T4: EQ1 & EQ4 —> Belfast Flashcards
Current facts about Belfast population
Capital of NI:
- 6 counties of Ireland form it
- 38% of NI ppl live there (650,000)
- 55.7% 39 or under
2021 census:
- Catholic: 43%
- Protestant: 36.45%
- White: 93% white which decreased from 2011
- Largest migrant groups: Polish, Chinese and Indians
Facts about growth and economy in Belfast
- Former industrial heartland (Harland & Wolff - Titanic)
- experienced de-industrialisation from global shift to Asia
- projects like Victoria square and tourism in *Titanic quarter**
- Unemployment of 2.1%
- PwC rank of ** 9th out of 50** UK cities
Past political tensions & present power in Belfast
“The troubles” - 1969-1998
- Sinn Fein currently in power
- 1987 - IRA detonated a bomb at remembrance day events
- Between **Unionists/Loyalist Protestant ** communities and Nationallist/republican Catholics
- 3600 killed and 30,000 injured.
- Paramilitary groups: Catholic IRA (Irish republican army), Protestant UDR (Ulster Defence Regiment)
- Falls Road: Catholic
- Shankhill Road: Protestant
- Both separated by a Peace Wall
When did British Independence rebellions first begin? 19th century
- 1845: potato famine where 1 million+ died and the British did not help.
- Led to the IRA forming in 1919
- led to firing squad killings of uprising causing more nationallism in Ireland
- Sinn Fein became more active and in 1918 won a general election to become a Republic of Ireland
- 1920: Home rule was granted and partition occurred but not properly because of WW1 leading to further violence
What political tensions built in the 20th century in NI?
- Access to jobs was poor in the Nationalist communities especially in Derry/ Belfast
- Jobs prioritised Protestants in shipbuilding
- 17.3% - Catholic unemployment (1971)
- 6.6% - Protestants (1971)
What Protestant marches caused governmental issues
Protestant:
- 12th July William of Orange March
- Apprentice Boys of Derry:
- 1969 March in Derry led to riots in Catholic communities where police were involved where police were involved in the Bogside. Led to Protestant rioters running in behind the police creating distrust towards government from Catholics.
Who are the main *paramilitary** groups
Catholic: OIRA and *PIRA**
Protestant: Red Hand Commando, UVF (Ulster volunteer force) and UDA (Ulster defence association)
UK: British army & RUC - Royal Ulster Constabulary but ** mainly Protestant police workers**
Why did the police cause tension in NI (government intervention failed)
- used painful rubber bullets and used lots of violence which in some areas targeted Catholics
- had the **UDR* - Ulster defence regiment which was mainly Protestant
- received hostility from both sides
- ”We are now at war with the IRA”
- 340 Catholics wrongly convicted by police
Good Friday info:
- Signed: 10th April 1998
- Approved by referendums in NI and republic
- **devolved* decisions to Stormont between both Loyallist/nationallist
- Demilitarisation of paramilitaries
- Release of prisoners
What are the four parties of NI
Nationallist:
- Sinn Fein (more nationalist)
- SDLP
Loyalist:
- DUP (more loyalist)
- UUP
Social change in Belfast
- 11+ scrapped: led to more inclusion and assimilation of different groups (less Protestant advantage)
However, social segregation still exists - Protestants (29% declining numbers) —> East+South
- Catholics (43% growing population) —> West
- Increase in immigrant groups from 3.3%-9.8%
Economic change in Belfast
F - Film studies (HBO, paramount, Derry girls)
F - Fintech (Aviva, Citigroup)
E - employment has grown
S - Ships: Harland & Wolff shrunk
T- tourism (Victoria square, titanic quarter)
Economic issues
- FDI has grown but not by as much as London
- Fiscal deficit
- South = Degree (39%)
- West = no qualifications (38%)
Social issues/ segregation
- 90%+ students attend segregated religious schools
- 94% of social housing is segregated
- less than 1/10 marriages are inter-religion
Political engagement in NI
- NI assembly turnout (65%)
- Belfast West = highest turnout Catholic
- Belfast North = lowest turnout (balanced)
