| Northern Ireland - Since the 1100's, parts of Ireland, or the island in full, has been controlled by Britain to some degree, and this long-term subjugation has lead to a much smaller population than one would expect, centuries of hardship and a legacy of poverty and conflict. Up until recent years Ireland had enjoyed a much lower standard of living than it's neighbouring island, Britain, and high rates of immigration were normal in all sections of society. After centuries of violent suppression, from the Act of Union on the 1st of January 1801, the entire island of Ireland became part of the newly-created United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. When the Republic of Ireland gained it's full independence from Britain in 1921, after many wars of independence, Northern Ireland was created within the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. The island was partitioned, and one-sixth of it - Northern Ireland - remains controlled by the United Kingdom, but with it's own parliament, constitution, police force and culture. Northern Ireland is comprised of 6 of the counties on the island of Ireland, with the remaining 26 counties currently making up the independent nation, the 'Republic of Ireland'. Some people living within Northern Ireland want to remain as part of the UK (known as Loyalists/Unionists), whilst others want to be reunited with the rest of Ireland (known as Nationalists/Republicans). The public support within the Republic Of Ireland for a united Ireland is hard to gauge, although there are many passionate advocates, but most main political parties do not consider it an important subject to engage in. There is a ceasefire currently in place within Northern Ireland, with many of the leading paramilitary groups (including the IRA, INLA and UDA) disarming to concentrate on political solutions, although a recent surge in terrorist activity, from fringe groups, has begun once again. |
