> using historical events to justify political resentments that are very current and very local

There is no lack of continuity though. In 1609 the English stole land from Irish people during the plantation of Ulster. In 2019, the six counties vote to stay in the EU, but the Monarch's parliament across the sea decides otherwise. A garrison of the occupation troops remain in the Thiepval barracks.

Six county Brexit (against the will of six county voters) and the Thiepval barracks are a sign of a continuity that is very current but unfortunately not very local.