“To Hell or to Connaught”: Margaret Thatcher, Northern Ireland and the prospect of repartition, 1979-1990

Kelly, Stephen (2024) “To Hell or to Connaught”: Margaret Thatcher, Northern Ireland and the prospect of repartition, 1979-1990. Historical Studies XXIX: Borders and Boundaries, 2024. (Accepted for Publication)

Text (article) Proposed Article - Historical Studies XXIX - Borders and Boundaries - Thatcher and repartition - Sept. 2023 - HSXXIX_17_Kelly.docx - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (37kB)

Abstract

This paper investigates Margaret Thatcher’s hitherto neglected public and private attitude to repartition and the Irish border during her period as British prime minister from 1979 to 1990. It focuses on one central topic – Thatcher’s occasional discussion of the prospect of repartition and the redrawing of the boundary of Northern Ireland, including the mass transfer of Northern Catholics to the Republic of Ireland. Ultimately it is argued that Thatcher’s attitude to the above topics was a powerful blend of personal ignorance and naivety.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty / Department:	Faculty of Creative Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities
Depositing User:	Stephen Kelly
Date Deposited:	15 Mar 2024 12:11
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2024 11:58
URI:	https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/4152

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