Kaitlin Funaro Thesis

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From 1969 to 1998, Northern Ireland was in turmoil. More than 3,600 people lost their lives when bombs dropped and shots were fired between the two main communities who share the small northern tip of Ireland.



Protestants loyal to Great Britain and Irish Catholics spent 30 years fighting over political and social power. This period known as the Troubles bred segregation, resentment and violence. Ten years ago, the Good Friday peace agreement was signed. But 95 percent of Northern Ireland’s children still live completely segregated lives and rarely meet anyone from the other community. Concern is growing that the country will never heal the wounds of the Troubles if its children are kept apart. But the experiment of integrated education has had some dangerous consequences, and its future remains uncertain.