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Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland was established as a political entity in 1921 from six counties in the northern Province of Ulster who wished to retain their political unity with Great Britain, which is a neighboring island comprising England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland and the three regions of Great Britain together with some offshore islands constitute the country of United Kingdom. The regional capital of Northern Ireland is in Belfast. Its Head of State is the British monarch (currently Queen Elizabeth), although executive authority is vested in the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. There is also a devolved administration headed by the joint office of the First and Deputy First Ministers. There are approximately 2 million people living in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland was created in 1948 when the Irish Free State (also known as Southern Ireland) became fully independent and severed all political ties with the United Kingdom. The capital city of the Republic of Ireland is Dublin. The Head of State is the President of Ireland, and executive authority is vested in the Prime Minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland. There are approximately 4.5 million people living in the Republic.
History of Ireland
Northern Ireland (also known the Ulster) is contitutionally a part of the UK. But it's long history is inseparable from the Republic of Ireland.
One island, but two diffrent country.
So why it's exactly different from Irish? and when did it happen? to fully understand the situation we need to go back the twelfth country.
Ireland was first time controlled by England in twelfth century. But it was not easy to take control of Ireland. Actually in all history when a country tries to take another country's control, there always happen rebellions, uprisings, conflicts. And when england tried to take control, there happened rebellions by native Irish against English coloniel, political and military rule.
In 16th century these rebellions, situations worsened. England wanted Ireland to accept protestant reformation, but Ireland refused reformation, despite much religious persecution, so situations worsened and two seeds of future hatred, colonialism and religion were nearly sown in Irish history.
A hundred years later, Oliver Cromwell crushed rebellions in Ireland and contunied the earlier "plantation Policy" and with this policy they sent Protestant Englishmen and Scots to settle in this area, and make simple take over land from the Irish. And at that timei Catholic majority Ireland was ruled by Protestant minority. Because protestants were powerfull, they had power but Catholics were weak.
And then, Ireland was mainly an agricultural country, they were depend their farming produce. But unfortunatelly there happened "crop failures" and "famine" in 19th century and it caused death and emigration. Nearly half of the population dead and escape.
After all these situations; these uprisings, deaths, faimine, Ireandwas divided into two part in 1921-22.
And in 1937 a referandum was held for new constitution to remove all British ties from Ireland,and 56% of people voted in favour and Ireland become fully independent country. But Northern Ireland remained as a part of UK with six counties. Because majority in nort was protestant and wanted to keep the bound with Britain.
After that time, always there have been rebellions/uprisings, conflicts and always found solitions or they crushed the rebellions. But still it's a big proble for both sides.
Last time, in august 2001, a new vote was hel and 26% of respondents believed that Northern Ireland should remain in the UK and 21 % believed that it should join the Irish Republic.
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