed from the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). The conflict that took place was between the two different groups of Irish nationalists:
- The new Free State who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Vs.
- Republican opposition, for whom the Treaty represented a betrayal of the Irish Republic.
In the months leading up to the outbreak of civil war, there were a number of armed confrontations between the opposing IRA factions.
In the end the new Free State won.
- The new Free State who supported the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Vs.
- Republican opposition, for whom the Treaty represented a betrayal of the Irish Republic.
In the months leading up to the outbreak of civil war, there were a number of armed confrontations between the opposing IRA factions.
In the end the new Free State won.
Bloody Sunday (30th 1972)
The event occurred during a civil rights demonstration in Londonderry, Northern Ireland where a march was taking place.
Rioting broke out on Bogside of Derry during this march and the British Army were sent in. The troops of the 1st Parachute Regiment were ordered to seek out and arrest rioters, however, after only 10 minutes 13 civilian Catholics were shot down dead, causing mass outrage and disbelief.
The demonstrators who were witness to this event said that the troops fired without warning using lead bullets and not rubber ones. Where as, the troops said that their was a short fired in the crowed that was the trigger for the troops to open fire..
Rioting broke out on Bogside of Derry during this march and the British Army were sent in. The troops of the 1st Parachute Regiment were ordered to seek out and arrest rioters, however, after only 10 minutes 13 civilian Catholics were shot down dead, causing mass outrage and disbelief.
The demonstrators who were witness to this event said that the troops fired without warning using lead bullets and not rubber ones. Where as, the troops said that their was a short fired in the crowed that was the trigger for the troops to open fire..