Census 2001 – Slugger O'Toole

#Census2011: The first bare bones of NI’s changing story…

Mick Fealty on September 20, 2012, 11:21 am | Readers 81

Ten years ago nothing was more eagerly awaited [than the collapse of Stormont? – Ed] than the announcement of the Census figures. Hyper optimism on the nationalist side suggested that the Protestant population might dip below 50% for the first time. The Census body saw that one coming and finessed the figures so that background became as important as any stated religion. I don’t think it’s putting too fine a point on it to say that many nationalist commentators were …

Can Unionism adapt to change?

Mick Fealty on January 27, 2003, 5:55 pm | Readers 3

I am not sure where this character has found his figures (particularly the one estimating that 59% of NI Catholics are prepared to vote to stay within the Union); but it’s probably a fair indication of the way some in the British Conservative party are thinking about NI in the wake of the Census results: The census will have a positive effect in soothing unionist fears. It will also prompt republican soul-searching. But it does mean that Northern Ireland will …

Unionist opposition to Portadown Mosque

Mick Fealty on January 14, 2003, 11:27 am | Readers 199

We rarely link to the Times because it requires a subscription or registration but this story seems too extraordinary to omit: “The construction of Northern Ireland’s first purpose-built mosque is being blocked by Unionist politicians who say that residents would be kept awake by ‘wailing’ and that Muslims are plotting to destroy Christianity.” Correpondent David Lister comments: “For years a small Muslim community near Portadown, Co Armagh, has observed the antics of Orangemen during the annual marching season in the …

The changing nature of Ulster

Mick Fealty on January 6, 2003, 11:45 am | Readers 4

Though he may be accused of some disingenuity some of his preceding analysis, Brian Feeney makes an point somehow missed by many others; the census results indicate nothing if not the changed nature of the ‘people of Ulster’. He goes on to identify: “…the sulky silence of unionist leaders who have watched the raison detre of their wee six vanishing has left their voters bewildered and frightened for the future. As a result, they have been congregating in self-designated ghettos …

Census puts an end to myth?

Mick Fealty on December 24, 2002, 10:52 am | Readers 18

In the Observer on Sunday Henry McDonald compared the Catholic majority by 2016 that had been the source of some speculation before last Thursday’s announcement of the final census figures, with the myth of Santa Claus: “…the straight-talking statisticians at the census office metaphorically ripped off Santa’s beard last Thursday and exposed the ‘Count the Catholics’ theory as a fake.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …

Census 2001: Back stories

Mick Fealty on December 20, 2002, 12:34 pm | Readers 0

To pick up on how this story has been set up over the last few years, have a look at John Adams’ resume of opinion pieces, complete with links, and this article from Anthony McIntyre. Both look at the issue from a Nationalist point of view but, until now, that is where most of the comment and speculation has come from. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics …

Census 2001: Republican disappointment

Mick Fealty on December 20, 2002, 12:00 pm | Readers 4

The Daily Telegraph sees the results as a major set-back for Republican strategists, something dissident Republican commentator Anthony McIntyre echoes strongly in this week’s edition of the Blanket: Nationalist number crunchers have been frustrated on two major counts. Firstly, the share of the nationalists fell considerably short of the anticipated 46%. Secondly, the unionists were more than 3% over the predicted minus-50%. Their psychological doomsday simply failed to approach the green horizon. “The big mistake of the nationalist hopefuls may …

Census 2001: headline results

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 8:54 pm | Readers 3

If you are still confused, try this run down of the census results from Bob Osbourne, University of Ulster. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Census 2001: A watershed in Unionist politics?

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 5:43 pm | Readers 13

Chris Thornton in relaxed mode, provides a quick demographic history of Belfast over the last 50 years, before concluding, perhaps more perceptively than most caught up in the simple mathematics of it all: “The question of a united Ireland is far from settled. But for those who equate unionism simply with the protection of Protestant rights, it is clear that Northern Ireland will never be the same again.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on …

Census 2001: Calming the fever?

