Ireland: The island of Ireland is the only country that is home to two separate political entities, the Republic of Ireland, which is a sovereign country, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. The partition of the island of Ireland began in the early 20th century and was a result of British rule, Irish nationalism, and religious tensions that resulted in the division of one country into two. Today through this article, we will know why Ireland is two countries.
Reasons for the partition of the island of Ireland
The partition of the island of Ireland led to the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, with Dublin as its capital. However, after statehood, the north-east, known as Northern Ireland, seceded from the Irish Free State and accepted self-government within the United Kingdom. Subsequently, in 1937, Ireland adopted a new constitution and became known as Eire or Ireland. Ireland officially became a republic in 1949 and separated from the British Commonwealth.
What is the conflict in Northern Ireland?
Following the partition of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, underlying tensions between the Protestant majority and the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland have not been resolved and conflict between the two continues. In 1969, Britain deployed British troops to keep the peace as violence between the two groups increased, but the conflict did not subside and terrorist attacks occurred in both Ireland and Britain. The United Kingdom responded by taking over Northern Ireland in 1972.
Ireland: The struggle continues in Ireland even after partition
When the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016, its impact on Northern Ireland became a major point of debate. The Republic of Ireland maintains close ties with Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom as a member of the European Union.
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