Terence O'Neill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord O'Neill of the Maine
|
|
|---|---|
.png)
O'Neill in 1966
|
|
| 4th Prime Minister of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 25 March 1963 – 28 April 1969 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor |
|
| Preceded by | The 1st Viscount Brookeborough |
| Succeeded by | James Chichester-Clark |
| 7th Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party | |
| In office 25 March 1963 – 1 May 1969 |
|
| Preceded by | The 1st Viscount Brookeborough |
| Succeeded by | James Chichester-Clark |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 21 September 1956 – 25 March 1963 |
|
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Brookeborough |
| Preceded by | George Boyle Hanna |
| Succeeded by | Jack Andrews |
| Minister of Home Affairs | |
| In office 20 April 1956 – 23 October 1956 |
|
| Prime Minister | The Viscount Brookeborough |
| Preceded by | George Boyle Hanna |
| Succeeded by | W. W. B. Topping |
| High Sheriff of Antrim | |
| In office 1 January 1953 – 31 December 1953 |
|
| Preceded by | Hugh Cameron McGildowney |
| Succeeded by | George Clark |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
|
| In office 23 January 1970 – 12 June 1990 Life Peerage |
|
| Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament for Bannside |
|
| In office 7 November 1946 – 16 April 1970 |
|
| Preceded by | Malcolm William Patrick |
| Succeeded by | Ian Paisley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 September 1914 London, England |
| Died | 12 June 1990 (aged 75) Lymington, England |
| Political party | Ulster Unionist Party |
| Spouse |
Katharine Jean
(m. 1944) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | James Chichester-Clark Phelim O’Neill |
| Education | Eton College |
| Alma mater | Sandhurst |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 6th Guards Tank Brigade |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Terence O'Neill (1914–1990) was an important political leader in Northern Ireland. He served as the fourth Prime Minister of Northern Ireland and led the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1963 to 1969. He wanted to bring different groups in Northern Ireland closer together.
O'Neill was a member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland for the Bannside area from 1946 until 1970. His time as Prime Minister was a period of big changes and challenges in Northern Ireland.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Terence O'Neill was born in London, England, on September 10, 1914. He grew up in London and went to schools like Eton College. He also spent holidays in Ulster.
Before his political career, O'Neill worked in London and Australia. In 1940, he joined the British Army and served in the Second World War. He was a Captain in the 6th Guards Tank Brigade. Both of his brothers died during the war.
In 1944, he married Katharine Jean. They had a son, Patrick, and a daughter, Anne. Like many politicians from his party, he was also a member of the Orange Order.
Entering Politics in Northern Ireland
After the war, in late 1945, O'Neill and his family moved to Northern Ireland. They lived near Ahoghill, County Antrim.
In 1946, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bannside area. He represented the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) in the Parliament of Northern Ireland at Stormont.
O'Neill held several important jobs in the government. He was a junior minister for health and local government. Later, he became High Sheriff of Antrim in 1953. In 1956, he joined the Cabinet as Minister of Home Affairs. Six months later, he also became Minister of Finance, a very important role. He kept this job until he became Prime Minister in 1963.
Becoming Prime Minister
In 1963, Terence O'Neill became the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. He took over from Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough. O'Neill wanted to make big changes. He hoped to reduce the differences between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland.
He also wanted to improve the economy. He worked to bring new businesses and jobs to Northern Ireland. He believed in making the country more modern and industrial.
O'Neill faced challenges because the new British government, led by Harold Wilson, was not as supportive of the UUP as previous governments. This meant O'Neill could not always count on their help.
Working with the Republic of Ireland
O'Neill also tried to improve relations with the Republic of Ireland. In 1965, he invited the Irish leader, Seán Lemass, for talks in Belfast. This was a very new idea and many people in O'Neill's own party were against it.
Ian Paisley, a strong opponent, protested against the visit. Later, O'Neill visited Lemass in Dublin. These meetings were the first steps towards better relations between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland since the country was divided.
Despite his efforts, O'Neill faced strong opposition. Some people even attacked a politician who supported him during a public event in 1967. In 1968, O'Neill himself was attacked with eggs and flour by people who disagreed with his policies.
Civil Rights Movement and Challenges
In 1968, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) began holding street protests. One march in Derry on October 5, 1968, was banned by the government. Police used batons against the protesters, and the violence was shown on TV around the world. Many historians see this event as the start of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, became concerned. He told O'Neill that if he couldn't control the situation, the British government might take over.
O'Neill tried to respond by introducing a "Five Point Reform Programme." This plan offered some changes that the civil rights groups wanted. However, it did not include "one person, one vote" for local elections, which was a key demand.
Some activists felt the reforms were not enough. A new group called People's Democracy started a long march from Belfast to Derry in January 1969. During this march, they were attacked by hardline unionists at Burntollet Bridge. Many marchers were hurt, and some off-duty police officers were involved in the attack. This event led to more riots in Derry.
Resignation as Prime Minister
In February 1969, O'Neill called a special election because of problems within his own party. Many of his party's MPs did not support his reforms. Although his supporters won many seats, O'Neill lost his overall majority in Parliament. This made it hard for him to pass his new laws.
Terence O'Neill resigned as Prime Minister and leader of the UUP on April 28, 1969. His resignation came after a series of bomb attacks on Belfast's water supply by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
Later Life and Legacy
O'Neill left politics in Northern Ireland in January 1970. He was then made a life peer as Baron O'Neill of the Maine. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords in the British Parliament. He continued to speak about Northern Ireland's problems there.
He died on June 12, 1990, at his home in Lymington, England.
Historians remember Terence O'Neill for his efforts to bring about change and reduce unfair treatment in Northern Ireland during the 1960s. He tried to build bridges between different communities and modernize the region.
Images for kids
-
O'Neill Conroy family tree
See also
In Spanish: Terence O'Neill para niños
- Unionism in Ireland ("1960s: Reform and Opposition", "Opposition to O'Neill)
- List of Northern Ireland members of the House of Lords
