The Troubles

The Troubles were a long and difficult conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted for about 30 years, from the late 1960s until 1998. This struggle was mainly about whether Northern Ireland should stay part of the United Kingdom or become part of a united Ireland. People who wanted Northern Ireland to stay with the UK were called unionists, and many of them were Ulster Protestants. Those who wanted Northern Ireland to join a united Ireland were called Irish nationalists, and many of them were Irish Catholics.

The conflict began when people protested against unfair treatment of the Catholic-nationalist community by the government. Tensions grew, leading to riots and the arrival of British troops. Over time, different groups, including paramilitary organizations and security forces, were involved in the violence. The conflict caused many deaths and divided communities.

Eventually, efforts to make peace led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This agreement helped bring an end to most of the fighting and introduced new ways for the government to share power and respect the rights of all people. Even after the agreement, some small groups still caused trouble, but overall, the situation in Northern Ireland has been much calmer.

Name

The word "troubles" has been used for many years to describe violent conflict. People have used it since the 1600s to talk about big fights in different countries. It was used again during a time of big changes in Ireland in the early 1900s. Later, it was used to talk about the growing violence in Northern Ireland starting in 1969.

Background

1609–1791

In 1609, Scottish and English people were given land that had been taken from the local Irish people in a settlement called the Plantation of Ulster. This led to conflicts between the new settlers and the Irish people, causing two big wars called the Irish Confederate Wars and the Williamite War. These wars ended with victories for the new settlers.

Rules were made that favored one religious group over others, causing more tension. As these rules began to change, more people wanted land and jobs, leading to arguments between different groups.

1791–1912

New groups formed wanting change in Ireland. There were fights and arguments between different religious groups. Ireland became part of the United Kingdom, but many people wanted their own Irish Parliament. This caused a split between those who wanted to stay with Britain and those who wanted an independent Ireland.

1912–1922

By 1912, many people in Ireland wanted their own government. Some people in the north, mostly from one religious group, did not want to be part of an independent Ireland. They formed groups to protect their way of life. Others formed groups to support independence. These tensions led to fights and arguments, and when World War I started, it delayed these problems for a while. After the war, more people voted for independence, leading to fighting until Ireland was divided into two parts. Northern Ireland stayed with the United Kingdom, while the rest became independent.

1922–1966

After Ireland was divided, some people still wanted to bring the country back together. Rules were made that gave more power to one group over others, causing more tension. There were times when fights broke out between different groups, but for a while, things were calmer.

Late 1960s

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of the Troubles.

There was no clear start date for the Troubles. Different people suggested different dates, such as the formation of the modern Ulster Volunteer Force in 1966, a civil rights march in Derry on 5 October 1968, or the start of the 'Battle of the Bogside' on 12 August 1969. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 said the Troubles began on 1 January 1966.

Civil rights campaign and unionist backlash

Main article: Northern Ireland civil rights movement

In the mid-1960s, people in Northern Ireland began peaceful protests for equal rights. They wanted an end to unfair treatment in jobs and housing, the right to vote for everyone, and changes to the police. Some people did not agree with these ideas and tried to stop the protests.

On 5 October 1968, a protest in Derry was stopped by police using force. This led to anger and fighting between people on both sides. More protests happened, and sometimes people were hurt.

August 1969 riots and aftermath

Main article: 1969 Northern Ireland riots

In August 1969, serious fights broke out between different groups in Northern Ireland. Police and soldiers were sent to help, but the situation was very difficult. Many buildings were damaged, and some families had to leave their homes. The British Army built walls to try to separate groups and keep the peace.

1970s

Violence peaks and Stormont collapses

From 1970 to 1972, there was a lot of political violence in Northern Ireland. The worst year was 1972, when nearly 500 people were killed, more than half of them ordinary people just going about their daily lives.

By the end of 1971, there were barriers put up in Derry, making it hard to get around. Many areas were controlled by groups trying to protect their communities. Some people thought the violence grew because new groups formed, determined to fight against British rule.

Others felt the violence grew because of unfair treatments, like being held without trials or strict rules put on certain areas.

Bloody Sunday

The shooting of thirteen unarmed men by British soldiers during a protest in Derry on January 30, 1972, became a very important event. It made many people angry at the British government and military, and it helped groups fighting for a united Ireland get more support.

Sunningdale Agreement and UWC strike

In 1973, a new plan was made to try to bring peace, but it was opposed by many people who did not want to share power or change how Northern Ireland was governed. A big strike organized by workers and paramilitary groups caused the plan to fall apart.

Proposal of an independent Northern Ireland

There were secret talks about Britain leaving Northern Ireland and it becoming independent, but these plans were stopped because people were afraid it would lead to more fighting and problems.

Mid-1970s

In 1974, a bomb on a coach killed twelve people. Even when a ceasefire was called, violence continued, and 1975 was one of the worst years for deaths.

Late 1970s

By the late 1970s, many people were tired of the ongoing violence. Some groups tried to promote peace, but it was hard to stop the fighting. The decade ended with more attacks, including one that killed Lord Mountbatten and several others, as well as eighteen British soldiers in one day.

1980s

In the 1981 Irish hunger strike, several prisoners chose not to eat, and many people showed their support. This event helped a group called Sinn Féin decide to take part in elections for the first time.

The IRA received weapons from Libya in the 1980s and got support from people in other countries. In some years, there were many attacks in different places.

Towards the end of the decade, the British Army tried to improve its relationship with local people by changing how soldiers looked and acted in public places. They also made it better for people to share concerns about the soldiers' behavior.

