(note) Our Celtic Cousins in Ireland had their own fight in the rights of self determination
The History of Irish Land Restitution, Imperialism, and Partition The Long Arc of Irish Dispossession, Resistance, and Partition An analysis of land reform, imperial policy, and Northern Ireland's constitutional framework. 1. The Royal Catalyst and the Security Threat The seeds of Ireland’s modern struggle were planted in the 16th century by King Henry VIII. When Pope Clement VII denied his demand for an annulment from Catherine of Aragon, Henry broke away from Rome, declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, and established the Anglican faith. This schism immediately transformed Catholic Ireland from a neglected lordly outpost into England’s greatest strategic vulnerability. Fearing that Catholic superpowers in France and Spain would use Ireland as a western springboard for invasion, Henry declared himself King of Ireland in 1541 and launched a brutal ca...