Northern Ireland

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

Hello dear forum members.

I will be honest with you. Yes this is for school work. But I find this to be an interesting topic, and I really want more information, beyond the school books.

My question is how the reality for a person living in Northern Ireland is today. I understand that a treaty was signed back in 1998. But do Catholics and Protestants live and function together as they would in any other country.

My primary question is on how this conflict affected the economy. The insecurity must have been bad for the business and it's a well known fact that the economy was rather bad.

Please do write something here. It doesn't matter weather you live in N Ireland / UK / Zimbabwe or whatever. Just share any information you have. If you happen to be from Northern Ireland or know someone who would be willing to exchange an email or two, contact me!

[daithi 0]

I'm not from N. Ireland but I am from the Republic (Southern Ireland).

I'm not sure if this is the type of thing you are looking for, but here is my experience.

(1992 approx)

Before the origional IRA ceasefie I had to go to Lurgan to meet some firends of mine. As it was my 1st time in the toen I parked my car in a large car park and went to a public phone box (remember those ?) to call my friend. He asked where was I .. I looked around and said I don't know, but there is a large grafitti saying "All taigs are targets" .. I innocently asked Whats a taig ... my friend replied You Are ! .. at this point I quickly moved my car !

BTW A taig is a derogeraty term for a Catholic.

(2002)

I started work for an English company with the Irish headquarters based in Belfast. Even though Belfast is only 70 miles from my town I had never visited the place - this is not unusal as there is not widespread "crossing of borders". In fact I know people on both sides of the community that have never crossed the border and never would. Anyway I would never have considered this move unless there was a ceasefire in place - not out of fear of being shot, but because of the change in atmoshpere throughout the whole 6 counties.

I'm not sure if the above information helps or not, but in my opinion Northern Ireland has a long way to go yet before both communities are trully intergrated. I don't beleive that we will ever see the return of the all out violence of the last 30 years, but I dont think that in my lifetime I will see a true peace in Northern Ireland.

Daithi

[kerosene 0]

Catholic and protestant communities are quite heavily segregated, I dont know but id imagine the local economy picked up slightly after the treaty was signed.

There are some mixed faith schools, but its not the norm - children going to these schools tend to have more tolerant attitudes to the other group, but then they come from families that wanted to put them them in those schools so they probably had a more tolerant upbringing.

Definatley the violence and unemployment have side effects elsewhere, Northern Ireland is known as one of the most racist places in europe, even people from other E.U nations can face violence.

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

The way I understand the conflict, there is also a huge segregation between rich and poor people. I presume that this is connected to the religious conflict in some way but witch one is the upper class group then?

[daithi 0]

As a general rule of thumb being rich in Northern Ireland means being Prodestant.

[kerosene 0]

Is that true for the protestants generally though or just a minority of protestants? I'm guessing protestants living in the areas that saw a lot of trouble arent much better off than catholics.

[daithi 0]

There was alot of "trouble" on both sides - and I don't really want to get into a discussion on who did worse things to whom. It is fair to say though that there was not alot of trouble (riots etc.) in the more well off suburbs of Belfast or Derry.

Due to the ecomony of Northern Ireland there was alot of poverty, this effected both sides. However it was much harder for a Catholic to get a job than it was for a Prodestant. In fact the main employer in Belfast Harland & Wolff, the ship buliders, was practically a no-go area for Catholics.

Today there is still poverty but due to the equal employment laws and a slow change in attidude there is much more intergration. Harland & Wolff are no longer the main emplyer in Belfast.

[kerosene 0]

I wasnt looking to blame anyone, I was just trying to get any idea of how that wealth was actually spread around, is all.

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

OK, cheers for all the info guys! This really helps.

If any one has more information to contribute with, please do so!

[adam.ni 0]

Primary answer is the economy was effected badly during the troubles.  Un-Employment rose massively during the troubles.  We now manufacture a lot less (AKA ship building has pretty much gone with all the extra ropeworks and all away aswell).  The economy is thriving now only on A) High skilled work force which means better school grades and the like for developing and Scientific development and B) commercial shoping is keeping the economy boyant.  I would also argue that pretty much the majority of textiles industry has dissapeared over the last decade to the far east but that has less to do with troubles and more to do with people needing better wages in the UK.   Oh i am from northern ireland i know of at least a one more person also from here in the community   .

[SpeedyDonkey 0]

Okie dokie. Thanks for all the info provided, both from this topic and Pm's! I now have a better insight then I had before.

OH And if you ever want info of Sweden...