UNIT 1- The O’Neill Years

Question 1

How much did O’Neill invest in the economy of Northern Ireland?

Answer 1

£900 million

Question 2

How many economic zones did O’Neill establish?

Answer 2

5

Question 3

To drive forward the modernisation of the economy, what ministry did he create and who was it under?

Answer 3

Ministry of Development under Brian Faulkner

Question 4

Which new city did he establish and where?

Answer 4

Craigavon, between Lurgan and Portadown

Question 5

To provide a skilled workforce, what was created and where?

Answer 5

A new university in the market town of Coleraine

Question 6

With government grants, what did O’Neill attract and why?

Answer 6

New multinational firms to try and solve Northern Ireland’s unemployment problem

Question 7

Which specific brands accepted these grants? Name 4:

Answer 7

Michelin, Grundig, ICI, DuPont

Question 8

What did O’Neill do to try and improve Northern Ireland’s infrastructure?

Answer 8

Modernise the road and railway network

Question 9

Who did O’Neill cooperate with, whose support was important for economic development?

Answer 9

The Irish Trades Union Congress

Question 10

What type of refinery was opened in Belfast?

Answer 10

An oil refinery

Question 11

What was under development at Aldergrove?

Answer 11

A new airport

Question 12

Economic links with who lead to an agreement on what?

Answer 12

Economic links with the Irish Republic lead to an agreement on electricity supply

Question 13

Why were these economic measures taken?

Answer 13

To try and improve the economy of Northern Ireland and combat the high unemployment rate, which was close to double that of the rest of the UK

Question 14

What was the result of government grants to multinational firms?

Answer 14

Many firms took advantage of these grants and opened factories in Northern Ireland which generated more employment opportunities.

Question 15

In total, how many jobs were created during the 1960s?

Answer 15

35,000

Question 16

How many jobs were lost in ailing traditions such as linen making?

Answer 16

20,000

Question 17

Between 1963-69, which company did the government have to provide money to in order to keep them afloat?

Answer 17

Harland & Wolff

Question 18

Where did the unemployment rate average?

Answer 18

Between 7 and 8%

Question 19

Where did several companies refuse to open factories and why?

Answer 19

West of the River Bann as it was seen as too remote

Question 20

Why did the lack of employment opportunities in the west harm nationalist’s opinions of the government?

Answer 20

This fed already circulating allegations of bias in government and favour towards unionists.

Question 21

What was the unemployment rate west of the Bann?

Answer 21

12.5%

Question 22

Why did O’Neill take steps to improve relations in Northern Ireland?

Answer 22

Soon, O’Neill had realised that his economic policies alone would not change Northern Ireland and he decided to take many social actions in attempt to reduce hostility and modernise politics to end discrimination and help Nationalists identify ore strongly with the state.

Question 23

Who was the spiritual leader of Ireland’s Catholics that O’Neill visited?

Answer 23

Cardinal Conway, Archbishop of Armagh

Question 24

What did O’Neill do to support Catholics during June 1963?

Answer 24

Offer official condolences to the Catholic Church on Pope John XXIII’s death

Question 25

Where did O'Neill visit and increase financial support for?

Answer 25

Catholic schools and churches, including Assumption Grammar in Ballynahinch

Question 26

What were the public's reactions to O'Neill's political actions?

Answer 26

The Nationalist community appreciated these steps and saw them as courageous. However, whether the government would go far enough for one community or be seen as too much for the other was et to be addressed.

Question 27

What was the "Hand of Friendship" and when did it take place?

Answer 27

January 14th 1965, the first meeting of Ireland's main leaders in 40 years, when O'Neill met Taoiseach Sean Lemass at Stormont

Question 28

How did O'Neill defend his meeting with Lemass on television?

Answer 28

He claimed both parts of Ireland had "the same rivers, the same mountains and some of the same problems"

Question 29

What did Faulkner say about the 14th January 1965 meeting?

Answer 29

He claimed O'Neill never consulted his cabinet about the visit, showing division within the OUP

Question 30

What topics were discussed in further meetings between Northern and Southern meetings?

Answer 30

Non-political tics such as tourism and electricity link up

Question 31

Who visited in December 1967 and what did this imply?

Answer 31

Jack Lynch, this visit had been agreed in the cabinet which showed acceptance of this the of visit

Question 32

When did O'Neill visit Dublin?

Answer 32

4 weeks after his first meeting with Lemass

Question 33

Who was Reverend Ian Paisley?

Answer 33

Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church

Question 34

What did Paisley do to illustrate his ongoing opposition when Lynch visited?

Answer 34

Snowballed his car and carried placards [alongside his supporters] which described O'Neill as a "Lundy"

Question 35

Why did support for Paisley grow?

Answer 35

Many unionists had come to fear the implications of O'Neill's policies and resented their failure to improve their own lives.

Question 36

What suggested many were happy with O'Neill's policies?

Answer 36

The result of the November 1965 general election where the OUP won 38 out of 52 seats

Question 37

What did the backbenchers try to do in 1966?

Answer 37

Replace O'Neill, it failed.

Question 38

What did polls indicate in 1967?

Answer 38

Unionists' support was drifting towards Paisley.

Question 39

What did William Craig do which aggravated nationalists?

Answer 39

Name the new town between Lurgan and Portadown "Craigavon" after NI's first PM.

Question 40

What about the new university confused nationalists?

Answer 40

It was situated in Coleraine rather than NI's second largest city of Derry

Question 41

There was no significant efforts to improve Catholic membership of what bodies?

Answer 41

Health and education

Question 42

What was a consequence of Lemass' Stormont visit?

Answer 42

The Nationalist Party taking up the role of official opposition for the first time in its history.