Which country is Ireland in? What is the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom? In fact, Ireland is an independent country. Ireland and the United Kingdom are two island nations in Western Europe. Separated by only a narrow body of water, the two countries are both neighbors and historical rivals. Due to its strategic location, Ireland was long coveted by the British, who viewed it as their own possession. For a long time, the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom has been "inseparable." What exactly is the nature of their complex relationship?
Historically, the United Kingdom invaded Ireland multiple times and ruled it for over three hundred years. However, Ireland eventually drew a clear line and gained independence from the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Scotland and Wales, which shared similar circumstances to Ireland, became part of the United Kingdom.
Two Independent and Distinct Countries
First, it is important to know that the primary ethnic groups of Ireland and the United Kingdom are different. The primary ethnic group in the United Kingdom today is the English, who belong to the Anglo-Saxon branch of the Germanic peoples. The Irish, on the other hand, are Celts.
The Irish remained largely detached from the island of Great Britain and were incompatible with the British in many respects. Their cultural and religious beliefs also differed: Ireland is Catholic, while the United Kingdom follows the Church of England (also known as the Anglican Church).
Becoming Part of the United Kingdom
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the British invaded Ireland on a large scale. Viewing the Irish as heretics, they forced them to undergo religious reforms, which triggered severe conflicts. Coupled with the brutal rule imposed by the British in Ireland, the tensions between the British and the Irish became extremely acute.
Although the British incorporated Ireland into their territory, they never treated it as part of their homeland. It was precisely because of this ethnic discrimination and oppression that the British remained indifferent during the Great Famine in Ireland in the mid-19th century. This famine caused a catastrophic disaster for the Irish people and left them with deep resentment toward the British.
At that time, many Irish people fled to the British North American colonies to survive, which led to the peculiar phenomenon where the number of Irish people in the United States became ten times that of their homeland.
In the early 20th century, the Irish War of Independence broke out. At the end of 1921, both sides reached a truce, and the United Kingdom allowed the establishment of the "Irish Free State." This achieved only partial independence, while the division between the North and the South became a reality. After World War II, Ireland passed the Republic of Ireland Act, which came into effect the following April. Since then, Ireland has become a republic, officially breaking away from the British Empire and gaining full independence.
