Northern Ireland

Introduction | Background | News & Photos

Plagued by a history of violence and tension, the people of Northern Ireland - especially the children - are in need of programs that bridge religious and political differences and create a shared sense of harmony.

About Northern Ireland

Since British settlers confiscated native owned land in 1609, a long history of conflict has divided Ireland. Located in the Northeast of the island of Ireland, separate from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland is comprised of six counties that have a Protestant majority and wish to remain part of Great Britain. A significant minority of Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland want it to be unified with the Republic of Ireland.

The discord between these two Christian religious denominations has occurred because of the differing distribution of wealth, power and opportunity accorded the two groups by long-standing political and social structures. Violence between Protestants and Catholics has taken many forms (armed protests, murder, bombings, etc.) over the past three centuries.

The people of Belfast and other cities in Northern Ireland suffer the consequences of this religious/political conflict daily, with violence often spilling over into the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain.