ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to examine whether change in the character of the Republic’s religious minority might have fallen into this category. The Protestant minority is seen not merely as a religious denominational one but rather as one with many of the characteristics of an ethnic minority, and it is change in the characteristics that will constitute the primary focus. Much of the difficulty that the Protestant community has encountered in maintaining a separate identity arises from the fact that religion constitutes a less secure barrier than language against penetration from the dominant culture. Religion has been of dual significance in Irish politics. In reviewing the changing character of the southern Protestant minority, a comparative examination of its historical evolution is a necessary preliminary step. At the level of local government, the introduction of proportional representation in 1920 raised the prospect of the return of a Unionist voice on local councils.
