ireland and society, lecture one: religion

‘Some look upon the wealthy Saxon and prosperous Protestant as an intruder and

interloper who, notwithstanding the prescription of three hundred years,

ought now to be deprived of his possessions and expelled from the soil

of Ireland.’

Steuart Trench quoted in Cullen, L.M., Life in Ireland

Front cover of a programme for a Unionist demonstration

What is unionism? A belief in the constitutional

connection between Britain and Ireland.

Unionism as an organised movement dates from the home rule crisis of 1885-6.

Formal Irish unionist organization emerged in 1885-6 in the wake of a revitalized Orangeism and Conservatism which represented a reaction to the Land War.

The Government of Ireland Act (1920)

Offered two Home Rule parliaments: one parliament for the 6 counties and another for the 26 counties

It made provision for ultimate Irish unity

Only local powers were granted

Ultimate power remained in London

Article 41.2

1° [...] the State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved.

2° The State shall, therefore, endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home.

Local Government (Emergency Powers) Act

• Introduced to the Northern parliament on 2 December 1921

• Enabled the government to dissolve any local council which withheld recognition and co-operation and to replace it with a government appointed commissioner

Electoral Arrangements• Proportional Representation was abolished

by legislation on 11 Sept 1922 • It imposed a declaration of allegiance upon

members and officials of local authorities• Enabled the reversion to old electoral areas

and in some cases the redrawing of new, local electoral areas

• Meant that unionists would be able to dominate local government

• The number of nationalist controlled councils achieved in 1920 were reduced by half

The Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act 1922

• Introduced on 15 March 1922• Introduced draconian emergency powers to

search, arrest and detain without warrant, impose stiff penalties and indeed to suspend civil liberties when deemed necessary.

• Initially passed for one year only, it was renewed annually until 1928, was renewed in that year for five years and in 1933 became permanent, until its abolition in 1972.