What is an Irish Loyalist?

Answer 1

An Irish Loyalist is a person, typically from Northern Ireland, who supports the continued political union between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, opposing Irish nationalism and the idea of a united Ireland. Loyalists often identify with British cultural and political traditions and may be affiliated with unionist political parties. The term is closely associated with historical and contemporary tensions in Northern Ireland, particularly during the Troubles, a period of conflict that lasted from the late 1960s to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Loyalist groups have sometimes engaged in paramilitary activities to uphold their objectives.