T4: EQ1 & EQ4 —> Belfast

Question 1

Current facts about Belfast population

Answer 1

Capital of NI:
- 6 counties of Ireland form it
- 38% of NI ppl live there (670,000)
- 56% 39 or under
2021 census:
- Catholic: 43%
- Protestant: 36%
- White: 93% white which decreased from 2011
- Largest migrant groups: Polish, Chinese and Indians

Question 2

Facts about growth and economy in Belfast

Answer 2

• Former industrial heartland (Harland & Wolff - Titanic)
• De-industrialisation from global shift to Asia
• projects like Victoria square and tourism in Titanic quarter
• Unemployment of 2.1%

Question 3

Past political tensions, casualties & power in NI

Answer 3

“The troubles” - 1969-1998
- Sinn Fein in power
- Unionists/Loyalist Protestant communities and Nationallist/republican Catholics
- 3600 killed and 30,000 injured
- Falls Road: Catholic
- Shankhill Road: Protestant
- Both separated by a Peace Wall

Question 4

When did British Independence rebellions first begin? 19th century

Answer 4

• 1845: potato famine where British did not help.
• Led to the IRA forming in 1919
• firing squad killings of uprising causing more nationalism
• Sinn Fein in 1918 won a general election to become ROI
• 1920: Home rule was granted and partition occurred but not properly because of WW1 leading to further violence

Question 5

What unemployment issues were NI?

Answer 5

• 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)

Question 6

What Protestant marches caused governmental issues

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Who are the main *paramilitary** groups & BA

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Why did the police cause tension in NI (government intervention failed)

Answer 8

• rubber bullets —> violence targeted Catholics
• UDR/RUC - Ulster defence regiment —> mainly Protestant
• received hostility from both sides
• ”We are now at war with the IRA”
• 340 Catholics wrongly convicted by police

Question 9

Good Friday info:

Answer 9

• Signed: 10th April 1998
• Approved by referendums in NI and republic
• devolved to Stormont between both Loyallist/nationallist
• Demilitarised paramilitaries —> prisoner release

Question 10

What are the four parties of NI

Answer 10

Nationallist:
- Sinn Fein (more nationalist)
- SDLP

Loyalist:
- DUP (more loyalist)
- UUP

Question 11

Social change in Belfast

Answer 11

• 11+ scrapped: led to more inclusion and assimilation of different groups (less Protestant advantage)
  However, social segregation still exists
• Protestants —> East+South
• Catholics —> West
• Increase in immigrant groups from 3.3%-9.8%

Question 12

Economic change in Belfast

Answer 12

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)

Question 13

Economic issues/ education

Answer 13

• FDI has grown but not by as much as London
• Fiscal deficit
• South = Degree (39%)
• West = no qualifications (38%)

Question 14

Social issues/ segregation

Answer 14

• 90%+ students attend segregated religious schools
• 94% of social housing is segregated
• less than 1/10 marriages are inter-religion

Question 15

Political engagement in NI

Answer 15

• NI assembly turnout (65%)
• Belfast West = highest turnout Catholic
• Belfast North = lowest turnout (balanced)