A Primer Of “The Troubles”

With the killing of two British soldiers and a police officer in Northern Ireland beginning March 8th, there is fear the province may return to the sectarian violence that absorbed world attention during the 1960s and 70s.   Until Saturday, the neighborhoods of Belfast had been peaceful since a landmark peace treaty eleven years ago.   Here is a list of facts and terms to help you understand the conflict.

Ireland is an island with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Irish Sea to the east.

The Governments:
Northern Ireland is not the same as Ireland.  It is part of the United Kingdom, along with England, Scotland and Wales and it is ruled by the Queen of England.  Northern Ireland encompasses the six northeastern counties of the Island.  Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland is predominantly Protestant. The Capitol of Northern Ireland is Belfast.
Ireland is the Republic of Ireland and it covers five-sixths of the land mass of the island.  The Republic includes the 26 counties in the south and west.  Its inhabitants are mostly Catholic.  The Capitol is Dublin.
Synonyms:
Ulster –  Though one-third of Ulster lies outside of Northern Ireland, Ulster is commonly used as a synonym for Northern Ireland .
The Republic – a synonym for Ireland.
History:
Battle of the Boyne, July 12, 1690 -   William, the Protestant King, also known as William of Orange defeats the Catholic King James in Ireland.   The Catholic majority of Ireland succumbs to the laws of England.
Easter Uprising, 1916 – A rebellion by Irish Catholics in Dublin who wished to take political control back from Great Britain.  The effort failed to achieve “Home Rule”, but energized the Catholic majority.
Partition, also known as The Government of Ireland Act, 1921 – Under international pressure, Britain divides the Island in two:  Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Troubles – Period between 1963 to 1985 when the conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland turned violent.   The “trouble” was sparked by the election of a new Prime Minister for Northern Ireland, Terrence O’Neil, who sympathized with the political and social problems of Catholics, which in turn, prompted fear among Protestants who thought their power would be diminished.
Paramilitary Groups:
Definition:  organizations of armed protestors whose mission was change through violence.  In Northern Ireland, the paramilitary groups were divided along religious lines.
Catholic:
IRA – Irish Republican Army.  Paramilitary group founded in 1922 to reunite the partitioned Island into a full independent Ireland.
Provisional IRA – 1969. A splinter group more violent than the IRA, determined to force the British off the Island.  Claimed 1,800 killings of Protestants during the Troubles.
Continuity IRA -1986.  Created during a split with the Provisional IRA.  Suspected of a series of bombings in the late 1990s.
Protestant:
UVF -Ulster Volunteer Force,  1912.  Protestant. Created to oppose Home Rule which was favored by Catholics.  Revived in 1966 to avenge IRA attacks on Protestants.  The UVF’s tactics involved bombing Pubs frequented by Catholics.
UDA – Ulster Defense Association, 1971. Protestant.  Formed to protect Protestants from attacks by Catholics.  Banned in 1996 for suspicion of violent acts.

Political Parties:
Protestant:
Ulster Unionist Party, 1921- the dominant political party until the Troubles.
Alliance Party, 1970.  It’s central position left it vulnerable to criticism for the Hunger Strikes .
DUP- Democratic Unionist Party, formed in 1971 by Protestants dissatisfied with reform policies of Prime Minister O’Neil. The largest political party in Northern Ireland.

Catholic:
Sinn Fein, 1905, modernized in 1970.  Pronounced SHIN-FANE.   Long associated with the IRA, now the largest political party among Rebublicans or the independent Irish.
SDLP, Social Democratic and Labour Party, early 1970s -the largest among Republicans during the Troubles.
Law Enforcement:

RUC – Royal Ulster Constabulary, Police force of Northern Ireland.

British Army- summoned during the troubles to assist the RUC.

Miscellaneous:
Gerry Adams-leader of Sinn Fein as it rose to political prominence.
Marching Season-  April till October when many civic parades take place; the most controversial occur in the three days leading up to the July 12th Observance of The Battle of the Boyne, a victory for the Protestants.  During the Troubles, these parades by Protestants would come close to the Catholic neighborhoods to provoke tension and violence.
Hunger Strikes- 1980,81. A series of hunger strikes by paramilitary prisoners to protest a change in status from Prisoner of War, to that of ordinary criminal.  The hunger strikers galvanized popular support for the Catholic prisoners.
Bobby Sands- The most famous of the hunger strikers who died from refusal of food and water in 1981.
Shankhill Road-  The Protestant “Main Street” in Belfast.  The location of attacks and bombings by the IRA during the Troubles.  Colored with Unionist murals.
Falls Road – The Catholic “Main Street” in Belfast, scene of protests, riots and bombings in the 1960s and 70s.  Home to a mural of Bobby Sands.

Peace:
Good Friday Agreement:  1998, endorsed by the majority of people, both north and south, amending inequities in human rights, policing and justice, and stipulating an end to sectarian violence.

Tagged as: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom