What was the scottish involvement in the troubles in Ireland?

Question

i've heard from various people (irish guys at work, people in pubs) that Scotland (or certainly some Scots) were involved in the problems in Ireland. And in John Lennon's song "Sunday bloody sunday" the lyrics are:
"You anglo pigs and Scotties
Sent to colonize the North
You wave your bloody Union Jack
And you know what it's worth!"

can anyone provide any information please?

Answer 1

The Scots and certain areas of Ireland have a long history together. It goes way back before any of the troubles or their causes started.
It is wrong to say that Scotland is mainly protestant and Ireland is mainly catholic. That is putting it in black and white terms, and it simply isn't that straight-forward.

Down the west coast of scotland, there exists an aincient region called "Dalriada".

On the east coast of Northern Ireland, there also exists an aicient region called "Dalriada"

These two regions were populated by the same people.
They spoke the same dialect.
They had the same traditions.

The allegiences between Scotland and Ireland (at least the province of Ulster) go back a lot further than any troubles you might hear of now.

In fact there is once again a growing "Ulster/Scots" tradition and community.
The dialect has been revived again. It never really died out to be honest, and could always be heard in places like Larne, Ballymena, Stranraer and the western Scottish islands.

As for the song "Sunday bloody sunday"
The only song by that name that I know of was by U2.
I'm not sayig that John Lennon didn't write one too, just that I havent heard it.

I will say this however.
John Lennon was a drug abuser, smackhead junkie.
He had also openly announced his allegience and support for the Irish Republican cause, and famously claimed that the IRA were justified in murdering innocent people to achieve their goals.

With this in mind, do you honestly think his opinion or comments can be regarded as impartial, or worth of being taken seriously?

The song lyrics of druggies are generally not a good place to learn about history.
Try getting a few good books on the subject, written by authors from both sides of the conflict so you get a balanced view of events.
You may find yo'll learn something.

Answer 2

The British attempt to subdue Ireland mets its fiercest resistance in the province of Ulster, so there was an attempt to swamp the locals with immigrants from Britain who were given the best land in the provinc - this was the Ulster plantation. A lot of these were from Scotland, which is why the slightly odd, made-up language used by some Northern Irish Unionists is called 'Ulster-Scots', Presbyterianism remains a popular religion there and the Glasgow Rangers has a big following among NI's Unionists. There is no great rivalry between Irish people in Ireland and Scottish people in Scotland as someone has suggested.

I think John Lennon's song was called 'The luck of the Irish'.

Answer 3

James I, 1566–1625, king of England (1603–25) and, as James VI, of Scotland (1567–1625). James's reign witnessed the beginnings of English colonization in North America (Jamestown was founded in 1607) and the plantation of Scottish settlers in Ulster.

Answer 4

A good (simplified) introduction was provided for me by someone answering a question for me about a different aspect on Northern IIreland. You can search for it on my questions

http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/...

Here is a letter written by one of the church groups that is involved in Northern Ireland that I found to be quite unbiased.
There is no very simple explanation to what went on. Especially as there has been so much intermarriage between English, Irish and scottish catholic and protestant over time.

Answer 5

Scottish Protestants were "planted" in Ulster in Elizabethan times and like Dutch settlers in South Africa developed a fear of the enemy around them. This siege mentality in both societies persist to this day.

Read Ireland by Robert Kee or Trinity by Leon Uris

Answer 6

The English moved Scottish farmers from the Highlands into the north of Ireland and they were used to displace the Irish Catholic farmers. They were commonly known as planters. While they weren't involved in the violence there is no doubt the English used them as a weapon against the Irish Catholics who as a consequence had most of their rights taken from them and went on to suffer poverty, famine and death.

Answer 7

'Snoochies',history lesson for you,the Union Flag represents the United Kingdom. Englands flag is the Cross of St. George. Northern Ireland if under any control is under that of the Office of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland part of the British government.

Answer 8

When he is referring to union jack that is england. Scotland helped England gain control over Ireland. But 5/6th of Ireland is now the Irish republic and Noerthern Ireland is still under English control.

Answer 9

The main reason is a religious one, the Scots are mainly protestant and the Irish are dominantly Roman Catholic, the two certainly do not mix. My belief is that both sects are brainwashed to hate each other from birth.

Answer 10

You really need to go back to the beginning of the troubles ,outside influences ie uk compounded already occuring unrest later on in the whole mess