The partition of Ireland almost a century ago led to, in the words of James Connolly, 'a carnival of reaction' either side of the border. In the British dominated Northern State, the minority Catholic population turned to resistance and struggle in the late 1960s to challenge Unionist rule and discrimation. Vicious repression and decades known as 'the troubles' followed. Today, a mass struggle against austerity and massive support for Equal Marriage is transforming the political landscape in the South of Ireland. In the North, the legacy of British rule and the sectarian character of the state continue to weigh heavily on the so-called Peace Process. Despite challenges, an alternative to austerity, sectarianism and religious fundamentalism is emerging across the island.