Northern Ireland since 1921

Overview

Overview

Northern Ireland, like the Irish Free State, was born of revolution and civil war. Like much of contemporary Europe it was also indelibly marked by the experience of the Great War and the post-war break-up of empires. Though remaining part of the United Kingdom, it was a markedly different society from England, Scotland and Wales.

This module explains the origins of Northern Ireland, the violence that marked its birth and how the memories of this shaped society thereafter. It examines how both the majority and minority communities viewed their society and how they perceived southern Ireland and Britain. While the importance of religious difference will not be underestimated, lecture and gender as well as politics will be examined. Work, leisure, sport and the day to day lives of ‘ordinary’ people will feature as much as political division. The question of structural discrimination and gerrymandering will be examined as well as how both communities viewed these questions. The course and consequences of the conflict after 1969 will naturally form a major part of the latter stages of the module.

Time, Date, and Place

This lecture-only module comprises of one lecture per week over one term, commencing the week beginning 19 January 2026. Lectures take place on the Trinity Campus