Ireland - past and present

Ireland past and present

As early as 300 BC, Celtic tribes from Eastern Europe reached Ireland. Both

the culture and the language they brought with them survive today. The

"emerald isle" became a comparably rich country with many farms and

monasteries. By the 8th and 9th centuries, the country had become attractive

enough to be plundered and then settled by the Vikings.

Much later, in 1171, the English arrived. In the 17th century, they started

taking land from the Catholic Irish and gave it to Protestants from England

and Scotland. Protestants soon settled on this land, and gradually life

became more and more difficult for the Catholics. Laws banning Irish culture

and education were passed, and at one time Catholics owned less than 5% of

the land.

In 1801, Ireland became part of the United Kingdom. At the end of a long,

bitter struggle, the Republic of Ireland (or Eire) became an independent

country in 1921, splitting the island into two parts. Northern Ireland

(Ulster), which has a Protestant majority, still belongs to the UK.

In Northern Ireland there are deep divisions between Catholics and

Protestants. The issue is very complex, but generally speaking the Catholics

want a united Ireland, and thus an end to British rule, whereas the

Protestants would prefer to remain within the UK. In many ways Catholics and

Protestants lead separate lives. Although officially they have the same

rights, Catholics still feel discriminated against. Tension between them has

often become violent. In 1968 British troops were sent to Northern Ireland,

but in spite of efforts to end the violence, more than 3,600 people have

died in bomb attacks and shootings over the last 30 years. However, there

have also been a number of peace agreements, giving new hopes of an end to

"The Troubles".

Ireland has a long tradition of emigration. During the Great Potato Famine

of 1845-48, nearly half the Irish population faced a simple choice: leave

your mother country or die. Today there are perhaps 70 million people of

Irish origin in the world, over half of them in the US. On St. Patrick's Day

(17th March) people all over the world celebrate their "Irishness" with

parades and parties. Even the food "dresses up" in the traditional Irish

colours of orange, green and white, and decorated with plenty of shamrocks,

the Irish national symbol.

Ireland is extremely popular with visitors from all over the world, who

enjoy the beautiful countryside as well as the famous Irish hospitality and

the friendliness of the people. The other side of the coin, however, is that

as a result of the centuries of emigration, the Republic was said to be "way

behind" both in economic and in social terms. Many of the most able Irish

people left their country to seek fame and fortune elsewhere.

This image of the country still held true right up to the last decades of

the 20th century. However, things were beginning to change even then. By the

end of the Seventies half the population of Ireland was under 25. By the end

of the Nineties, Ireland was nicknamed "the Celtic Tiger", with an economic

boom comparable to that of Asian countries at the time. In the process,

Irish society had been transformed from rural to urban, from

backward-looking to dynamic, from spectator to player on the European stage.

Emigrants started returning to their mother country. For many of them, the

changes were striking, if not shocking. Living and Working in Ireland was

the title of a bestseller trying to prepare people for the realities of

Irish life in the new Millennium. On the one hand, people had to accept that

much of the cosiness of the country was gone. Chilling out and having a good

time had been replaced by efficiency and competitiveness.

The cost of living in Dublin is now similar to that of Paris or New York.

And what has happened to Ireland's traditional culture? The Irish language,

vehicle for much beautiful poetry and for fine stories, is used only in the

"backwaters" of the West. Both traditional and modern Irish music remains

popular throughout Europe, underlined by the frequent victories in the

Eurovision Song Contest. But modern Irish literature has virtually eclipsed

that of "old" Ireland. Traditional culture is beginning to be abused in

absurd theme parks.

The "Kerrygold" Ireland of donkeys, green hills and peat is still to be

found on picture postcards. But joining the European Union has changed the

country. Community money has created vast motorways in the place of tar and

potholes. Now, the smell of success overwhelms incense and peat smoke. Many

aspects of social conservatism, for centuries heavily influenced and upheld

by the Catholic Church, have begun to disappear. Some years ago, topics like

divorce, contraceptives, abortion or homosexuality were considered to be

taboo topics. Amidst a speedy secularization of Irish society, people now

either discuss these things openly, or the government introduces new

legislation to do away with all kinds of limitations.

Joining the European Community in 1973 has not only given Ireland the

financial means to trigger off economic success. Compared to Britain's

attitude towards Europe under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, Ireland was

seen as a nation enthusiastic about everything European, improving Ireland's

prowess in international diplomacy as well as its reputation in

international sport. In the process, the changes have also provided enormous

opportunities for the nation's highly educated youth, most of whom leave

university fluent in European languages and well qualified for jobs in

Brussels, Strasbourg, Paris, Rome, Berlin or Madrid. On their return to

Ireland, they take with them much of the individual freedom they have

enjoyed abroad, thus contributing to further changes in Irish society.

But in some areas, the transition from a poor to a relatively rich country

has also been difficult. The Ireland emigrants left in the early Sixties was

considered to be classless, easy-going, folksy, without much serious crime.

