The Nationalist & Government reaction

• The publication of the Lockwood Report in 1965, which recommended Coleraine as the site for Northern Ireland's second university instead of Derry/Londonderry, provoked a strong and immediate reaction from the nationalist community.
• Many nationalists viewed the decision as yet another act of discrimination against the Catholic population, particularly those in Derry/Londonderry, a city that had long been economically and socially disadvantaged.
• The nationalist community had hoped that placing the university in Derry/Londonderry would bring much-needed investment, jobs, and educational opportunities to the area.
• The decision to favour Coleraine, a smaller and predominantly Protestant town, was seen as a deliberate attempt to marginalise the Catholic population further and maintain Protestant dominance in the region.
• Anger and frustration quickly turned into organised protest. The people of Derry/Londonderry, including local political leaders, academics, and students, took to the streets to express their outrage.

• Protest marches were organised, with thousands of people participating in demonstrations that called for the decision to be overturned and for the university to be established in Derry/Londonderry instead.

• One of the most significant protests was the march from Magee College to the Guildhall in Derry/Londonderry, where protestors demanded that the government reconsider the decision.

  

• A sense of betrayal and injustice marked the demonstrations, as many in the nationalist community believed that the decision was politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of discrimination.

• The protests continued for several months, becoming a focal point for nationalist discontent. The controversy over the university decision became symbolic of the wider civil rights issues that were beginning to gain momentum in Northern Ireland.

• The nationalist reaction to the Lockwood Report highlighted the deep divisions in Northern Irish society and set the stage for the more widespread civil rights movement that would emerge later in the decade.

How the Government Dealt with the Nationalist Anger

• The Northern Ireland government, led by Prime Minister Terence O'Neill, was caught off guard by the intensity of the nationalist reaction to the Lockwood Report.
• The protests in Derry/Londonderry, as well as the broader discontent in the nationalist community, posed a significant challenge to the government, which was already struggling to manage rising tensions in the region.

• In response to the protests, O'Neill's government attempted to address the concerns of the nationalist community, but their efforts were largely seen as inadequate.

• The government emphasised that the decision to place the university in Coleraine was based on academic and practical considerations, not political bias.

• They argued that Coleraine offered a more suitable environment for the new university and that the decision was made in the best interests of Northern Ireland as a whole.

• However, these explanations did little to appease the nationalist community, who remained deeply suspicious of the government's motives.

  • The government's response was also hampered by internal divisions within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), with some members supporting the nationalist demands and others taking a hardline stance against any concessions.
  • In an attempt to diffuse the situation, O'Neill offered to expand Magee College in Derry/Londonderry as a compromise, but the protestors rejected this proposal, feeling that it did not go far enough.

• The government also faced pressure from unionists who opposed any changes to the Lockwood Committee's recommendations, further complicating the situation.

• Ultimately, the government's handling of the nationalist anger was seen as ineffective and only served to deepen the Catholic community's sense of alienation.

• The failure to adequately address the concerns raised by the protests contributed to the growing civil rights movement, as nationalists increasingly saw the government as unwilling or unable to deliver fair and equal treatment.

• The controversy over the university location and the government's response highlighted the broader issues of inequality and discrimination in Northern Ireland. These issues would continue to fuel unrest and lead to the escalation of the Troubles in the following years.

Who were the Faceless Men?

• The term "Faceless Men" refers to the group of influential unionist politicians and businessmen in Northern Ireland who were seen as the power behind the scenes during the 1960s.
• They were believed to wield significant influence over government decisions, particularly those made by Prime Minister Terence O'Neill.

• The identity of these individuals was not publicly known, hence the term "faceless," which implied that they operated in the shadows, away from public scrutiny.
• These men were primarily from the Protestant unionist elite and were deeply committed to maintaining Northern Ireland's union with Britain and preserving Protestant dominance in the region.
• They were generally conservative in their views and opposed any reforms or policies that they believed could weaken their control or give more power to the Catholic nationalist community.
• The "Faceless Men" were often blamed for stalling or blocking O'Neill's attempts at reform, including his efforts to address civil rights issues and improve relations with the Catholic community.
• Their influence was particularly controversial during the Coleraine University controversy, where many suspected their behind-the-scenes lobbying played a role in locating the new university in a predominantly Protestant area.

• The term symbolised the resistance to change within the unionist establishment and the deep-seated power structures in Northern Ireland.