review

Irish Republicans, Nationalism

Guerilla War

 1921 end of British Rule  Some Irish unhappy with the compromise

 Anti-Treaty IRA vs. Pro-Treaty forces

 About 50 years after the Civil War, the troubles began in Northern Ireland…

 The Troubles: 30 yrs. of violence in Northern Ireland, between the nationalist group (usu. Irish- Catholic) and the loyalist group (usu. British- Protestant).  The main issues are political and religious. The Irish minority wants a unified Ireland. The Irish- Catholics also are discriminated against by the British majority.

 The “Battle of Bogside” (Derry, Ireland ) is considered to be the beginning of the Troubles.  Irish Catholics began protesting in Derry. A riot developed, riots then spread over all of Ireland.

 In 1969, due to widespread rioting in N. Ireland, Britain sends military troops. Catholics target government and police, Loyalists target Catholic areas. Many people killed and homes burned. Thousands of Catholics are left homeless

 In the beginning, the Catholics welcomed the British troops, as Catholics were being attacked by the loyalist groups.  However, the military did not leave Ireland, and this caused more unrest and distrust.  Irish Nationalists form a paramilitary army ( 准军事组 织, 游击队 ) called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA)

 Old IRA (War for Independence)  Provisional IRA (Troubles)

 The IRA received support from Sinn Fein.  The IRA used violence (esp. bombs) in hopes to bring down the Northern Ireland government and drive the British out. (“The Long War”) Not all republicans supported the actions of the IRA. However, after “Bloody Sunday”, support for the IRA grew. Terrorist organization or paramilitary?

 During a Civil Rights Protest, 26 Catholic civilians were shot, 12 killed, by British military.  The civilians were unarmed  Widespread media coverage  The IRA receives greater support from citizens.  The Bloody Sunday incident happened in Derry, Ireland. Home of the “Bogside Battle”

 In 1972, the Provisional IRA killed approximately 100 British soldiers, wounded 500 more and carried out approximately 1,300 bombings  (wikipedia)  Movie suggestion: “In the Name of the Father”

70’s 80’s 90’s  Violence was worst in the 1970’s, and gradually reduced through the 80’s and 90’s.  During the 80’s the Provisional IRA gained some renewed support during the prisoner hunger strike.

A hunger strike is a protest in which protesters refuse to eat until a compromise is met.

 Prison protests The IRA prisoners demand to have the status of “political prisoner” ( 政治犯 ) Hunger Strike. Prisoners refuse to eat until they have political status. Many citizens support the hunger strikers.  10 Republican prisoners starved to death  movie: Hunger

 During the 90’s the IRA declared ceasefires ( 停火 ) several different times.  The Belfast Agreement, aka The Good Friday Agreement was an important political step to end the violence.

1998 Belfast Agreement

 1998 Belfast Agreement: Was an important step in the Northern Ireland peace process. It restored the gov’t of N. Ireland and sought to end paramilitary violence.  70% of the Northern Irish pop’n voted to support the agreement. 93% of the Irish Republic supported it.

 Since the Belfast Agreement (1998), most of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles have ceased fire.

 In the Name of the Father*  The Boxer  Daniel Day-Lewis, an Irish actor stars in both of these movies. There are many movies that have Ireland’s Troubles as a theme.

Other movies with the Troubles as a theme:  Mickybo and Me* ( 米奇宝贝蛋 )  Breakfast on Pluto  Patriot Games  The Crying Game  An Everlasting Piece  Hunger  The Devil’s Own

I can't believe the news today I can't close my eyes and make it go away. How long, how long must we sing this song? How long, how long? 'Cos tonight We can be as one, tonight. Broken bottles under children's feet Bodies strewn across the dead-end street. But I won't heed the battle call It puts my back up, puts my back up against the wall. Sunday, bloody Sunday… Oh, let's go. And the battle's just begun There's many lost, but tell me who has won? The trenches dug within our hearts And mothers, children, brothers, sisters Torn apart. How long, how long must we sing this song? 'Cos tonight We can be as one, tonight. Sunday, bloody Sunday. Wipe the tears from your eyes Wipe your tears away. I'll wipe your tears away. I'll wipe your blood hot eyes. Sunday, bloody Sunday. And it's true we are immune When fact is fiction and TV reality. And today the millions cry We eat and drink while tomorrow they die. The real battle just begun To claim the victory Jesus won