How did the UK get control of Northern Island Ireland??

Question

i just heard Sunday bloody sunday for the first time today.. and that song helped me open my eyes.. I just realized today that the UK owns Northern Ireland.

Why is that? Why don't the british just give back Ireland to the Irish?

Answer 1

This is a very complex question to answer in a few words but suffice to say after a rebellion in 1916 by the Irish people it became clear that Britain could no longer hold on to a country they had repressed and ruled for hundred of years.

In order to protect their interests i.e their major industries and shipyards, they divided the country in 1921 and only allowed the Irish people to take possession of 26 of the 32 counties of Ireland.

To achieve this outcome they gerrymandered the political situation until they got a protestent majority in a particular area of Ireland. They then justified their actions by claiming they were acting in the interest of that minority.

Bit like New York forming their own little country in america.. Very practicle but not really the answer. Subsequently the Irish people have never accepted this situation and they never will.

So this question will always be asked until such time as Ireland is again a single country and until then the Irish people will always write and sing about it.

Answer 2

Narcissus is quite right but just to add, the Protestant Irish are decendants of Scottish people who were kicked off their land by the English and given the land in North East Ireland (the closest area to Scotland). That's why they have a different religion and different accent to the rest of Ireland.

However, to answer your specific question of "How did the UK get control of Northern Island Ireland??" - the straight answer is FORCE. Same way they gained control of the rest of their colonies around the world. Ireland is the last colony to gain Independance.

PS.... The song you mentioned, 'Sunday bloody Sunday' is the one by U2, right? There's a better song by John Lennon with the same name. Check that out, he doesn't try to hide any of the gorey details. Much better song.

Answer 3

been there for hundreds of years, and the Protestant NIrish dont want to join with the Catholic south, and are in the majority.

Answer 4

Damn drunken Hookers...