The British Border on the Island of Ireland.

The British border on the island of Ireland is 499kms or 310mls long – though both ends Lough Swilly and Carlingford Lough are disputed. There are circa 270 public (legal) roads that cross the border. Many more dirt-tracks, footpaths and ‘temporary bridges’ exist. The Government of Ireland Act claims the border runs (pretty much) half way down the middle until it joins the land border, however multiple incursions into the Republic by armed British soldiers have been made over the decades (I’ve witnessed one in Omeath, Co Louth) well inside of Irish territory, I’ve also come across nests of heavily armed British soldiers while out walking/fishing in counties Louth & Monaghan in mid to late 1970’s. Once myself and friend were actually carrying a bolt action 22 rifle – this did nothing to ease the tension.

The British-Irish border originated from the 1921 partition of Ireland, by the British, into Northern Ireland (staying in the UK) and the Irish Free State (becoming independent) , formalized by the 1922 Anglo-Irish Treaty, creating a ~310-mile boundary that divided communities and became a source of conflict, particularly during ‘ The Troubles’ – a war that killed over 3.600 people directly and continues to take its toll in suicides, drug misuse and PTSD.

The border was initially formed when the ‘State of Northern Ireland’ was formed on 3rd May of 1921. The Free State of Ireland was later formed on 6th December 1921.