- Plantation of Ireland: In the 16th and 17th centuries, England confiscated large amounts of land from Irish Catholics and gave it to English Protestants. This process, known as the Plantation of Ireland, created lasting resentment among the Irish.
- Penal Laws: The Penal Laws were a series of discriminatory laws that were enforced against Irish Catholics from the 17th to the 19th centuries. These laws restricted the ability of Catholics to own land, hold public office, and practice their religion freely.
- Great Famine: The Great Famine was a period of mass starvation and disease that killed over one million people in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. The British government's handling of the famine is widely considered to have been inadequate, and it further soured relations between Ireland and Britain.
- Easter Rising: The Easter Rising was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland that took place in 1916. The rising was unsuccessful, but it helped to galvanize support for Irish independence.
- Irish War of Independence: The Irish War of Independence was fought between 1919 and 1921. The war resulted in the creation of the Irish Free State, which was a self-governing dominion within the British Empire.
Religious differences:
- Catholic majority vs. Protestant minority: Ireland is a predominantly Catholic country, while Northern Ireland is predominantly Protestant. This religious divide has been a source of tension between the two communities for centuries.
- History of religious discrimination: Irish Catholics have historically been discriminated against by Protestant-dominated British governments. This discrimination has left a legacy of mistrust and resentment among Irish Catholics.
Political conflict:
- The Northern Ireland conflict: The Northern Ireland conflict is a political conflict that has been ongoing since the 1960s. The conflict is centred on the status of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom but has a large Irish Catholic population. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and has had a devastating impact on Northern Ireland.
- Brexit: The United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union has created new uncertainties for the relationship between Ireland and Britain. There are concerns that Brexit could lead to a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which would have a negative impact on trade and the movement of people.
These are just some of the main reasons why Ireland has had trouble relationship with Great Britain. The relationship between the two countries is complex and multifaceted, and it is not always easy to understand.