Outline of the Troubles

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The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Troubles.

The Troubles historical ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "irregular war" or "low-level war". The conflict began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed to have ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Although the Troubles mostly took place in Northern Ireland, at times violence spilled over into parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.

Main articles

Paramilitaries

Laws in both the Republic of Ireland and the UK proscribe (ban) membership of a number of Irish republican and Ulster loyalist groups. Several other smaller paramilitary factions have appeared throughout the Troubles, and some groups have used cover-names to deflect responsibility for attacks.

In this context, operational refers to the period during which the 'official' paramilitary campaign was conducted.

Republicans

NameInitialsOperational
Saor Éire 1967–1975
Provisional Irish Republican Army PIRA1970–2005
Official Irish Republican Army OIRA1970–1972
Irish National Liberation Army INLA1974–2009
Irish People's Liberation Organisation IPLO1986–1992
Continuity Irish Republican Army CIRA1994–
Real Irish Republican Army RIRA1997–
Óglaigh na hÉireann (Real IRA splinter group) ONH2009–

Umbrella groups

Loyalists

NameInitialsOperational
Ulster Protestant Volunteers UPV1966–1969
Ulster Volunteer Force
Red Hand Commando
UVF
RHC
1966–
1972–2007
Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Freedom Fighters
UDA
UFF
1971–
Ulster Resistance UR1986–?
Loyalist Volunteer Force LVF1996–2005
Orange Volunteers OV1998–
Red Hand Defenders RHD1998–

Umbrella groups

Cover names used by paramilitaries

Periods of activity

In the table below:

GroupYear
707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899
Provisional IRA
Official IRA
UVF
UDA
INLA
IPLO
Continuity IRA
Real IRA
LVF

State security forces

United Kingdom

Northern Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Political parties

Listing includes brief summary of ideology and position on the Good Friday Agreement 1998.

Irish nationalist

Pro-Agreement

Anti-Agreement

Others

Unionist

Pro-Agreement

Anti-Agreement

Other

Political structures

Northern Ireland government

1921–1972

1998–

Northern Ireland legislatures

1921–1972
The Parliament of Northern Ireland:

1972–1998

1998–

Republic of Ireland government

United Kingdom government

Peace process

Co-operative bodies

Key steps in the peace process

Cultural and religious organisations

Religious

Sporting

Politico-religious fraternal organisations

Unionist/Protestant

Nationalist/Catholic

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References

  1. "Interim Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings" (PDF). Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights. Oireachtas. December 2003 via Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN).
  2. "Workers' Party hit by fresh split in organisation". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 27 April 2021. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 11 March 2024.