Institutional Forces of Unionism

Catholicism was strongly feared within Northern Europe, and Catholics where often labelled the anti-Christ by many civilians including Oliver Cromwell who massacred soldiers and civilians in the battle of Drogheda and Wexford. As a result English Protestants dominated 86% of the land leaving the Catholic majority excluded from their power and land under penal laws. The actions of Cromwell are said to have left a great scar on Irish Catholics, it is considered a scar as the wounds of the nations are still not completely healed. Hitherto, the conflict between Catholics and Protestants within Ireland still occurs, it can be argued that (Walsh) because Ireland has a long history of conflict that conflict is in some way inevitable the 20th century saw a growth in tension and violence, however the establishment of the Good Friday Agreement shows that there is a promising peaceful future for both Northern Ireland and the Republic. However the events of the past have too affected Anglo-Irish relations, the majority felt that the British were to blame for their suppression. Subsequently the Act of Union imposed in 1801 saw great resistance from Catholics and nationalists; the act abolished the Irish legislature and left Britain in charge of Irish politics. Britain had a large scale of anti-Catholic laws which they refused to get rid of, thus the majority of Catholics supported Nationalist who were organised to assert the Irish nation and oppose British rule. There had been a decline of the Irish Gaelic culture and with British rule nationalists felt that this would worsen, moreover Catholics had only just been given the chance to have a say in politics and many felt that this would be stripped off them. A Repeal against the Act was carried out by Catholic Nationalists under Daniel OConnell, with little success the Home rule bills were introduced which called for the return of the Irish parliament freeing Ireland from the rule of Britain.