An excursion to Northern Ireland, and how it ended up separate from the rest of Ireland, and how Derry Girls ended up in Londonderry in the middle of the Troubles.

Or, if you prefer, a look at how Ireland ended up Catholic, how Northern Ireland ended up Protestant, and how Derry ... Londonderry for Loyalists ... ended up in a Catholic outpost there.

The song at the end is Dreams by The Cranberries, used as the opening and closing of the Derry Girls pilot episode. The band's Irish, it was the mid-90s, it all fits.

(And of course that opening has local hooligans painting over the "London" part of "Londonderry" and yes I know that there's controversy over the name.)

De Courcy build Carrickfergus in 1177, so that’s about how long issues have been going on.

Henry VIII - Much of what I have, which isn't much I'll agree, came from here: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_conquest_of_Ireland 

Grace o’Malley is worth checking into more –  I heard about here on Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – because she was supporting the rebellions in the 9 years war that led in part to the defeats causing the flight of the Earls that [deep breath] allowed James I to send settlers to Northern Ireland.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grace-omalley-read-by-allison-mosshart/id1350594046?i=1000412035835

 

Turns out the red hand of Ulster was used by the O’Neills ….while fighting for a free Ireland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Ulster

And guess what, there’s no agreement on what it means, either, although it appears to go back to pagan times.