Some people in Northern Ireland want to be party of the United Kingdom, and they are called unionists. Others want to be party of a united Ireland and they are called nationalists. With these two competing positions, nationalism and unionism has come about.

Because The Republic of Ireland see the poppy as a sign of unionism.

The Red Army

The two opposing ideologies in Ireland in the early 1900s were Unionism, which was primarily represented by Protestants, and Irish Nationalism, which was primarily represented by Catholics. Irish Nationalists believed in the separation of Ireland from Britain. Unionists believed in maintaining the relationship between various nations of the United Kingdom.

E.L Pratt has written:

'Industrial unionism' -- subject(s): Syndicalism, Trade unionism