Irish nationalism
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An Irish nationalist is generally one who seeks (greater) independence of Ireland from Great Britain, including since 1921 the goal of a United Ireland. The nationalist position is often contrasted with that of Unionists.
In the 19th century most Irish people were in favour of Home Rule – an Irish parliament within the United Kingdom. Following the fall of Charles Stewart Parnell this was evantually won by John Redmond and the Irish Parliamentary Party and granted under the Third Home Rule Act 1914, limited however by a partition of Northern Ireland bill Susequently physical force republicanism became increasingly important and, after the Easter Rising of 1916, became the dominant force in Ireland until separate independence for 26 of Ireland's 32 counties ensued under the Government of Ireland Act, 1920 and the subsequent Anglo-Irish Treaty.
In Northern Ireland today the term is used to refer either to the Catholic population in general or specifically the supporters of the moderate Social Democratic and Labour Party led by Mark Durkan, to diffentiate them from Sinn Féin voters, known as Irish republicans. Originally, however, the term republican was applied to those who advocated the complete independence of Ireland from Great Britain while nationalist originally denoted those who strove for parliamentary All-Ireland (32 county) Dominion self-government within the Commonwealth.
The parties widely recognized as representing the moderate nationalist tradition include Fine Gael and the SDLP.