What are the main differences between the beliefs of the Republicans/Nationalists and the Loyalists/Unionists?
In this piece of coursework I will be analysing the main differences between Nationalists and Unionists, the I will be analysing the differences within the Nationalists then the differences within the Unionists, the finally I will be explaining the similarities of the organisations and I will briefly explain the third way (when people opt out of the group).
There are a surplus of differences between the Nationalists and the Unionists. For example Nationalists are generally Catholic whereas Unionists are generally protestant. Nationalists see the island of Ireland as one place however Unionists don’t want to see a ’United Ireland’ the union they stand for is the union between Northern Ireland and Britain. Nationalists see themselves as Irish rather than British, they have their own tradition and their own sports like hurling and Gaelic football they have their own culture, poems and history whereas Unionists see themselves as British they follow the Queen, read British Newspapers and in schools the children study about British history.
