Irish Divisions

1. Irish Divisions Source A The Catholic Church provided Catholic immigrants with a social life. Catholic charities like the St Vincent De Paul also helped those in need. Mass provided them with familiarity in a foreign land. Of course, not all Irish immigrants were Catholic. • Why was the Catholic Church so important to Irish immigrants? • Use the source and your own knowledge. (5 marks)

2. Today we will… • Explain why there were divisions between Irish immigrants • Identify the organisations which highlighted these divisions

3. Old firm rivalry is not a modern issue – goes back years • Catholic/Protestant tension was the main division between Irish settlers • Irish Protestants came from Ulster • Irish Catholics usually came from other provinces (although some came from Ulster i.e. Donegal)

5. Irish Protestants • They seemed to find it easier to fit into Scotland • Many were descended from Scots who went to Ulster in 17th century • They had Scottish sounding surnames • They were Protestant, as were most Scots • Many were skilled workers

6. Home Rule • A 19th century movement to allow Ireland to govern itself • Irish Catholics did not want to be British • Ulster Protestants were proud to be British • This meant they had more in common with Scots

9. Celtic fans started to wave the Tricolour, showing support for Home Rule • Rangers fans waved the Union Jack to show they supported Britain • Red Hand of Ulster also

10. Orange Order • Set up in Ireland during 18th century to defend the Protestant Religion and British Rule • Named after King William of Orange • William had replaced a Catholic King James • Irish brought Order to Scotland • Increased in numbers

11. By 1914 ¼ of Orange Order branches were in Glasgow • Often violence towards Catholics • Walks often went through Catholic areas • 1875 Partick – violence between Order and Catholics who were at Home Rule meeting Orange Walk in Glasgow

12. Other divisions • Catholic Irish and Protestant Irish would often fight amongst their views on their homeland • Many shipbuilders in the Clyde had Orangemen and Rangers fans as foremen (supervisors) • They stopped Catholic job applications • Catholic building firms did the same with Protestant applications

13. There were some Protestant political parties who received a lot of support which heightened tension between different Irish immigrants • Scottish Protestant League (SPL) in Glasgow and Protestant Action (PA) in Edinburgh won a third of the votes in local council elections during Depression years

14. More issues in Ireland • After Sinn Fein won most Irish parliamentary seats in Ireland Civil War broke out in Ireland • British Army v IRA • IRA supporters in Scotland sent money • Sinn Fein groups set up in Scotland • Protestants supported the British Army

15. Masonic Lodge • This ‘fraternity’ grew in Scotland after 18th century • Its membership was Protestant because the Catholic Church was firmly against it • Catholics believed its principles were against the Catholic Church • More middle class than Orange Order • Secretive society