1990s

Main article: Northern Ireland peace process

In the 1990s, a group called the IRA had a new plan to keep British Army patrols away from a place called Crossmaglen. They set up teams to attack patrols from hidden cars and put up signs warning of danger. During this time, several members of the security forces were killed.

On February 7, 1991, the IRA tried to attack important leaders in London but only a few people were hurt.

In 1994, after many difficult events, groups on both sides agreed to stop fighting for a while. This helped lead to a final agreement in 1998 called the Good Friday Agreement. This brought an end to most of the big fights, though some smaller groups still caused trouble.

After the fighting stopped, leaders from different parties in Northern Ireland worked together to make new rules. They formed a new government and made changes to the police to make sure everyone was treated fairly. Even though things improved, some problems between different groups remained.

Support outside Northern Ireland

Further information: Provisional IRA in the Republic of Ireland, Provisional Irish Republican Army arms importation, Official Irish Republican Army § Support, and Irish National Liberation Army § Arms importation

During the Troubles, groups on both sides tried to get weapons and money from places outside Northern Ireland. Most help went to the Irish Republican groups. They got many weapons and funds from the Republic of Ireland, where they could hide, plan, and make weapons. They also got support from people in other countries who shared their beliefs.

Loyalist groups got help mostly from supporters in places like Canada, England, and Scotland. They also received some weapons and money from these areas.

Both sides also got money from supporters in other countries. For example, some people in America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand gave money to help the groups. However, most of the money for these groups came from illegal activities in Northern Ireland and nearby areas. This was easier for them because they had local support and could hide their actions more easily.

Collusion between security forces and paramilitaries

There were many times when people working for the British government helped groups that used violence during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Sometimes soldiers and police officers helped these groups by giving them secret information, weapons, or even taking part in attacks themselves. Reports found that much of the information these groups used to find and attack people came from the government’s own forces. Some members of these groups were actually working with the government as informers.

One group, called the Glenanne gang, was made up of people from the police, army, and violent groups. They carried out many attacks, mostly against ordinary people. Investigations showed that government officers knew about these attacks but did not stop them. These actions made the conflict last longer and caused many more deaths than might have happened otherwise.

The Disappeared

Main article: Disappeared (Northern Ireland)

During the 1970s and 1980s, some groups in Northern Ireland took people away and hid what happened to them. These individuals were later found, and most have been returned to their families. One more case from 2005 is sometimes talked about, but it happened after the main conflict ended.

British Army attacks on civilians

During a difficult time called The Troubles in Northern Ireland, some members of the British Army did harmful things to people who were not fighting. These people were often from a specific community and had no connection to the groups causing trouble. There were sad events, like when soldiers hurt people on Whiterock Road and Andersonstown. Some in the Army even tried to make others fight each other to protect themselves. This was a very sad part of the conflict, and it showed how painful the situation was for everyone involved.

Shoot-to-kill allegations

Main article: Shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland

Some people believed that the security forces had a policy of shooting suspects instead of arresting them. The security forces said this wasn’t true, noting that many of the suspects were armed. However, when three unarmed men were shot later in Gibraltar by special forces, it made some people think there might have been a policy to shoot suspects.

Parades issue

Main articles: Parades in Northern Ireland, Drumcree conflict, and Quinn brothers' killings

During a time called the "marching season," parades held by a group known as the Protestant Orange Order often caused tension and sometimes led to fights. These parades celebrated a historical battle victory and were held across Northern Ireland. One place where this happened often was the Garvaghy Road area in Portadown. Here, a parade from Drumcree Church passed through a neighborhood where many people had different views. Because of this, the parade was stopped forever after many arguments and disturbances.

In the years 1995, 1996, and 1997, there were big problems and fights because of this parade issue in Northern Ireland.

Social repercussions

Further information: Paramilitary punishment attacks in Northern Ireland

The Troubles caused deep stress and fear for people in Northern Ireland, especially children and young adults. They faced bombings, unrest in the streets, military checkpoints, and soldiers everywhere. Some local groups used harsh punishment methods, which created more fear in communities.

Besides the violence, many people lost their jobs, and there wasn’t enough housing. Some families had to move to new areas when old neighborhoods were torn down. This made it hard for families to stay connected and feel safe. Vandalism was also common, with many empty houses damaged, mostly by children aged eight to thirteen.

The Troubles also changed everyday life in other ways. Some families didn’t have much supervision, which led to problems like more drinking among young people. There were also issues with people not wanting to take part in politics, as the long years of conflict made many wary of getting involved. Even after peace came, these effects continued to be felt in Northern Ireland.

Casualties

From 1969 to 2001, about 3,500 people lost their lives because of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Many more were hurt or felt the effects of the fighting. Experts have compared this to what might have happened in bigger countries, showing how serious the situation was.

Different groups were responsible for the violence. Most deaths were caused by groups trying to change the government, while others were from groups supporting the current rules, and some were from the British army.

Most of the violence happened in Northern Ireland, especially in the city of Belfast. Some attacks also took place in other places like Dublin, London, and Birmingham.

Main article: List of people killed during The Troubles (1969–1998)

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023

On 18 September 2023, a law called the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 was created. This law makes it harder to put people on trial for actions during the Troubles, a time of conflict in Northern Ireland. It also sets up a new group to help share information and support peace.

Many groups, like political parties in Northern Ireland and the government of Ireland, were worried about this law. They said it might not follow important rules about human rights. In 2025, the governments of Britain and Ireland announced new plans to better help families and find the truth about what happened during the Troubles.