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Period: to
Battle Of Bogside
Catholic demonstrations over an Apprentice Boys march caused the Royal Ulster Constabulary to intervene. Stones and petrol-bombs were thrown at the police. Further riots caused by the northern Ireland Civil Rights Association then ensued in Belfast and the police were forced to ask for assistance from the British Army. Barricades were then erected by Catholics in the area of initial trouble, for want of no more bloodshed the police and Army left these up. -
British Army Arrive
The British Army arrive in Northern Ireland to help put down the riots caused by the Northern Ireland Cival Rights Association. -
IRA Split
The Irish Republican Army split into two different paramilitary wings; the IRA and the more hardline Provisional Irish Republican Army. -
Internment Introduced
Following the continuity of the Civil Rights Movement, even though there was a ban on protests, and Irish Republican Army attacks on British soldiers, resulting in the death of a British soldier, internment was introduced. About 350 people were automatically arrested and interned. -
Period: to
Protests Against Internment
For the rest of the year there were many protests against internment. These protests included violence, the witholding of council rent, strikes and the resignations of numerous officials. -
Period: to
Violence In Northern Ireland
Violence and protests against internment during which 17 people died, 10 of whom were civilians. -
Bloody Sunday
A march organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association aginst internment and the ban on marches was scheduled to take place in Derry. The Irish Republican Army had promised to stay away in order to maintain peace at the event. The British, though had set up barricades to keep the marchers out of the city square. Some marchers and some observers then went to confront the soldiers manning the barricades. British soldiers then opened fire killing 13 and wounding 14 marchers. -
Period: to
Direct Rule Imposed
The start of a long series of events that triggered the suspension of the government of Northern Ireland. -
British Embassy In Dublin Burnt Down
The British government knew that this was an event that could not be ignored. -
Suspension Of The Northern Ireland Government
Northern Ireland was to be directly ruled from Westminster. One of the first decisions made in Westmninster was the removal of the barricades in the Bogside, first erected in 1969. The Irish Republican Army increased their attacks in retaliation. -
Bombing In Dublin
One of the causes of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act. -
Bombing In Monaghan
One of the causes of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act. -
Bomb In Guildford
One of the causes of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act. -
Bomb In Woolwich
One of the causes of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act. -
Bomb In Birmingham
One of the causes of the Prevention Of Terrorism Act. -
Prevention Of Terrorism Act
Because of the British Army's extensive activity in Northern Ireland, the Irish Republican Army conducted a bombing campiagn during which bombs were used in both Northern Ireland and the British Mainland. This act allowed suspects to be detained without charge for up to 7 days. -
Removal Of Special Prisoner Status
British Government removes special prisoner status from members of the Irish Republican Army. Many of the prisoners started to campaign for the return of the Special Prisoner Status through both the blanket protest where prisoners wore blankets instead of prison clothes and the dirty protest where prisoners refused to clean their cells and smeared the walls with faeces.. When this failed many prisoners started to go on Hunger Strikes. -
Hunger Strikes
Bobby Sands starts his hunger strike. Bobby Sands and 9 other prisoners died of starvation during this hunger strike. These men were considered martyrs and 100,000 people attended Bobby Sands funeral. The British Government did not concede to the hunger strike but Sinn Fein's popularity increased remarkedly. -
Period: to
Hunger Strikes
Members of the Irish Republican Army in prison conducted hunger strikes throughout this period. -
Anglo-Irish Agreement
British and Irish leaders meet to discuss the current conflict. The agreement gave Dublin some control over Northern Irish affairs. Some people who wanted Northern Ireland to remain a part of Great Britain were outraged and the agreement never really came to fruition. -
Downing Street Declaration
A declaration was issued following talks between the British prime minister and the Irish leader. This declaration said that the people of Northern Ireland should be allowed to decide for themselves over their future and that leaders of several political parties should meet to find a solution to the current problems. Sinn Fein was invited to attend if there was an end to Irish Republican Army attacks. -
IRA Declare Cease Fire
The Irish Republican Army announce a cease fire in accordance with the Downing Street Declaration. -
Loyalists Declare Cease Fire
The Loyalists announce a cease fire. -
Period: to
Peace Talks
Peace talks between numerous parties start, overseen by US Senator George Mitchell. Mitchell proposed that the Irish Republican Army should start to disarm themselves but this stalled the talks and the IRA ended their cease fire. -
Tony Blair Initiates The Process Towards More Peace Talks
The British Government proposes more peace talks. Sinn Fein were once again invited to attend, this time though, as long as a 6 week cease fire was observed. -
IRA Declare Second Cease Fire
The Irish Republican Army announce a second cease fire in accordance with the terms of the new peace talks. -
Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement
An agreement to the the peace talks is reached. -
Referendum
A referendum held showed that the overwhelming majority of people in Ireland supported the new terms of the Belfast Agreement.