The Ulster Troubles (Part 1 of 24)

The Troubles consisted of about 30 years of repeated acts of intense violence between elements of Northern Ireland's Nationalist community (principally Roman Catholic) and Unionist community (principally Protestant). The conflict was caused by the disputed status of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom, and the alleged domination of the minority nationalist community, and discrimination against, by the unionist majority. The violence was characterised by the armed campaigns of paramilitary groups. Most notable of these was the Provisional IRA campaign 1969--1997 which was aimed at the end of British rule in Northern Ireland and the creation of a new all-Ireland Irish Republic. In response to this campaign and the perceived erosion of the British character and unionist domination of Northern Ireland, loyalist paramilitaries such as the UVF and UDA launched their own campaigns against the nationalist population. The state security forces - the British Army and the police (the Royal Ulster Constabulary) - were also involved in the violence. The British government point of view is that its forces were neutral in the conflict and trying to uphold law and order in the North. Irish republicans, however, regarded the state forces as "combatants" in the conflict and point to evidence of repeated collusion between the state forces and the loyalists as proof of this.

Alongside the violence, there was a political deadlock between the major political parties in Northern Ireland, including those who condemned violence, over the future status of Northern Ireland and the form of government there should be within Northern Ireland.

The Troubles were brought to an uneasy end by a peace process which included the declaration of ceasefires by most paramilitary organisations, the corresponding withdrawal of most troops from the streets and the reform of the police, as agreed by the signatories to the Belfast Agreement (commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement). This reiterated the long-held position that Northern Ireland will remain within the United Kingdom until a majority votes otherwise. It also established a devolved power-sharing government within Northern Ireland (currently suspended), where the government must consist of both unionist and nationalist parties.

Though the number of active participants in the Troubles was relatively small, and the paramilitary organisations that claimed to represent the communities were sometimes unrepresentative of the general population, the Troubles touched the lives of most people in Northern Ireland on a daily basis, while occasionally spreading to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. In addition at several times between 1969 and 1998, for example in 1972, after the Bloody Sunday, or during the Hunger Strikes of 1981, when there was mass, hostile mobilisation of the two communities and it seemed possible that the Troubles would escalate into a genuine civil war. Many people today have had their political, social and communal attitudes and perspectives shaped by the Troubles.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• ulster
• irish
• northern
• ireland
• i.r.a
• tans
• rising
• paisley
• british
• dublin
• belfast
• catholic
• army
• gaa
• croke
• park
• county
• cork

[Gogglehiemer]

slapshot37gnr please note - it is an English journalist doing the commentary on this video. I have watched the whole thing and it is several hours long. Atrocities were committed on every side. Only a fool pretends 'their side' weren't capable of inhuman actions towards fellow human beings. Ireland has a long and bloody history. So does England. Venting your rage at the person who uploaded the videos is a faceless cowardly response. Facts are facts and this documentary lays them out as they are.

[MrMickroach]

@slapshot37GNR Gosh, even more genus mick revisionist history. You fuckwits never stop do you! Both the IRA and Eire jumped into bed with Hotler and are proud of that fact. 50% of Nazi spies in England in WW2 were mick. Sean Russell died in Hamburg in 1944 and Sean McBride on a German U boat. The Uboats ran a twice weekly milk run from western Ireland to Hamburg! And you now try and justify that odious perfidy? What a cunt!

[slapshot37GNR]

@MrMickroach Excuse me? This indeed reveals the lack of knowledge that you must favor as the IRA/IRB did NOT feel proud about Hitler's support, only the support (financially) of the German nation, & many other nations & organisations located in countries including the U.S.A, Italy, numerous Asian Democratic nations, France, and (my favorite) ENGLAND! Yep! Believe it or not, mate.

[MrMickroach]

@slapshot37GNR I just love the puerile revisionist history from genus mick, those who seem to be proud of their support for Hitler and the final solution! Well done, the world is deeply ashamed of you!

[92eire]

brit army scum

[slapshot37GNR]

@bobslay12 Wow. You are such a dumbass. "Where's Cromwell when you need him?" is one of the stupidest possible questions anyone can propose. First of all, he is a wart-faced Puritan who was denounced a war criminal by his OWN NATION, which is a country called England, & couldn't even fight the Irish rebels! He only invaded civilian areas, where his forces were ordered to carry out atrocities. Secondly, he gained his fame by his crimes, & "defeating" a weak King Charles. And he's dead you wanker!

[bobslay12]

Where's cromwell when ya need him.

[bobslay12]

@slapshot37GNR

oh, ah, fuck the ,ra, oh ah fuck the ,ra

[ElektrikWanker]

@jesuslovespie123 i suppose so, this video made me quite annoyed that nationalists are being denied their native land: Ireland. I agree that both sides are paying the victim card.

[Sukkii25]

@Toasty373 WTF? dont you have any idea about what The Troubles are about?? Listen to all of this and you might learn something you dumb f#*k