First, for all the people who think this is a purely religious conflict, it isn't. Catholic and Protestant are short hand labels for two communities that differ on ethnic and political lines as well as religious ones; a more accurate set of labels would be Nationalist and Unionist; in basic terms, Catholics/Nationalists want Northern Ireland to be part of The Republic of Ireland, and not the UK. Protestants/Unionists want to remain part of the UK--this is the basic political divide.
As far as the ethnic divide, Catholic/Nationalists are native Irish, while Protestants/Unionists are mostly of English and Scottish descent, though in many cases their families have been living here for generations.
In terms of the recent violence here, it seems to go back to the early 20th century, when the concept of Irish Home Rule gained traction in the British Parliment. In response, some members of the Protestant/Unionist population took up arms AGAINST independence, forming the Ulster Volunteers. During the First World War, many members of the Ulster Volunteers joined the British military and fought on the continent.
In response to the formation of the Ulster Volunteers, Irish nationalists formed the Irish Volunteers, who, in 1916 joined with several other nationalists groups to form the Irish Republican Army and launched the Easter Uprising against the UK. This uprising was quickly put down and it's leaders executed, but it introduced (or re-introduced) violence into the political atmosphere, and (depending on who you ask), many thought the executed leaders were heroes and martyrs.
Part Two will follow with Irish Independence, and possibly the beginnings of the modern conflict.
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