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The Easter Rising, 1916. 1920-1922 Partition & Independence. 26 southern counties gain independence: Eire, or Ireland 6 northeastern counties (Northern Ireland) remain part of the United Kingdom. “The Troubles”. Provisional IRA (Nationalists)
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1920-1922 Partition & Independence 26 southern counties gain independence: Eire, or Ireland 6 northeastern counties (Northern Ireland) remain part of the United Kingdom
Provisional IRA (Nationalists) • Goal: a reunified Irish Republic, free from British rule
Loyalists (Unionists) fighting against Irish republicanism
The British State • officially neutral. • in practice, often colluded with loyalist paramilitaries. • seen as an army of occupation by many Catholics.
Bloody Sunday 30 January 1972
13 shot dead, including 7 teenagers; many others injured 15 June 2010: David Cameron apologizes on behalf of the British government
IRA Bombing Campaign - England Brighton, 1984
b. 1939, to a Catholic family in County Derry, on border with Eire 1972 – moves to Irish Republic, became Irish citizen 1995 – wins Nobel Prize for Literature
“Digging” The SPADE of his father and grandfather?
“Digging” Or the GUN of the Troubles?
“Digging” Or a third choice, the PEN?
“Digging” “Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.” (ll. 1-2) […] “Between my finger and my thumb The squat pen rests. I’ll dig with it.” (ll.29-31)