The English conquest of the island of Ireland and the subsequent Reformation are the key events that led to the lasting and still apparent division among the island’s inhabitants. Despite the end of the Northern Ireland conflict, the population is divided into two groups: the unionists or the English Protestants and the republican Catholic Irish. Nevertheless, in Northern Ireland we can see a tendency to increase the number of people who identify themselves as Northern Irish, which in such a divided country represents hope for the establishment of a common identity. It is evident in everyday life that the Northern Irish society is divided – the two communities are still separated by peace lines in some counties, and children attend schools and extracurricular activities according to their religious affiliation. Thus, interactions between members of both communities can be very limited. The traditional division of society is also apparent in the political field, since the unionist DUP and the republican Sinn Féin have the greatest electoral support, representing and defending their electoral base. The already complicated socio-political situation on the island of Ireland has been further complicated by Brexit, which the Northern Irish voted against, but they still have to leave the European Union due to their constitutional status. The main problem is the open border, for which a lot of blood has been spilled. To the republicans, it represents the symbolism and hope for the unification of the island. Unionists, on the other hand, want a hard border and separation from the European Union, following the example of Great Britain. The very question of the border has led to an escalation of tensions and activities among paramilitary groups which are still active today. This could very possibly shake the foundations the Good Friday Agreement has set. Despite this threat to peace, all the main political actors, both European and English, strive for reconciliation and for the island to be “separated” by an open border.
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