Northern Ireland (Part One)

I realize that the history of conflict in Northern Ireland is way too complex to simply sum up here in a single post. I also know that many of you are not interested in sitting down and reading long histories of Ireland and the conflict here. So... I am going to do my best to give a simple explanation (as I understand it) of the history of Northern Ireland. Here we go:

Ireland's history is a history of invasion. The first major invasion took place by the Anglo-Normans. These were the sons and grandsons of the men who had conquered England with Willing the Conqueror (1066). These Norman invaders from England for the first time united Ireland under what would come to be known as "English Rule" and the ties still have not been broken.

Now - you might be wondering why Ireland was so important to England. Patricia Levy put it this way:

"Henry VIII's break from Rome had established Protestantism in England and Catholic Ireland promised rich pickings. Apart from the rich monasteries which existed throughout Ireland, the forests would provide the raw material for the shipbuilding industry that was so vital to England's political and mercantile power. In addition, the oak trees that covered the country were turned into charcoal for smelting ores. Ireland's resources were as economically important to England as Middle East oil is today."

The English needed Ireland. They were going to get it one way or another.

The solution came in the form of Plantations.

(to be continued...)