History Class

Since I haven't been doing much, and haven't had much to blog about I thought I would write a blog about all the fascinating stuff I have been learning in my history class.

Going into the class I have a small background in Irish history--what I have read myself, but what I have been learning is fantastic. My history teacher is really amazing. He is from Belfast, in Northern Ireland so we get such a different perspective, and he has actually lived it. Every so often he will interject with stories from his own past about what it was like living in North Ireland during the troubles, and I think this is what makes him so interesting.

Two lectures ago we were talking about the battle between William of Orange (protestant) and James II (catholic) and James' attempt to retake the British throne. This battle is known today as the Battle of the Boyne. The battle took place on July 1, 1691 in Drogheda, which is on the east coast of Ireland. Ultimately James lost and did not regain his spot on the throne. If you know anything about Irish history, well not even history, you will know that the Orange Order is a protestant group up in Norther Ireland, and is so named after William III.

To commemorate this protestant victory they have what is called "eleventh night" in Northern Ireland. On July 11 they build giant bonfires and on the top they place either a effigy of the pope, or the Irish tricolor flag. The symbolism behind the flag is the green represents the Nationalists (mainly catholic but nationalists believe in a united Ireland), orange is to represent the protestants and white is the represent the peace that should be between them. Now at midnight on July 11 they burn these bonfires to honor the victory of William of Orange in the Battle of the Boyne.

This shows you the kind of passion that the people of Ireland have, on both sides. That some, 300 years ago a battle happened, and they are STILL incensed with the memory. Our professor showed us a paper that is printed in the North and it had a picture of a shop named "The Union Jack" and it had a Irish tricolor flag flying outside. The reason behind it is protestant stores in the north sell the flags so that people can burn them in eleventh night.

Even though the peace process is working in the North, the past is still very much alive. I can't wait to make a trip up there, and actually be able to see history in the making.

picture taking from: BBC news