Love Ulster
Encyclopedia
Love Ulster was a campaign conducted in Northern Ireland
in 2005-08 on behalf of unionist victims of the Troubles, organised by the County Armagh
Protestant victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
(FAIR), led by Willie Frazer
.
Larne Gun Running
of 1914. Love Ulster members brought 200,000 copies of a special edition of the Shankill Mirror newspaper into the port of Larne, bearing the banner headline, "Ulster At Crisis Point" - indicating the perception that Northern Ireland
is at "crisis point" and on the verge of being "sold out" into a united Ireland
.
On 25 February 2006, a planned Love Ulster march in Dublin was prevented from taking place due to violent protests against the march, in the 2006 Dublin riots
. A second Love Ulster parade (in Dublin) was discussed as a possibility for the latter part of 2007 and approved by an Garda Síochána
. However, it was cancelled following discussions between Frazer and the Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern
.
In August 2008 FAIR employee William Wilkinson, who had helped to establish Love Ulster and sat as a local councillor in Ballymena
for the United Unionist Coalition
, was charged with rape and attempted rape. He was convicted in May 2010.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in 2005-08 on behalf of unionist victims of the Troubles, organised by the County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
Protestant victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives is a non-governmental organisation founded in 1998 in South Armagh, Northern Ireland. It describes itself as a "non-sectarian, non-political organisation" that works "in the interests of the innocent victims of terrorism in South Armagh."-Leadership:FAIR is...
(FAIR), led by Willie Frazer
Willie Frazer
William "Willie" Frazer is the founder and leader of Families Acting for Innocent Relatives in Northern Ireland. He was also a leader of the Love Ulster campaign.-Background:...
.
History
Love Ulster's first public manifestation was in August 2005, when its members symbolically reenacted the Ulster Volunteer Force'sUlster Volunteer Force (1912)
The Ulster Volunteers were a unionist militia founded in 1912 to block Home Rule for Ireland. In 1913 they were organised into the Ulster Volunteer Force, with many of its members enlisting with the 36th Division at the outbreak of World War I...
Larne Gun Running
Larne Gun Running
The Larne gun-running was a major gun smuggling operation organised in Ireland by Major Frederick H. Crawford and Captain Wilfrid Spender for the Ulster Unionist Council to equip the Ulster Volunteer Force...
of 1914. Love Ulster members brought 200,000 copies of a special edition of the Shankill Mirror newspaper into the port of Larne, bearing the banner headline, "Ulster At Crisis Point" - indicating the perception that Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
is at "crisis point" and on the verge of being "sold out" into a united Ireland
United Ireland
A united Ireland is the term used to refer to the idea of a sovereign state which covers all of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. The island of Ireland includes the territory of two independent sovereign states: the Republic of Ireland, which covers 26 counties of the island, and the...
.
On 25 February 2006, a planned Love Ulster march in Dublin was prevented from taking place due to violent protests against the march, in the 2006 Dublin riots
2006 Dublin riots
The 2006 Dublin riots were a series of riots which occurred in Dublin on 25 February 2006, precipitated by a proposed controversial march down O'Connell Street of a unionist demonstration. The disturbances began when members of An Garda Síochána attempted to disperse a group of...
. A second Love Ulster parade (in Dublin) was discussed as a possibility for the latter part of 2007 and approved by an Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
. However, it was cancelled following discussions between Frazer and the Irish foreign minister Dermot Ahern
Dermot Ahern
Dermot Christopher Ahern is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Louth constituency from 1987 to 2011...
.
In August 2008 FAIR employee William Wilkinson, who had helped to establish Love Ulster and sat as a local councillor in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
for the United Unionist Coalition
United Unionist Coalition
The United Unionist Coalition, formerly known as the United Unionist Assembly Party, was formed by three unionist members of the Northern Ireland Assembly who were elected as "independent unionists" in 1998. They were Fraser Agnew, Boyd Douglas and Denis Watson...
, was charged with rape and attempted rape. He was convicted in May 2010.