Ian Paisley and his Opposition

Who Was Ian Paisley?

• Ian Paisley was a prominent and polarising figure in Northern Irish politics and religious life from the 1960s onwards. Born in 1926 in County Armagh, Paisley was a Protestant evangelical preacher and the founder of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951.

• He became widely known for his fiery oratory, staunch unionism, and uncompromising opposition to Catholicism and Irish nationalism.

• His views were deeply rooted in his religious beliefs and intertwined with his political ideology.

  

• Paisley's influence grew throughout the 1960s as he became a leading voice for hardline unionism. He vehemently opposed any concessions to the Catholic community or the Republic of Ireland, viewing such actions as a threat to Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom.

• In 1971, he founded the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which became a significant political force in Northern Ireland. It offered a more radical alternative to the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

• Throughout his career, Paisley was known for stirring up loyalist sentiment and mobilising grassroots support against any perceived threats to Protestant dominance.

• His leadership and rhetoric were instrumental in shaping the direction of unionist politics in Northern Ireland, particularly during the turbulent years of the Troubles.

• Although a controversial figure, Paisley's impact on Northern Ireland's political landscape was profound. He remained a dominant force in Northern Irish politics for decades, eventually serving as First Minister from 2007 to 2008.

Why Ian Paisley Opposed O'Neill

• Ian Paisley opposed Terence O'Neill primarily because he believed O'Neill's policies threatened the Protestant unionist position in Northern Ireland. O'Neill, who became Prime Minister in 1963, pursued a programme of economic modernisation and modest social reforms to improve relations between the Protestant and Catholic communities.
• He also sought to build bridges with the Republic of Ireland, most notably through his 1965 meetings with Seán Lemass, the Taoiseach of Ireland.
• Paisley viewed O'Neill's outreach to the Catholic community and the Republic of Ireland as dangerous compromises that could undermine Northern Ireland's union with Britain.
• To Paisley, any engagement with the Republic or attempts to address Catholic grievances were steps towards weakening Protestant control and potentially leading to Irish reunification.
• He believed that O'Neill's policies would erode the political and cultural dominance that Protestants had maintained in Northern Ireland since its creation.
• Paisley also criticised O'Neill for being too moderate and not standing firm against the civil rights movement, which was gaining momentum in the late 1960s.
• The civil rights movement, largely supported by the Catholic community, demanded an end to discriminatory practices in housing, voting, and employment.
• Paisley feared that O'Neill's willingness to consider these demands would result in the loss of Protestant privileges and the erosion of the unionist state.
• Paisley's opposition to O'Neill was not just political but deeply personal. He saw himself as the defender of traditional Protestant values and felt that O'Neill was betraying those values by seeking compromise and reform.
• This fierce opposition culminated in campaigns to remove O'Neill from office, with Paisley leading the charge against his leadership.

The Destruction of the Divis Street Riots

• The Divis Street Riots were a significant and destructive event that took place in Belfast in October 1964, reflecting the deep-seated tensions between the Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland.
• The riots were sparked by a seemingly minor incident involving the display of an Irish tricolour flag at the offices of the Republican Labour Party on Divis Street, a predominantly Catholic area of Belfast.
• Unionists, led by Ian Paisley, demanded the flag's removal, seeing it as a provocative symbol of Irish nationalism and a challenge to Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom.
• Paisley's public campaign to remove the flag heightened tensions, leading to clashes between nationalists, who defended their right to display the flag, and unionists, who saw it as an insult to their identity.
• The situation escalated when the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) moved in to remove the flag, triggering widespread rioting in the area.
• The violence quickly spread, with large crowds clashing with the police and each other. The RUC, heavily criticised for their handling of the situation, used force to try to control the riots, further inflaming the anger of the Catholic community.
• The riots led to significant destruction in the Divis Street area, with buildings damaged and numerous injuries reported.
• The Divis Street Riots were symbolic of the broader sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. They highlighted the deep divisions between the Catholic and Protestant communities and the volatile nature of the political environment.
• The riots also underscored the growing influence of figures like Ian Paisley, who mobilised loyalist sentiment and exacerbated tensions.
• The events on Divis Street foreshadowed the more widespread violence that would erupt in Northern Ireland later in the decade, leading to the onset of the Troubles.

The "O'Neill Must Go" Campaign

• The "O'Neill Must Go" campaign was a concerted effort led by Ian Paisley and other hardline unionists to oust Terence O'Neill from his position as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

• The campaign emerged in response to O'Neill's perceived moderation and willingness to engage with the Catholic community and the Republic of Ireland.

• For Paisley and his supporters, O'Neill's policies represented a betrayal of unionist principles and a threat to the Protestant dominance that had defined Northern Ireland since its creation.

• Paisley was particularly incensed by O'Neill's meetings with Seán Lemass in 1965, which he viewed as a dangerous step towards reconciliation with the Republic of Ireland.

• Paisley believed that O'Neill's outreach to the Catholic community would undermine Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom and potentially lead to Irish reunification. The civil rights movement, which gained momentum under O'Neill's leadership, further fuelled Paisley's fears that Protestant control was being eroded.

• The "O'Neill Must Go" campaign gained traction as Paisley mobilised loyalist opinion against O'Neill. Paisley's fiery speeches and public demonstrations drew significant support from Protestants who were anxious about the changes O'Neill was proposing.

  • The campaign included mass rallies, petitions, and widespread propaganda aimed at discrediting O'Neill and portraying him as a traitor to the Unionist cause.
  • The pressure from the "O'Neill Must Go" campaign, combined with growing unrest and violence in Northern Ireland, ultimately led to O'Neill's resignation in April 1969.

• His departure marked the end of a period of relative moderation in Northern Irish politics and the beginning of a more polarised and violent era as the Troubles escalated.

• The campaign against O'Neill demonstrated the deep divisions within the unionist community and the challenges faced by any leader attempting to bridge the gap between Northern Ireland's Protestant and Catholic populations.