Madam, - Tom Cooper (May 3rd), commenting on the decline in the Protestant population of the 26 counties after partition, repeats what I believe to be a false assumption - that large numbers of Protestants migrated north to Northern Ireland, and that they were enticed to do so by the Craig government.
When I researched these matters some years ago I was myself somewhat surprised to find that there was no evidence of significant movement of population north, though there may have been some short-term relocation from Border areas during the worst months of the Civil War in 1922.
There was concern in London at the flight of refugees (Catholic as well as Protestant) to Britain, and the Hoare committee was set up by the British government in May 1922 to give financial assistance to those forced out. But, despite representations from Craig, it did not offer help to anyone fleeing from southern Ireland into Northern Ireland. Far from encouraging flight, the British government was particularly concerned not to publicise the work of the committee.
In response to complaints that southern loyalists moving north were receiving no official aid, a private committee was set up under Craig's chief whip, Dixon, to offer help. In September 1922 Craig had informed London that "some three hundred and sixty refugees" from the south (individuals, not families) were being maintained by private generosity in Northern Ireland. By October 1923 the Dixon committee had spent a little under £500, which it tried, unsuccessfully, to recoup from the Home Office in London. The total outlay does not suggest any mass migration north.
During the hard times of the 1930s there were requests to Belfast from southern Loyalists, particularly in Donegal, for help in moving to Northern Ireland. In 1934 the Belfast government said it was willing to assist exchanges of farm holdings between southern loyalists wanting to move north, and discontented nationalists wishing to leave Northern Ireland, but it seems there were few, if any, takers.
The Ulster Unionist Council - not the government - did give some financial aid to loyalists wishing to move north to cover transportation of goods and farm stock, but there seems to be no evidence of any significant movement of population .
As I said, it is some years since I did research on these matters, and I would be interested to hear if Mr Cooper has fresh evidence to support his assertion that "the Northern Ireland regime led by Sir James Craig enticed large numbers of Protestants, through the offer of government jobs and quality housing, to relocate north of the Border".
- Yours, etc,
DENNIS KENNEDY, Belfast 7.
Madam, - I am compiling a record of the various events organised during the year to mark the 90th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising. I would be indebted to any of your readers who are able to forward details to me of all types of activities - publications, speeches, academic conferences, public debates, exhibitions, artistic works, dramatic productions, etc.
I can be contacted at the address below or at g.doherty@ucc.ie.
- Yours, etc,
GABRIEL DOHERTY, c/o Department of History, University College Cork.