Liam's Irish Traditional Music - Irelands culture and tradition

Catholic reaction to Protestant authority is based on demands for better housing conditions, better jobs and equal political rights. Another Catholic complaint was that the Special Powers Act and the B Specials were used to discriminate against Catholics. There are few Catholics who wished to serve either in the B Specials, or now, in the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The Civil Rights Movement in Ulster grew quickly during 1968 and 1969. During the week of the 12^th to the 19^th August 1969, rioting began which lasted two days. This was shown on national and international television. For the first time the British public was faced with the reality of the tension in Ulster. Some political reforms were being attempted, but these came too late to prevent both communities from hardening their attitudes. In 1969 and 1970 the clashes between the communities occurred during the months of "historic" provocation. From 1971 the violence was not contained in the usual months British troops began to be drafted in from 1970 to maintain a peace-keeping exercise in Ulster. To Catholics this was another provocative move, and they began to react against the troops in Ulster, The IRA supported the Civil Rights campaign, but split into two groups over how best to obtain Catholic rights. One group of IRA members maintained the traditional republican approach, and the new group, the Provisional IRA, or Provo’s, decided to step up the use of political violence and direct action, both in Ulster and in mainland Britain. The use of violence has further widened sectarian differences

In response to the paramilitary organizations of the IRA and the Provo’s, the Protestants have formed the Ulster Volunteer Force, the UVF, and the Ulster Defence Association, the UDA. A new Protestant party has been formed, called the Democratic Unionist Party and it is supported by both moderate Protestants and extremists Sinn Fein continues its tradition of being the political arm of the IRA. The Social and Democratic Labour Party attracts most Catholic support, and provides an alternative political platform. Living with the reality of sectarian differences has not been easy since the upsurge of violence from 1969.