The Partition Between the Republic and Northern Ireland

Rebellion, War and the Anglo-Irish Treaty

Units of the Irish Volunteers took part in the Easter Rising of 1916, the events and especially aftermath of which created a new, radical and armed Irish nationalism. The overwhelming victory of Sinn Féin in the 1918 elections led to the formation of the first Dáil Éireann in January 1919. A guerilla war waged by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) followed, ending in a stalemate and finally the truce of July 1921.

Home Rule had, in the light of Ulster's obvious refusal, been modified into a separate agreement for six predominantly Protestant Ulster counties (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Derry/Londonderry and Tyrone) and a to-be-decided solution for "the South". This came in late 1921 when the Anglo-Irish Treaty created the Irish Free State out of the 26 remaining counties, ruled by the Dáil Éireann.

Ireland was divided - with the agreement of the nationalistic negotiators.

While a democratic majority accepted the treaty as the lesser evil, hard-line nationalists saw it as a sell-out. The Irish Civil War between the IRA and the Free State Forces followed, leading to more bloodshed and especially more executions than the Easter Rising. Only in decades to come was the treaty to be dismantled step-by-step, culminating in the unilateral declaration of a "sovereign, independent democratic state" in 1937. The Republic of Ireland Act (1948) finalized the creation of the new state.

The North Ruled from Stormont

The 1918 elections in the United Kingdom were not only successful for Sinn Féin - the Conservatives secured a pledge from Lloyd George that six Ulster counties would not be forced into Home Rule. But a recommendation of 1919 advocated a parliament for (all nine counties of) Ulster and another for the rest of Ireland, both working together. Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan were later excluded from the Ulster parliament ... they were deemed to be detrimental to the Unionist vote. This in fact established the partition as it continues until today.

In 1920 the Government of Ireland Act was passed, in May 1921 the first elections were held in Northern Ireland and a Unionist majority established the (planned) supremacy of the old order. As expected the Northern Irish Parliament (sitting in the Presbyterian Assembly's College until moving to grandiose Stormond Castle in 1932) rejected the offer to join the Irish Free State.

Implications of the Irish Partition for Tourists

Whereas up to a few years ago crossing from the Republic to the North might have involved thorough searches and probing questions, the border today is invisible. And virtually uncontrolled, there are neither checkpoints nor even signs!

But there are still some implications for tourists and spot-checks are always a possibility:

• Northern Ireland is still a part of the UK, the Republic a separate state - this means that you will have to check British and Irish immigration and visa rules before crossing the border.
• There are two currencies in Ireland - while the Republic uses the Euro, Northern Ireland clings to the Pound Sterling.
• When driving through Ireland you need to remember that road signs are different - especially that speeds and distances are posted in miles in the North, in kilometers in the Republic.
• Check with your rental car company whether you are actually allowed to cross the border - occasionally restrictions apply.
• Though Northern Ireland should not be regarded as a dangerous place, the security situation might call for inconvenient measures from time to time - traffic diversions being the most obvious.
• Prices can vary wildly between Northern Ireland and the Republic - petrol is usually far more expensive in the North while groceries might be cheaper there.