bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Northern Ireland marks its 100th year on Monday, but faltering efforts to commemorate the centenary encapsulate the rift at the heart of the British province.
Ever since Ireland was freed from British rule in 1921, Northern Ireland’s existence has been controversial, and the knot in an often bloody tug of war between warring factions.
The province’s troubled past, fragile present and uncertain future are endlessly disputed between pro-UK unionists and republicans who favour union with Ireland.
But the zero-sum contest is heating up again, in part due to Brexit.
“The centenary of Northern Ireland is, by its very nature, divisive, and it can’t be anything but divisive,” said Jonathan Evershed, a researcher at University College Cork.
“There is simply no way of commemorating Northern Ireland in a way that is reconciliatory or inclusive.”
Northern Ireland was created on May 3, 1921 when the island of Ireland was split in two following the Irish war for independence.
Disunited kingdom as Northern Ireland violence escalates
Northern Ireland had a powerful Protestant pro-UK majority but a large demographic of pro-Ireland Catholics seeking shared destiny with a new free Irish state, which eventually became a full republic.
To this day, republicans often call Northern Ireland “the north of Ireland” and refer to the creation of the province as “partition” – nodding to deeply held beliefs about an illegitimately imposed border.
Northern Irish republicans – also known as nationalists – often fly the Irish tricolour flag from their homes, a signal they identify as citizens of Ireland occupied by a foreign power.
On the other side, unionists pepper their enclaves with Union flags, murals to Britain’s royal family and the UK armed forces – signifiers of a bond with mainland Great Britain.
This is the profound rift at the heart of Northern Ireland – a war over whether it should, or even does, legitimately exist, and which sparked 30 years of bitter sectarian conflict known as “The Troubles”.
Some 3,500 lives were lost before a 1998 peace accord and though violence has waned, division remains in a tug of war contest to edge the province closer to Ireland or to the UK.

In this context, each side’s gain is the other side’s loss – sustaining a bitter cycle of political enmity and recrimination.
“Partition and the legitimacy of Northern Ireland are what conflict in Northern Ireland is about, and views on this are irreconcilably opposed,” said Evershed.
Britain’s Northern Ireland Office promised centenary celebrations will “highlight the strength and beauty of the diverse perspectives and identities” in the province and the rest of the UK.
But the events are necessarily founded on the premise that Northern Ireland is a part of the UK, with Queen Elizabeth as the head of state.
Hong Kong national security law: Northern Ireland troubles offer lessons for China
One planned event is for a “centenary rose” to be “presented to Her Majesty the Queen for her own garden” – a prospect unlikely to delight fervent republicans.
The programme does include olive-branch events intended to fold in support from the nationalist community, including a cross-denominational church service and the foundation of an inclusive “shared history fund”.

But the two main republican parties in Northern Ireland – Sinn Fein and the SDLP – boycotted a planning forum for events.
“There will be no celebration of partition which has failed the people of this island,” said Sinn Fein’s leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, last year.
Conversely, some unionists seemingly unsatisfied with the UK government’s neutral rhetoric have set up a celebration committee with “a road map towards the next 100 years of Northern Ireland”.
“Unionists and nationalists have different understandings of the past – they commemorate different things, and do so differently – because they have conflicting visions of the political future,” said Evershed.
Woman shot dead in ‘terrorist incident’ during Northern Ireland riot
The centenary also comes at a time when Northern Ireland’s future is ever more uncertain, and ever more hotly contested.
Unionists have lost their historic grips on regional and national parliamentary power while Britain’s departure from the European Union has radically altered the international status of Northern Ireland.
When a post-Brexit transition period ended in January a new “protocol” for the province came into place, with checks at ports keeping it effectively in the EU customs union and single market for goods.
Rioting broke out in early April, emanating from the unionist community and among more hardcore loyalists where many feel the protocol endangers their identity.
First Minister Arlene Foster announced her resignation last week.
“Northern Ireland’s centenary is, I think, quite an unhappy one,” said Evershed.
“Unionism greets the centenary of a state built in its own image but in which it no longer feels … secure, while republicans are forced to confront that a border they have opposed for 100 years still exists.”


Former British finance minister defects to Reform UK, backing Farage for PM

UK regulator launches probe into Musk’s X over Grok’s ‘disgusting’ sexualised AI imagery

Former UK ambassador Mandelson apologises to Epstein victims - but not for personal ties

Britain in talks with Nato allies over Arctic security as US eyes Greenland

Britain

Northern Ireland marks 100 years, divided

A protester throws a stone at police in Belfast on April 19. Post-Brexit trade barriers helped trigger some of the worst violence in the region in years. Photo: DPA

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 25, 2017 a peace wall separating the Catholic and Protestant communities is pictured in Belfast. - Northern Ireland marks its 100th year on Monday, May 3, but faltering efforts to commemorate the centenary encapsulate the rift at the heart of the British province. (Photo by Paul FAITH / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 30, 1972 a British soldier drags a Catholic protester during the "Bloody Sunday" killings when British paratroopers shot dead 13 Catholics civil rights marchers in Londonderry. Shortly after, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) declared that their immediate policy was "to kill as many British soldiers as possible". - Northern Ireland marks its 100th year on Monday, May 3, but faltering efforts to commemorate the centenary encapsulate the rift at the heart of the British province. (Photo by THOMPSON / AFP)

Disunited kingdom as Northern Ireland violence escalates

A Nationalist youth prepares to throw a projectile at a police line blocking a road near the Peace Wall in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photo: AP

Youths in Belfast set a hijacked bus on fire on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Fireworks explode on police vehicles in Belfast. Photo: AFP

Protests have been taking place across Northern Ireland in the past week. Photo: EPA

Police during clashes with youths in Belfast. Photo: EPA

At least 27 police officers injured in Northern Ireland unrest as politicians call for calm

A car burns after it was hijacked by Loyalists in  Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday. Photo: PA via AP

A boy looks on as flames and smoke rise behind him at the scene of violence in Newtownabbey, north of Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster. Photo: Reuters

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis. Photo: Reuters

The Police Service of Northern Ireland comes under attack by Loyalists in Newtownabbey, Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday. Photo: PA via AP

100 IRA fugitives protected from arrest are linked to 300 murders, say Northern Ireland police

Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris gives evidence. Photo: PA

National security law: Northern Ireland says Chinese diplomats distorted leader’s remarks

First Minister for Northern Ireland Arlene Foster has disputed Chinese accounts saying she and her deputy “understand and respect” China’s new national security law instituted in Hong Kong. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

World

Europe


In May 1921, the island of Ireland was split in two – giving rise to Northern Ireland as part of the UK
Tensions run high in the province, which is divided between pro-UK unionists and pro-Ireland nationalists



Province’s troubled past, fragile present and uncertain future are endlessly disputed between pro-UK unionists and republicans who favour union with Ireland.


Ireland

Brexit