Nowadays, trade unions, capitalists and government men show a degree of

ruthlessness that seems to have split society into "haves" and "have-nots",

resulting in what has been called a "crime-wave".

Nevertheless, the majority of Irish people probably feel Europe has brought

a net gain, enabling Ireland to take distinctive positions on world issues.

Membership in the Community also allowed Ireland to discover, through its

exercise of the EU presidency, a greater independence of Britain in foreign

policy, helping the country to escape from the shadow of its eternal

conflict with the unloved next-door neighbour. Many Irish managed to

overcome their conviction that most things are better in Britain, the

"inferiority complex of the Irish." However, there is still no solution to

"The Troubles", and whatever hopes for peace there might be are ruined again

and again by the Protestant Marching Season in July. Will economic success

eventually lead to a United Ireland?

Irish music, from traditional folk and step dancing to rock and pop, is

known all over the world. Few countries of the same size can claim so many

excellent musicians. The fact that nowadays internationally successful Irish

singers and bands (The Corrs, U2, Sinead O'Connor, Enya, the Cranberries,

Boyzone, etc.) decide to remain in Ireland rather than following the "brain

drain" of many former generations might be taken as a symbol of an

astonishing change in attitudes, life-style and the set-up of Irish society.

Exploring the text

What does the text say about Ireland "before" and "after"? Make two lists

and try to sum up the information in as few words as possible.

Is the text happy or unhappy about these changes? Give quotes from the text

to support your arguments. Close-up on language

Look at your list from question 1 (Exploring the text). Work with a partner

and create a mind-map for

a) 'old Ireland'

b) 'modern Ireland'

Write down as many nouns, verbs and adjectives as you can think of. For some

words, you will have to consult a dictionary (it might be installed on your

computer).

One step further

Imagine you are an emigrant who returns to his/her homecountry after many

years. Explain to your child what you think has changed since your

childhood. What was different then, what do you miss, which changes are most

obvious, etc.?

Ireland

Vikings

Between the 8th and the 10th centuries, the Vikings of Scandinavia travelled

the world in their ships. Although they did a lot of trade with other

peoples, they are mainly remembered for their pirate-style plundering.

17th century

From 1607 (Plantation of Ulster) onwards, Protestant settlers came to Ulster

and became landowners all over the country, forming a new "upper class". In

1690, William of Orange defeated the Catholics in the Battle of the Boyne.

This symbol of Protestant power and supremacy in Northern Ireland is still

celebrated today during the "Marching Season" of the Orange Order in July.

1921

After the Anglo-Irish War, or War of Independence (1919-1921), two Irish

States were formed: the Irish Free State, which, in 1949, became the

Republic of Ireland; and the six Ulster counties that remained within the UK

and became Northern Ireland.

1968

After civil rights marches, which had been modelled on the American Civil

Rights Movement, ended in violence, British troops were sent to Northern

Ireland to maintain law and order. In 1972, the Northern Ireland Government

(Stormont) was dissolved and Ulster was ruled from London (Direct Rule).

The Troubles

This is a term used to describe the conflict between Northern Ireland's

Catholics on the one side, who want an end to British rule, and the

Protestant majority on the other side, who want to remain within the UK.

emigration

For many centuries, the Irish have been forced to leave their country. They

were looking for freedom, work, money or simply food. Therefore, the

population has never risen over 5 million for the past 150 years. Today,

Ireland has about 3.7 million inhabitants and there are over 70 million

people of Irish ancestry throughout the world.

Great Potato Famine

Potatoes had been introduced to feed poor people, but when the crops failed

thousands of poor Irish peasants died of hunger; at the same time, landlords

exported grain as a cash crop and became even richer.

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. On March 17th, Irish people

around the world celebrate their nationality, dressing up in white, orange

and green and eating and drinking foods of the same colours.

European Union/European Community

Ireland joined the European Union in 1973, i.e. before the United Kingdom

did. Much EU money has been used to modernise Ireland.

Kerrygold

Famous brand name of Irish butter; because of the mild climate, the cows on

the "emerald isle" can stay outside in the fields all the year round, giving

plenty of good milk.

Margaret Thatcher

Conservative British Prime Minister from 1979-1991; her nickname was "the

Iron Lady" for her strong views and actions, especially regarding her role

in the Falklands War; had to resign and was followed by John Major.

John Major

Conservative British Prime Minister, 1991-1997; won the 1992 General

Election; often ridiculed and thought to be boring ("the man who put the

GREY" back into GREYT Britain")

The Marching Season

In 1690, William of Orange defeated the Catholics in the Battle of the

Boyne. Up to this day, his victory is celebrated as a symbol of Protestant

power and supremacy by the so-called "Orangemen", who walk through towns and

cities beating their drums (see also "Timeline”; "Literature”,

Bernard MacLaverty).

Step dancing

A traditional Irish dance where the dancers use their feet only and move to

the rhythm of traditional Irish music. After the 1994 Eurovision Song

Contest, it became popular in its more urban form, as seen in the stage show

Riverdance, where both the music and the movements of the dancers have been

modernised.