William & Ireland

[Birchy]

Could you give me a brief synopsis of how Northern Ireland's last thirty years was a result of the William of Orange business? Why are Protestants and Catholics at odds because of what went on hundreds of years ago?

[incitatus]

If you want to blame it on something from history you have to pick the Papal Edict illegitimisinElizabeth I and the subsequent Jesuit campaign in Ireland to stir up invasion and harassment of English territory. This is where the permanent English presence in Ireland really starts. After this, Cromwell goes over and commits various attrocities to prop up English interests, then the fleeing James finds an army in Ireland to try to retake the English Throne and is duffed up by William of Orange. Following this English Protestant rule increases, with varied success. Gross exploitation of the populace by landlords, followed by the callous mishandling of the potato famine foment trouble, which continues for years. The Easter rising of 1916, which was kicked off by Irish discontent at not being allowed to raise regiments for the First World War led to home rule, partition and a civil war. This settled down, peace ensued, until the denial of civil rights to catholics by the Unonist-led Stormont government led to the Troubles. It really isn't a continuum of violence...