The problems between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland started a long time ago and are more political than religious.

2. For centuries the English had tried to gain control of Ireland. Until the sixteenth century, England controlled only a small area of Ireland around Dublin. English rulers, including King Henry VIII (1491-1547), Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) and Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) gradually conquered the whole of Ireland. Ireland became a British colony in 1607.

3. The last area to resist the English was the north of Ireland, Ulster, but in the end the Irish were defeated. The English punished the Catholic people of Ulster for their resistance by giving their lands to Protestants from Scotland and England.

4. In 1921, an independent Irish state was set up, now the Republic of Ireland. Six counties in the north of Ireland were dominated and controlled by Protestants. They refused to join the new Irish state. These six counties stayed part of the UK and are now called Northern Ireland.

5. From 1921 to 1972, Northern Ireland had its own parliament in Belfast, the capital. The Protestants were in the majority and controlled the economy. In the late 1960s, there were large, peaceful demonstrations by Catholics who wanted better political representation, jobs and housing. Protestant reaction to the demonstrations was strong and often violent. In 1969, British soldiers were sent to Northern Ireland to help keep the peace.

6. In 1972, thirteen Catholics were killed by British soldiers during a Civil Rights march. This incident, known as Bloody Sunday, led to even greater problems between Catholics and Protestants. This period of violence is known as the Troubles. During the Troubles more than 3000 people have died and 30, 000 have been injured. Terrorist violence is caused by the Irish Republican Army or IRA on the Catholic side, and groups including the Ulster Volunteer Force, or UVF on the Protestant side.

7. Recently, the British and Irish governments started peace talks with Catholic and Protestant political leaders. It is thought that Northern Ireland will stay a part of the UK as long as a majority of people there want it to be.

8. Northern Ireland is a very beautiful place. It is a land of mountains, rivers and lakes. It has a rugged coastline and you are never more than half an hour away from the coast by car.

9. The people of Ireland have always been known for their stories and myths. They say that giants used to live on the Antrim coast, north of Belfast. One giant, Finn McCool, the commander of the king of Ireland's army, fell in love with a woman giant in Scotland. He wanted her to come to Ulster so he started to build a bridge, the Giant's Causeway, so that she could walk across the sea.

 

Note to the text

The Troubles – Тревожные годы (1919-1924); Гражданская война в Ирландии; партизанская война против английского господства и вооруженная борьба между Ирландской республиканской армией (Irish Republican Army) и сторонниками соглашения с Великобританией

 

 

Comprehension check

 

19. Answer the following questions:

1. What caused the problems between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland?

2. When did Ireland become a British colony?

3. How many counties made up Northern Ireland?

4. Why were British Soldiers sent to Northern Ireland in 1969?

5. What period in Northern Ireland’s history is known as the Troubles?

6. What are the Irish known for?

 

20. Find in the text “Northern Ireland” the English equivalents for the following Russian words and expressions:

Английские правители; завоёвывать (покорять); сопротивляться; сопротивление; отказались присоединиться; сильный и яростный; “Кровавое воскресенье; Тревожные годы; страна гор; большинство людей.

 

21. Which parts of the text “Northern Ireland” correspond to the following headings? Put them into logical order.

1. The Troubles.

2. Conquering Ireland.

3. Northern Ireland – a part of the UK.

4. Struggle for their rights.

 

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