While the issue of religion didn't help matters, the English had a presence in Ireland long before the Anglican church was created. There was enmity without the issue of religion considering that the English were an occupying force in an independent country. The two groups spoke different languages, had different systems of ruling, and although both were Catholic, there were differences in how Catholicism was practiced in each culture. So ultimately, the split in the church made the relationship between the two countries worse, but it was not good to begin with.