Why is Irish republicanism usually linked with the Catholic religion?
You’re right, many of the more prominent Nationalists were in fact Protestants. I suppose that Catholicism was always associated with the ‘native’ Irish, whereas Protestantism was associated with the influx of English and Scottish settlers during the Plantations, and of course with William of Orange, who was Dutch and whose descendants are the current Dutch Royal Family. In later years, what with the Northern Ireland question, when Catholics were a minority in Northern Ireland, I suppose this became associated with Nationalism because they had to assert themselves, and the IRA went from being freedom fighters they were in the early 20th century to being civil rights activists in the 1960s and 1970s, and became associated with Nationalism and Catholicism, as the IRA had the support of many Catholics in Northern Ireland and in the Republic. However, it does not follow that the IRA still has this support, as it is no longer a civil rights organisation – it has been disbanded, and anyone w
When there is a conflict, people often want a quick, easy way to be able to identify which side those involved are on. This is called a “marker.” In rallying support among “us”, use of a marker quickly identifies “them.” In Northern Ireland, religion was a “marker” that could predict whether someone was a Nationalist or a Unionist. As you point, out, it wasn’t 100% accurate. The media simply picked picked up on the use. Not only do those in the conflict want a quick way of identifying “us” vs. “them”, but news reporters face time and/or space limitations. The public often wants a simplified, quicker view of conflicts. We want to easily and quickly identify “side A” vs “Side B” so we accept the markers. This can give a false impression of what the conflict was about. Because the media in the United States reports on a conflict between “Catholics” and “Protestants” in Ireland, many Americans may believe that the conflict started over some disagreement on religious doctrine. But, the conf
Usually it is, however, it has to be remembered that republican hero Wolfe Tone was a protestant (as were several others- who’s names escape me at the moment). And several thousand Irish actually fought at the Battle of the Boyne on both sides (Catholic King James & Protestant King William). Interestingly, many of those that are natives of the Gaeltacht region are infact decended from settlers settled there during the Cromwellian settlements (and therefore obviously protestant).
It has it’s roots in history. When the English came looking to conquer, confiscating lands and dispossessing the Irish in 16th century, the Irish naturally did not want any corroboration with the invaders or the newly created religion they brought with them. Being Irish and Catholic was steadfastly maintaining life as it was, and English and Protestant was consorting with the enemy. Thus they became seen as absolutely opposite to each other. Protestantism never took hold in a major way. When independence came, Ireland was still overwhelmingly Catholic. The Six Counties retained by Britain were populated mostly by descendants of the planters who were given confiscated lands, people who had been and still were Protestant. It did not help matters when Catholics in N.Ireland were denied voting rights, jobs and housing, turning them into second-class citizens, or when public faces like Ian Paisley openly spouted bigotry, both anti-Irish and anti-Catholic. When vitriol is being spewed, perce
