History of Rathlin Island

History of Rathlin Island A Settlement on Rathlin Island Geographical Information Part of

Rathlin Island is a miniscule and small island of the northern coast of country Antrim, currently split between the Celtic Union and the Kingdom of Cork.

History

Under British Control

Rathlin started off under British control. There is no recorded mention of it during British control and it was never used.

Under Celtic Control

The Celts also never planned on inhabiting the island and just occupied it.

Under Cork Control

Entrance of Camp Rathlin.

Cork was the first country to begin works on Rathlin, after cork occupied Donegal after the 4th Cork-Celtic War, Cork got to work establishing a base for the 3rd battalion of the Donegal Regiment. It also planned to garrison an independence military police company aswell under the name "Rathlin Island Garrison Police", there was talks of a general civilian police department for Rathlin and this was debated, it was argued the 3rd battalion would be much better use on the mainland and that it would just end up draining Rathlin's resources and angering the locals, additionally none of these troops would even be well equipped to defend as all tanks and self-propelled guns were put on the coast. In the end it was decided Rathlin will be protected by the 3rd battalion however only 1 coy of 3rd battalion was ever written to be sent. Cork never established military presence on Rathlin due to large manpower shortages.

Rathlin island coastal artillery.

The Corkonians had plans to make Rathlin a military colony as to propose protection incase the UK ever decided to attack into Cork. The battalion would have done much, it was an artillery unit which inhabited coastal artillery positions. There was proposals for a Rathlin Island Defence Force of sorts which would have been one company of five platoons, those being

• 1st Platoon
  • 2 Infantry Squads
  • 1 Artillery Troop
• 2nd Platoon
  • 2 Infantry Squads
  • 1 Medical Troop
• 3rd Platoon
  • 2 Logistic Troop
  • 1 Engineer Troop
• 4th Platoon
  • 2 Army Air Corps Squads (of which have 4 wildcat utility helicopters)
  • 1 Logistics Troop
• 5th Platoon
  • 2 Military Police Squads

Cork largely left the island alone, however a naval taskforce was put to patrol the seas and stop IRA convoys.

Split Control Between Cork and the UK

The Uk eventually gained control of the south peninsula of the island and would setup a dockyard there. There was no conflict on the island between Cork and the Uk.

War Island

When Northern Ireland fell to the Celtic Union the fears of Rathlin being invaded were ignited, however those fears never came to light.

Population decreased drastically on the island and it was turned into a war island for the Kingdom of Cork and the Celtic Union to fight any their conflicts with each other on and too stop war from approaching the mainland, this never came to be though and Rathlin has yet too see war.

Present Day

Rathlin is split between the Kingdom of Cork and the Celtic Union, both sites have civilian settlements with open borders however both sides have separate police forces, which do work alongside each other. Rathlin is known to house some Celtic Nationalist groups such as PROVOS and a at the time unknown Scottish terrorist group. There is no military on the island from either side, Cork does have a coast guard unit stationed there.

Rathlin is largely civilian based and even has its own mini airport. It has its own fire departments, police, hospitals and is largely connected with the mainland through trade.

Military on the island

Modern day there is laxed military control, the Celtic Union holds a active naval/helicopter depot on the south of their peninsula, however for Cork the island's defence is left to the Rathlin Royal Militia of which are armed and trained by the military but aren't an official part of it. The Rathlin Royal Militia for the most part is ceremonial and all actual defence is left to the Corkonian Coast Guard's detachments on the island. The Rathlin Airstrip is on the Corkonian side of the border and houses both Celtic and Corkonian civilian/military aircraft, including three EC135 from the Corkonian Coast Guard.

Split Control

Now adays the northern part of Rathlin is controlled by Cork and the southern most tip of the island is the Celtic side, there is two border points, one for civilian and one for transport/logistics/cargo and trade, the borders do allow free access to both sides of the island as tensions between the two nations have calmed down.

Rathlin Independence Movements

There have been some attempts to get Rathlin to be an independent state free of Celtic and Corkonian control, this is levitated on the Corkonian side in which Rathlin is allowed its own local council and to dictate its own local policy with its own elections.