Religious Cleavages and Political Divisions in Ireland. The British government has been intimately and disastrously involved in Ireland for centuries. This paper examines the divisions between Roman Catholics and Protestants that culminated in the division of the island into two separate political entities. It commences with the Act of Union (1801) that united Ireland and Great Britain and concludes with partition, political formalization of the cleavages, in the twentieth century. 5 pgs. Bibliography lists 4 sources. Pages: 5 Bibliography: 4 source(s) listed Filename: 4721 Divisions in Ireland.doc Price: 44.75