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 5:18 pm | Readers 6

The NI Secretary of State, Paul Murphy has tried to calm the feverish speculation over the census: Once the dust settles today, I hope the majority will see the census as a useful reminder of what the Belfast Agreement was all about. Because at the heart of the Agreement, was a recognition that the bitter divisions of Northern Ireland will never be solved by mere demographics. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …

Census 2001: setback for nationalist ambitions

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 5:11 pm | Readers 1

Jeffrey Donaldson believes that the religious figures represent a scaling back of nationalist ambitions to bring about a United Ireland within the foreseeable future. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Census 2001: the row goes mainstream.

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 5:03 pm | Readers 0

The argument over what precisely the figures mean begins to take over the political discourse. UTV has an impressive compendium of opinion. Amongst many others David Ford probably speaks as well for the ‘middle ground’ as anyone else: “We need to inject a degree of realism into this hyped debate, as it is increasingly obvious that there is a sizeable proportion of people in Northern Ireland who do not want to be classified as either Catholic or Protestant. Government policy …

Census 2001: Inaccuate forecasts

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 1:54 pm | Readers 2

Despite recent headlines to the contrary, Gerry Moriarty in the subscription only Irish Times, believes the actual figures are good news for ‘Protestants’: “The 53/44 figure will provide some reassurance for unionists who were confronted with a number of recent media reports suggesting that the Catholic population would be as high as 46 per cent and the Protestant/unionist population would be under 50 per cent.” “Such figures would have signified a dramatic rise in the Catholic population of 4 per …

Census 2001: Press round up

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 12:35 pm | Readers 2

David McKitterick reports a rise in the numbers of Catholics in Belfast. In the Examiner, Dan Buckley focuses on population changes in Belfasts, that have practical effects: “Many Catholic districts of Belfast are now bursting at the seams, while some Protestant zones are half-empty, illustrating a demographic change which may have huge political consequences.” In the Newsletter, Suzanne Breen returns to the the partition of the historic 9 county province of Ulster to find context for the magnitude of the …

Census 2001: Figures released

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 10:57 am | Readers 0

The key figures are now available. The introduction and table of contents here may help with navigation. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Census 2001: Outcomes long rather than short term

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 10:32 am | Readers 2

Unionist commentator and advisor to David Trimble, Steven King suggests that the All-Ireland corks may have been popping too soon. He points out: “Department of Education figures show that the proportion of children educated at Catholic primary schools is below 50% and is falling year on year by 0.2%. Looking at the youngest section of the population, the number of children admitted at P1 level last year at (Protestant) controlled schools was 11,675 but just 10,931 at (Catholic) maintained schools.” …

Census 2001: Early estimates

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 8:59 am | Readers 0

Earliest indications from the BBC suggest that the final figures will be more like 53% Protestant and 44% Catholic. Other reports from RTE and UTV concur with this estimate. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Census 2001: Irish speakers

Mick Fealty on December 19, 2002, 8:52 am | Readers 6

Aside from the issue of total in the religious populations before they were announced this morning, Sinn Fein focused on the rising numbers of Irish speakers, they expect to be demonstrated in the figures. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Census 2001: Catholic numbers to be less than predicted?

Mick Fealty on December 18, 2002, 11:06 am | Readers 2

Gerry Moriarty. Northern Editor of the Irish Times is the first to hint (sub only) that the figures in census currently being bandied around, may prove to be hugely exagerating the final numbers of Catholics in the Province: “Some reports have suggested the Catholic population could be as high as 46 per cent, but this may be too high. It is understood a figure in the lower mid-40s may be more accurate.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He …

Census 2001: Catholic school majority widening

Mick Fealty on December 17, 2002, 9:41 am | Readers 5

Rosie Cowan goes on to quote some apparently sobering facts: “Four of Northern Ireland’s five cities, Belfast, Derry, Armagh and Newry, now have Catholic majorities – only Lisburn does not – and last year there were 173,000 Catholic schoolchildren, 146,000 Protestants and 22,000 others.” It should be noted that of these cities, only Belfast has changed in the course of the last 40 years. And in any case it masks the fact that the largely protestant Castlereagh Borough Council, controls …