Northern Ireland (Irish: Tuaisceart Éireann pronounced [ˈt̪ˠuəʃcəɾˠt̪ˠ ˈeːɾʲən̪ˠ] ( listen), Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann or Norlin Airlan) is a part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west. As of 2001, its population was 1,685,000, constituting about 30% of the island's total population and about 3% of the population of the United Kingdom. Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, Northern Ireland is largely self-governing. According to the agreement, Northern Ireland co-operates with the rest of Ireland – from which it was partitioned in 1921 — on some policy areas, while other areas are reserved for the Government of the United Kingdom, though the Republic of Ireland "may put forward views and proposals".
Northern Ireland was for many years the site of a violent and bitter inter-communal conflict — the Troubles — which was caused by divisions between nationalists, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, and unionists, who are predominantly Protestant. Unionists want Northern Ireland to remain as a part of the United Kingdom, and generally see themselves as British, while nationalists wish for it to be politically reunited with the rest of Ireland, independent of British rule, and generally see themselves as Irish. Additionally, people from both sides of the community may describe themselves as Northern Irish. Since 1998, most of the paramilitary groups involved in the Troubles have ceased their armed campaigns.
Coordinates: 53°20′N 08°00′W / 53.333°N 8°W / 53.333; -8
Ireland (pronounced [ˈaɪrlənd] ( listen); Irish: Éire [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen); Ulster Scots: Airlann or Airlan) is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth. To its east is the larger island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the Irish Sea.
Politically, Ireland is divided between the Republic of Ireland, which covers just under five-sixths of the island, and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, which covers the remainder and is located in the northeast of the island. The population of Ireland is approximately 6.4 million. Just under 4.6 million live in the Republic of Ireland and just under 1.8 million live in Northern Ireland.
Relatively low-lying mountains surrounding a central plain epitomise Ireland's geography with several navigable rivers extending inland. The island has lush vegetation, a product of its mild but changeable oceanic climate, which avoids extremes in temperature. Thick woodlands covered the island until the 17th century. Today, it is one of the most deforested areas in Europe. There are twenty-six extant mammal species native to Ireland.
Northern Ireland
Situation
War, within a single nation
No one thinks of it as war
That's what television's for
Embroidering reality, with clichés and ???
We'll call this war the 'troubles'
Confuse the masses with initials
(IRA, UVA, UVA, IRA, ILA, IUC)
There's so many sides involved
And no one thinks it can be solved
Avoidance of the history of suppression, death and misery
Will leave the people, ignorant of everything that's relevant
So who is who defending, and who's protecting who?
Until you know the answers, don't pretend you do do do do don't pretend you do!
So we see the brave young soldiers
And we read about the murders
Then we place our weak opinions
On what the papers tell us
But telling half the truth is as bad as telling lies
For a war to keep continuing
There has to be two sides!
But who is who defending, who's protecting who?
Until you know the answers, don't pretend you do do do do don't pretend you do!
Supporting one side or the other
Is really nothing more
Than saying there is no solution
But to carry on the war
And both the IRA and the army
Are equally to blame
In general terms of violence
You know they're doing just, they're doing just, they're doing just the same
Doing just the same
So who is who defending, and who's protecting who?
Until you know the answers, don't pretend you do do do do don't pretend you do!