9. Partition and the Birth of Northern Ireland (1920-1921)
The partition of Ireland in 1921, established by the Government of Ireland Act, divided the island into two self-governing regions: Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland. Northern Ireland, comprising six counties in the northeast, was predominantly Protestant and remained part of the United Kingdom. This division entrenched sectarian conflict and set the stage for decades of unrest, as debates over British involvement and the border continue to influence Irish attitudes (Irish News – Partition).
