Good news from Northern Ireland, a land still troubled by violence: the number of marriages between Catholics and Protestants – reliable thermometer, according to the experts, of better relations between the two communities – is on the increase. A study conducted by Queen’s University in Belfast and the University of Ulster has discovered that mixed marriages, hitherto anathema to the two communities, are increasing, rising from 6% of all marriages in 1989 to 9% in 1998. The percentage of those who consider that the Northern Ireland community would not approve if a Protestant man or woman were to marry a Catholic is also declining (from 34% to 16%). At the same time, the proportion of those who declare their willingness to accept mixed marriage in Northern Ireland has increased from 28% to 44%. This more tolerant attitude is demonstrated by Catholics: only 9% of Catholics in 1998 thought that the Northern Ireland community would not approve of mixed marriages, compared with 22% of Protestants. That percentage was much higher, 41%, in 1989. The same study also showed an increase of support for mixed schools, where Protestant and Catholic children study together. Two-thirds of the Northern Ireland population are now in favour of mixed schools, with an increase from 56% in 1989 to 66% today. Once again Catholics are more willing to accept integration in schools that Protestants with 72% of Catholics in favour, compared with 57% of Protestants.
