When did peace come to Northern Ireland?
The Belfast Agreement is also known as the Good Friday Agreement, because it was reached on Good Friday, 10 April 1998. It was an agreement between the British and Irish governments, and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, on how Northern Ireland should be governed.
What did the IRA do in 1919?
IRA campaign and organisation. The IRA fought a guerrilla war against the Crown forces in Ireland from 1919 to July 1921. The most intense period of the war was from November 1920 onwards. The IRA campaign can broadly be split into three phases.
When did the IRA stop fighting in Ireland?
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.
How many were killed by the IRA?
The Provisional IRA killed more than 1,700 people during a 25-year campaign.
How many were murdered by the IRA?
It was estimated that, between 1969 and 1994, the IRA killed about 1,800 people, including approximately 600 civilians. The fortunes of the IRA waxed and waned after 1970.
Does the IRA still exist in Ireland?
This new entity was named the New IRA (NIRA) by the media but members continue to identify themselves as simply "the Irish Republican Army". Small pockets of the Real IRA that did not merge with the New IRA continue to have a presence in the Republic of Ireland, particularly in Cork and to a lesser extent in Dublin.
How did the IRA end?
The IRA accepted the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 as a negotiated end to the Northern Ireland conflict. In 2005 the organisation declared a formal end to its campaign and had its weaponry decommissioned under international supervision.
Is the IRA still at war?
It is now inactive, while its political wing, Official Sinn Féin, became the Workers' Party of Ireland. The Provisional IRA (PIRA) broke from the OIRA in 1969 due to abstentionism and differing views on how to deal with the increasing violence in Northern Ireland.
What was the IRA What did they do?
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a name used by various paramilitary organisations in Ireland throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Organisations by this name have been dedicated to irredentism through Irish republicanism, the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic free from British rule.
What was the IRA fighting for?
The Irish Republican Army (IRA; Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann), also known as the Provisional Irish Republican Army, and informally as the Provos, was an Irish republican paramilitary organisation that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland, facilitate Irish reunification and bring about an independent, socialist ...
What was the purpose of the IRA?
The Official Irish Republican Army or Official IRA (OIRA; Irish: Óglaigh na hÉireann) was an Irish republican paramilitary group whose goal was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a "workers' republic" encompassing all of Ireland.
What atrocities did the IRA commit?
About half the total of 650 British soldiers to die in the conflict were killed in the years 1971–73. In 1972 alone, the IRA killed 100 British soldiers and wounded 500 more. In the same year, they carried out 1,300 bomb attacks and 90 IRA members were killed.
How many IRA members died in the 1987 floodgates?
May 8, 1987: Eight IRA members of the Tyrone Brigade are killed during a Special Air Services ambush of the IRA bombing of the Loughgall police station. A former IRA member later said the the shootings led the “floodgates” to open in terms of new IRA recruits.
What happened on July 21, 1972?
July 21, 1972: Twenty-plus IRA bombs explode in Belfast, leaving nine dead and 130 injured on what will come to be called Bloody Friday. The British retaliate 10 days later, with Operation Motorman, bringing in tanks to enter “no-go” areas controlled by the IRA in Derry and West Belfast. Nov. 21, 1974: Targeting two pubs in Birmingham, ...
How long did the Troubles last?
As the Provisional IRA and other paramilitary groups waged an increasingly violent campaign and the British Army retaliated, the period known as the "Troubles" roiled the region and beyond for nearly 30 years. Below is a timeline of notable events. READ MORE: How Northern Ireland Became Part of the United Kingdom.
What happened in 1998 in Northern Ireland?
Aug. 15, 1998: An IRA splinter group called Real IRA, carries out the deadliest paramilitary attack in Northern Ireland during a car bombing in Omagh in Northern Ireland, leaving 29 dead and more than 200 wounded.
What was the purpose of the Good Friday Agreement?
Sources. Established in 1919 to halt British rule in Northern Ireland using armed forces, the Irish Republican Army, or IRA, fought for independence and a reunified republic—often in tandem with, but independent of, the Irish nationalist party, Sinn Fein.
When did Britain meet with Sinn Fein?
Sept. 15, 1997 : For the first time since Ireland’s 1922 split, Britain meets with Sinn Fein to negotiate in formal peace talks. April 10, 1998: The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, is signed, with the referendum passing May 23 following a vote in both the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.
When did the IRA end the ceasefire?
Feb. 9, 1996 : The IRA ends the ceasefire when it bombs the Dockland’s area of London, killing two and injuring more than 100 people and causing an estimated £150 million worth of damage.
When did the IRA ceasefire end?
On 9 December, British officials met Sinn Fein representatives for their first formal talks in 22 years. But the IRA ceasefire ended on 9 February, 1996 when it planted a huge bomb in London's Docklands. It killed two, injured more than 100 and caused more than £85m of damage.
What was the IRA's ceasefire?
The IRA has announced a ceasefire after a quarter of a century of what it called its "armed struggle" to get the British out of Northern Ireland.
How many people died in the Belfast bombing?
The statement has raised hopes for peace and an end to 25 years of bombing and shooting that has led to the deaths of more than 3,000 people. There is scepticism from the loyalist community and celebration in the Catholic areas of Belfast and Londonderry.
What was the Downing Street Declaration?
It led to the Anglo-Irish Downing Street Declaration in December 1993 which stated that any change in the partition of Ireland could only come with the consent of those living north of the border. It also challenged republicans to renounce violence.
Who said no moves should be made until the IRA added the word "permanent" to the ceasefire declaration?
The Ulster Unionist MP James Molyneaux said no moves towards talks should begin until the IRA had added the word "permanent" to the ceasefire declaration. The announcement comes 18 months after secret talks began between the British Government and republicans.
When did the IRA take part in the Good Friday Agreement?
In May 2000, as part of a comprehensive deal to kick-start the stalled Northern Ireland Assembly, the IRA issued a statement offering to take part in a process in which its arms would be placed "completely and verifiably beyond use", providing that the Good Friday Agreement is implemented in full.
When was the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended?
But the issue of decommissioning remained the major stumbling block in talks between all parties seeking to restore devolution after the Northern Ireland Assembly was suspended in October 2002.
Why did the IRA call a ceasefire?
The Official IRA called a ceasefire because its campaign of violence which began in 1968 was proving unpopular in Northern Ireland. The Provisional IRA had been formed in 1969. From 1972 onwards, its members detonated thousands of bombs in an effort to destabilise Northern Ireland and force British troops out.
What group called a ceasefire after the Omagh bombing?
The Real IRA, another splinter group, called a ceasefire after the Omagh bombing of August 1998 caused widespread outrage.
What was the withdrawal of British troops from the streets of Northern Ireland?
the withdrawal of British troops from the streets of Northern Ireland, the abolition of the Special Powers Act. and a declaration of freedom of political expression. The RUC and British Army will be the first to benefit from such a ceasefire as they have been the main targets of the IRA.
What is the overwhelming desire of the great majority of all the people of the North?
It said: "The overwhelming desire of the great majority of all the people of the north is for an end to military actions by all sides."
Which political party accepted the Good Friday Agreement?
Its political wing, Sinn Féin, accepted the 1998 Good Friday Agreement but the IRA refused to decommission its weapons, a key part of the agreement.
Is the IRA in Northern Ireland?
The official wing of the IRA in Northern Ireland has announced a ceasefire, reserving the right of self-defence against attacks by the British Army and sectarian groups. However the Provisional IRA dismissed the truce as having "little effect" on the situation. The Northern Ireland Secretary, William Whitelaw, welcomed the move ...
Who is the Northern Ireland Secretary?
The Northern Ireland Secretary, William Whitelaw, welcomed the move and a spokesperson said it was "a step in the right direction". A statement was read out from Dublin after last night's meeting of the executive of the Northern Republican Clubs, a political movement allied to the IRA.
Why did Paisley call the IRA ceasefire an insult to the people they slaughtered?
The typically bellicose Paisley called the IRA ceasefire “an insult to the people they slaughtered because there was no expression of regret”. Politicians called on Loyalist paramilitary groups to follow suit and announce their own ceasefire. They did so in a promisingly optimistic declaration made six weeks later.
How long did the 1994 ceasefire last?
The 1994 ceasefire held for almost 18 months . There were only nine victims of politically motivated killings during this period, most of them Catholics killed for drug dealing or in internecine feuding.
What did the Provisional IRA promise?
After a 25-year campaign of violence and terror, Provisional IRA leaders promised to set down their arms and seek peace through political negotiation. In a five paragraph communique, the Republican group announced a “complete cessation of military operations” in order to “enhance the democratic process”.
How many people died in the Troubles?
Loyalist paramilitaries responded in kind. A total of 36 people were killed in Troubles-related violence between February 1996 and July 19th 1997, when the Provisional IRA declared its second ceasefire. 1.
What was the Provos campaign?
The ‘Provos’ evolved during the 1980s, opting for political strategy as well as paramilitary action. Hunger striker Bobby Sands ‘ election to the British House of Commons in April 1981 was a propaganda victory for the Provisional IRA.
What percentage of people in Northern Ireland supported the Downing Street Agreement?
Responses to the Downing Street Agreement were mixed. A Guardian newspaper poll in late 1993 suggested that 56 per cent of people in Northern Ireland, mostly Catholics and Nationalists, supported the agreement.
When did the Irish ceasefire end?
This ceasefire did not last indefinitely: it was shattered in 1996 by devastating bombings in London and Manchester. Nevertheless, the Provisional IRA, once committed to absolute victory, now seemed willing to consider a negotiated peace.
How many people died in the 1994 IRA?
It's Over: The IRA ceasefire 1994. In October that year, it killed nine Protestant civilians when it bombed a fish shop on the Shankill Road. One of the bombers also died. A week later, loyalist gunmen retaliated when they walked into a pub in the village of Greysteel and shot dead six Catholics and a Protestant.
What was John Hume's motivation for his death?
"The thing first of all, was to persuade John Hume if he were prepared to talk to Gerry Adams he would enable Gerry Adams then to talk to the IRA in a way that could at least persuade them to stop," he said.
When did the ceasefire end?
The ceasefire ended when a huge IRA bomb exploded in Canary Wharf, London, in February 1996. "A lot of the people that were flying flags at that time and cheering on, if it was tomorrow there wouldn't be the same people. The people believed it was, 'we won the war', they were led actually to believe that.".
When did the IRA bomb Warrington?
One of the mortars exploded in the garden of Number 10. Even the year before the ceasefire announcement, there was no hint that it was on the horizon. In March 1993 the IRA bombed Warrington, killing 12-year-old Timothy Parry and three-year-old Jonathan Ball, and injuring 50 others. 2.43.6.3bda600.
When did the IRA start firing mortars?
The IRA's actions gave no hint that it was considering an end to its violence. In February 1991 it carried out one of the most audacious attacks of the Troubles when it fired three mortars at Downing Street as prime minister John Major and his cabinet held an emergency meeting to discuss the Gulf War.
When did the SAS shoot the IRA?
Eight months after the first Clonard meeting, in May 1987, the SAS shot dead eight IRA men as they prepared to attack a police station in Loughgall, County Armagh. A civilian was also killed.
Who published the Downing Street Declaration?
In December that year, Albert Reynolds and Prime Minister John Major published the Downing Street Declaration, which they said provided the foundation for a lasting political settlement. "There is an opportunity to end violence for good in Northern Ireland," Mr Major said at the time.
What are the political parties of Ireland?
The two largest political parties in the republic are still Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, the descendants respectively of the anti-treaty and pro-treaty forces of 1922. Until the 1970s, almost all of Ireland’s prominent politicians were veterans of the Civil War, a fact which poisoned the relationship between Ireland’s two biggest parties. Examples of Civil War veterans include: Republicans Éamon de Valera, Frank Aiken, Todd Andrews, and Seán Lemass, Free State supporters W. T. Cosgrave, Richard Mulcahy and Kevin O’Higgins. Moreover, many of these men’s sons and daughters also became politicians, meaning that the personal wounds of the civil war were felt over three generations. In the 1930s after Fianna Fáil took power for the first time, it looked possible for a while that the Civil War might break out again between the IRA and the pro-Free State Blueshirts. Fortunately, this crisis was averted and by the 1950s, political violence was no longer prominent in politics in the Republic of Ireland.
What was the Wyndham Act of 1903?
Though the Wyndham Act of 1903 allowed tenants to buy land from their landlords some small farmers, particularly in Mayo and Galway simply occupied land belonging to political opponents during this period when the RIC had ceased to function. In 1919, senior Sinn Féin officials were sufficiently concerned at this unilateral action that they instituted Arbitration Courts to adjudicate disputes. Sometimes these attacks had sectarian overtones, although most Anti-Treaty IRA men made no distinction between Catholic and Protestant supporters of the Irish government.
How long did the hunger strike last in 1923?
In October 1923 around 8,000 of the 12,000 Republican prisoners in Free State gaols went on hunger strike. The strike lasted for forty one days and met little success. However, most of the women prisoners were released shortly thereafter and the hunger strike helped concentrate the Republican movement on the prisoners and their associated organisations. In July De valera had recognised the Republican political interests lay with the prisoners and went so far as to say:
What happened in 1923?
By early 1923, the offensive capability of the IRA had been seriously eroded and when, in February 1923, Republican leader Liam Deasy was captured by Free State forces, he called on the republicans to end their campaign and reach an accommodation with the Free State. The State’s executions of Anti-Treaty prisoners, 34 of whom were shot in January 1923, also took its toll on the Republicans’ morale.
Why was the Irish Civil War fought?
In fact, because of the Irish Civil War, Northern Ireland was able to consolidate its existence and partition of Ireland was confirmed for the foreseeable future. The war confirmed the northern Unionists ’ existing prejudices against the ethos of all shades of nationalism. Collins, up to the outbreak of the Civil War and possibly until his death, had been planning to launch a clandestine guerrilla campaign against the North and was funnelling arms to the northern units of the IRA to this end. This may have led to open hostilities between North and South had the Irish Civil War not broken out. In the event, it was only well after their defeat in the Civil War that anti-treaty Irish Republicans seriously considered whether to take armed action against British rule in Northern Ireland (the first serious suggestion to do this came in the late 1930s). The northern units of the IRA largely supported the Free State side in the Civil War because of Collins’s policies and over 500 of them joined the new Free State’s National Army.
How did the war affect the economy of the Free State?
In addition, their subsequent guerrilla campaign caused much destruction and the economy of the Free State suffered a hard blow in the earliest days of its existence as a result. The material damage caused by the war to property came to over £30 million. Particularly damaging to the Free State’s economy was the systematic destruction of railway infrastructure and roads by the Republicans. In addition, the cost to the Free State of waging the war came to another £17 million. By September 1923 Deputy Hogan estimated the cost at £50 million. The new State ended 1923 with a budget deficit of over £4 million. This weakened financial situation meant that the new state could not pay its share of Imperial debt under the treaty, and this adversely affected the boundary negotiations in 1924-25, which left the border with Northern Ireland unchanged. Further, the state undertook to pay for damage caused to property between the truce of July 1921 and the end of the Civil War; W.T. Cosgrave told the Dáil:
What happened to Dinny Lacey?
On 18 February, Anti-Treaty officer Dinny Lacey was killed and his column rounded up at the Glen of Aherlow in Tipperary. Lacey had been the head of the IRA’s 2nd Southern Division and his death crippled the Republican’s cause in the Tipperary/Waterford area. A meeting of the Anti-Treaty leadership on 26 February was told by their 1st Southern Division that, “in a short time we would not have a man left owing to the great number of arrests and casualties”. The Cork units reported they had suffered 29 killed and an unknown number captured in recent actions and, “if five men are arrested in each area, we are finished”.
What percentage of Protestants support the Northern Ireland settlement?
Ninety-three percent of Protestants and 97 percent of Catholics said they "support the principle of a negotiated settlement for the political future of Northern Ireland," but only 25 percent of Protestants and 28 percent of Catholics believed the "Talks" would lead to a settlement.
What is the framework for accountable government in Northern Ireland?
A Framework for Accountable Government in Northern Ireland, which propose d a single-chamber 90-member Assembly, to be elected by proportional representation and which was put directly to the electorate in 1997 by Conservative Party candidates standing in Northern Ireland at the general election.
How many seats did the UUP win in 1996?
Thursday 30 May 1996: In the Forum Elections, with a 65% turnout, the UUP won 30 seats, the SDLP 21, the DUP 24, Sinn Féin 17, the Alliance Party 7, the United Kingdom Unionist Party 3, the Progressive Unionist Party 2, the Ulster Democratic Party 2, the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition 2, and Labour 2 seats.
What party was involved in the 1994 ceasefire?
In 1994, talks between the leaders of the two main Irish nationalist parties in Northern Ireland, John Hume of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin (SF), continued. These talks led to a series of joint statements on how the violence might be brought to an end.
Why was the Northern Ireland Assembly suspended?
However, it was suspended several times mainly because of unionist anger at the IRA's refusal to decommission their weapons "transparently". Elections carried on nonetheless and voting polarised towards the more radical parties – the DUP and Sinn Féin. In 2004, negotiations were held to attempt to re-establish the Assembly and the Executive. These negotiations failed but the governments believed they were very close to a deal and published their proposed deal as the Comprehensive Agreement.
How many delegates were there in 1996?
The elections would be to a Forum of 110 delegates, with 90 elected directly and 20 'top-up' seats from the ten parties polling the most votes. Thursday 18 April 1996: The Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiations) Act was passed at Westminster. 30 parties and individuals were to take part in the election.
What events ended the Troubles?
1990s events that ended most of the violence of the Troubles. The Northern Ireland peace process includes the events leading up to the 1994 Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire, the end of most of the violence of the Troubles, the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, and subsequent political developments.
