I want to understand Northern Ireland- recommended reading?

[Emops]

Coming from British blood as I do, I am kind of ashamed to admit that I know absolutely nothing about the historical conflicts in Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin, IRA, The Troubles, Bloody Sunday- I know all those things relate to the Irish conflicts in some way, but I have no idea how. All I know is that it's somehow a republican / loyalist debate.

I'd like a book / article that clearly, concisely, and fairly explains the basics of it- I'm willing to build my knowledge, but I need a framework. And I looked at Wikipedia; their articles are either too long-winded or biased.

Thank you very much in advance.

[hecate77]

1. In a nutshell, Protestant mercenaries from England stranded

when they were done putting down a rebellion, the king was too cheap to bring them home, so they settled there and that was the beginning of the Protestant presence in Ireland. William of Orange was the king, the Protestants are thus known as Orangemen. This is pretty much the core of the conflict, at least according to a Welsh friend of mine.

One link:

http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/past/history/16871691.html

And another one

http://www.doyle.com.au/jacobite_war.htm

Pretty much, this is what set it all in motion, the hatreds between the two sides and all that.

Of course I could be wrong, but that is what he told me.

[Bossy Monkey]

2. I found a good book at the library, but searching their site isn't ringing

any bells as to the title or author. You might try your local public library and have a similar experience. In the meantime, this entire book seems to be online, though it's hell on dialup: http://print.google.com/print?id=JrIjuAtEK_wC&dq=%22history+of+ireland%22&oi=print&pg=PA1&sig=3lc6ep3yCugcL55umGUuqYbsZOg&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26lr%3D%26safe%3Doff%26q%3D%2522history%2Bof%2Bireland%2522
Here's a tinyurl, in case that one's just too friggin' big to work: http://tinyurl.com/cphy5
I can't recommend it one way or another; don't know anything about it except that it's available.

[two gun sid]

3. Try 'The Green Flag' by Robert Kee...

a Brit himself. It gives a very good, unbiased history of Irish Nationalism and Partition up to the Irish Civil War.

[Emops]

4. Thank you all very much.

It's very hard to find information on this that isn't slanted.

[two gun sid]

5. If you are looking for a good explaination to the most recent...

troubles try this link:

http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/index.html

Saoirse.