Ulster loyalism
A conditional British loyalty tied to Ulster Protestant identity.
Ulster loyalism is a strand of Ulster unionism associated with working class Ulster Protestants in Northern Ireland. It has been described as an ethnic nationalism of Ulster Protestants and a variation of British nationalism, often characterized by a conditional loyalty to the British state. Loyalism is notable for its historical association with paramilitarism and its emphasis on Protestant British heritage.
History
The word "loyalist" entered Irish political language in the 1790s, describing Protestants who resisted Catholic Emancipation and Irish separation from Britain. Ulster loyalism took shape in the late 1800s as a reaction to the Irish Home Rule movement and growing Irish nationalism. At that point, the whole of Ireland was within the United Kingdom. Although most people on the island were Catholic and wanted self-rule, the northern province of Ulster had a Protestant majority that wished to keep a strong bond with Britain. This situation stemmed largely from the Plantation of Ulster, and the eastern part of the province was more industrialised and reliant on British trade. Loyalism started as a self-determination effort by Ulster Protestants who feared that a self-governing Ireland would be controlled by Catholic nationalists. When the British government put forward the Third Home Rule Bill in 1912, it triggered the Home Rule Crisis. In response, Ulster unionists signed the Ulster Covenant, vowing to block home rule by any means, and set up a large paramilitary group called the Ulster Volunteers, which threatened to use force against any Irish government in Ulster. They smuggled thousands of rifles and ammunition from Imperial Germany. Irish nationalists then formed the Irish Volunteers to ensure home rule went ahead. The outbreak of the First World War in 1914 delayed home rule, and many Ulster Volunteers served in the 36th (Ulster) Division during the conflict.
Fraternities and marching bands
Every year, Protestant fraternities and marching bands in Northern Ireland, like the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys of Derry, hold parades. These groups, known as the Loyal Orders, are closely tied to unionism and loyalism. Key annual events include Eleventh Night bonfires on 11 July and The Twelfth parades on 12 July. A 2013 report found at least 640 marching bands with roughly 30,000 members, a record high. In 2007, the Parades Commission counted 1,354 loyalist parades, while the Police Service of Northern Ireland recorded 2,863 parades overall, with about 80% held by loyalist bands.
More in Religious Nationalism
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced