IRELAND

• The government was keen to avoid the appearance of being anti-Catholic, so they were reluctant to take action against Catholic schools.
• This led to tensions between Catholics and Protestants over educational policy.
• However, there was growing pressure from Protestants who felt that their children's education was suffering as a result of the lack of state funding for Catholic schools.
• There were also concerns about the quality of teaching in some Catholic schools, with accusations of poor discipline and low academic standards.
• The 1944 Education Act was criticized by some as being too elitist because it favored grammar schools over other types of schools.
• In 1952, the government introduced legislation that allowed them to inspect all schools receiving public money, including those run by religious organizations.
• In 1958, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) was formed to campaign for greater rights for Catholics.
• In response, the Northern Ireland Education Act (1952) introduced compulsory school attendance up until age fifteen, with parents fined if their child did not attend school regularly.
• In response, the Northern Ireland Education Act (1923) introduced compulsory school attendance up until the age of fourteen, but it did not address the issue of religious segregation in schools.
• One of NICRA's main demands was an end to discrimination against Catholics in employment and housing.
• This led to further tensions between the two communities, particularly in areas like Belfast where there were large numbers of both Protestants and Catholics living side by side.
• They called for an independent commission to investigate allegations of police brutality and misconduct.
• The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association also demanded reforms to the police force, which they believed were biased against Catholics.
• The Northern Ireland Education Act (1957) aimed to improve educational standards and reduce inequality, but it failed to address the underlying issues of sectarianism and segregation.
• The government responded by setting up the Royal Commission on the Constitution (1967), which recommended devolution as a way of addressing the political grievances of nationalists in Northern Ireland.
• NICRA organized peaceful protests and marches to demand these changes, but many of them turned violent as the police used excessive force to disperse the crowds.
• However, this proposal was rejected by unionist politicians who saw it as a threat to the Union.
• Unionists also opposed any changes that would give more power to the Catholic community or undermine the position of the British monarch.
• The British government responded by sending troops into Northern Ireland to maintain law and order.
• These incidents highlighted the deep divisions within Northern Irish society and raised concerns about the potential for wider conflict.
• In response to these protests, the British government established the Hunt Commission to investigate the causes of the unrest and make recommendations for change.
• These events sparked widespread unrest across Northern Ireland, leading to the formation of paramilitary groups such as the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
• This event became known as "Bloody Sunday" because of the violent clashes between protesters and the police that resulted in several deaths and injuries.
• This led to further clashes between protesters and the police, including the infamous Battle of the Bogside in Londonderry where the RUC fired rubber bullets at demonstrators.
• In response, NICRA organized a march from Coalisland to Dungannon on October 5th, 1968, demanding equal rights for all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity.
• The British government sent troops into Northern Ireland to restore law and order, leading to further tensions and violence.
• The conflict escalated into a full-scale armed struggle known as "the Troubles," lasting from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
• These events sparked widespread unrest across Northern Ireland, leading to the formation of paramilitary groups such as the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
• In response, NICRA launched a campaign of civil resistance, including sit-ins at government buildings and mass demonstrations.
• This led to further violence and unrest, with both sides accusing each other of using terrorism to achieve their goals.
• In response to the growing tensions, the British government established an independent commission under Lord Hunt to investigate the causes of the conflict and recommend solutions.
• In response to the violence, the British government introduced new legislation aimed at addressing some of the grievances of the nationalist population.
• The commission's report called for greater representation for Catholics in local government and an end to discrimination against them in employment and housing.
• It also recommended reforms to the police force and the establishment of a new parliamentary body to oversee relations between the two communities.
• Despite some progress towards reform, tensions continued to simmer beneath the surface.
• The report recommended reforms such as greater representation for Catholics on local councils and an end to gerrymandering (manipulating electoral boundaries).
• It also called for the abolition of the Special Powers Act and the establishment of a new police force with a mixed Protestant and Catholic membership.
• In response, NICRA organized a march from Coalisland to Dungannon on October 5th, 1968, demanding equal rights for all citizens regardless of their religion or ethnicity.
• This included measures such as reforming the electoral system to ensure greater representation for Catholics, introducing fair employment laws to address discrimination against Catholics in the workplace, and establishing an independent commission to investigate allegations of police brutality.
• Irish Neutrality in WWII

  Ireland remained neutral during WWII, refusing to join the Allies or allow UK to use Irish ports.