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A chronology of the history of Ireland is available on the Web. 1966 February 1 Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) formed 1969 British Army arrives in Northern Ireland 1970 SDLP founded by Gerry Fitt and John Hume April 30 "B" Specials dissolved IRA split into Official and Provisional IRA Arms Trial in Dublin 1971 September Ulster Defense Association (UDA) formed, uniting a number of Loyalist groupings Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) founded by Ian Paisley Internment introduced until 1975 1972 January 30 Bloody Sunday. 14 people attending a demonstration in Derry against internment killed by British soldiers. British Army alleges its soldiers had returned fire from snipers March 24 British Conservative Prime Minister Edward Heath announces dissolution of Stormont government. Northern Ireland to be ruled directly from Westminster July 21 Bloody Friday. 22 IRA bombs explode in one hour around Belfast city center. Nine killed and 300 injured IRA resumes bombing campaign in Britain 1973 November 22 Newly elected Northern Ireland Assembly announces Unionist and Nationalist power-sharing Executive. December Conference at Sunningdale to discuss how to address conflict; excludes Loyalists Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) formed Ireland and UK join European Economic Community (EEC) 1974 March 23 Loyalist Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) threatens strike action and civil disobedience unless new assembly elections held May 15 UWC strikes begin Sunningdale power-sharing Agreement and Assembly collapse May 17 Three car bomb explosions in Dublin kill 25, and one in Monaghan kills six people October 5 Guildford pub bombing, killing five people, injuring 54. Four Irish arrested and jailed, despite being eventually found innocent of the crimes. Released in 1989 November 21 Birmingham bombing, killing 19 people, injuring 182. Six Irish arrested, protesting their innocence, and eventually cleared. Released in 1991 1976 January 5 10 Protestant workers killed at Kingsmill, County Armagh July 21 Christopher Ewart-Biggs, UK Ambassador to Ireland, killed by landmine in Dublin 1978 February 17 12 young people killed in IRA hotel bomb in Comber, County Down 1979 August 27 18 soldiers killed in Warrenpoint, County Down. Lord Mountbatten and three others killed when his boat exploded in an IRA bomb at Mullaghmore in County Sligo 1980 April 1 Special political status removed from all Loyalist and Republican prisoners October 27 Republican hunger strikes begin 1981 March 1 Republican prisoner Bobby Sands goes on hunger strike in H-Blocks of Maze Prison April 9 Sands wins Fermanagh-South Tyrone Westminster by-election May 5 Sands dies. In all, 10 Republican prisoners die Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party (ULDP) formed Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council established 1982 IRA bombs in London's Hyde Park and Regent's Park, killing 10 people 1984 IRA bomb Grand Hotel, Brighton, venue for Conservative Party Conference, killing five people Report of New Ireland Forum published 1985 November 15 Signing of Anglo-Irish Agreement 1987 May 8 Eight IRA members killed by SAS (Special Air Service, British Army force) in Loughgall, County Armagh November 8 IRA bomb kills 11 people and injures 63 during war remembrance service in Enniskillen 1988 John Hume intensifies economic and political outreach to the USA. Holds secret talks with IRA 1989 February 12 Patrick Finucane, Nationalist solicitor, shot dead by Loyalist gunmen 1990 Sir Peter Brooke, British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, declares that Britain no longer has any selfish economic or strategic interest in Northern Ireland Back to top 1992 January 17 Eight Protestant workers killed at Teebane, County Tyrone February 5 Five Catholics killed in a Loyalist attack in a bookie's shop in Belfast 1993 May IRA two-week ceasefire September 25 Hume-Adams joint statement October 23 IRA bomb fish shop on the Shankill Road, killing 10 and injuring 57 people. By end of month, Loyalist gunmen had retaliated by killing 12 people, seven of them in a bar in Greysteel, County Londonderry. Gerry Adams carries coffin of IRA man Thomas Begley who killed himself in the Shankill bombing October 29 Joint Communiqué in Brussels by British and Irish governments repudiating Hume-Adams peace initiative December 15 British-Irish Joint (Downing Street) Declaration 1994 June 18 Loyalist gunmen kill 6 people watching a World Cup soccer game in a pub in Loughinisland, County Down August 28 Hume-Adams joint peace statement; followed by statement from Taoiseach Albert Reynolds August 31 IRA ceasefire October 13 CLMC announces ceasefire, expressing "abject and true remorse" for the suffering of victims of the conflict October 28 Forum for Peace and Reconciliation begins in Dublin Castle December 13-14 Economic conference in Belfast hosted by British Prime Minister John Major 1995 February 22 Launch of New Framework Document for Agreement by British and Irish governments. Rejected as a basis for negotiation by all Unionist parties March 1 In Washington, Irish Foreign Minister Dick Spring warns that waiting for an IRA surrender or decommissioning is a "formula for disaster" March 17 St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the White House. UDP first Loyalist party to attend. Sinn Féin fund-raising ban lifted May 24-27 Economic investment conference on Ireland hosted by President Clinton in Washington's Sheraton Hotel July High tension and demonstrations by Nationalists during marching season, particularly along the Ormeau Road in Belfast, and the Garvaghy Road in Portadown September David Trimble elected to succeed James Molyneaux as leader of UUP. UDP and Sinn Féin share speaking platform for the first time November 28 Downing Street Joint Communiqué by British and Irish governments launching a "twin-track" approach and outlining all-party talks by end of February 1996. They propose an International Body to investigate decommissioning. See detailed guide to the steps towards decommissioning November 30 President Clinton becomes the first US President to visit Northern Ireland and turns on the Christmas lights at a major Belfast event 1996 January 22 Mitchell Report on decommissioning published February 9 Breakdown of IRA ceasefire: Canary Wharf bombed, killing two and injuring over a hundred people February 28 John Bruton and John Major meet in London and announce all-party talks for June 10 March Festivities at White House. Sinn Féin excluded. David Trimble applauded for being first Unionist to attend. Taoiseach John Bruton pleads with IRA to renew ceasefire March 21 Procedures and date for Northern Ireland elections announced, and plans for Northern Ireland Forum May Sinn Féin agrees to Mitchell Report and its six principles May 30 Elections for political party representatives to Northern Ireland Forum June 10 Multi-party talks begin, excluding Sinn Féin. Senator George Mitchell finally accepted as chairman on June 12 June 15 Arndale shopping center in Manchester bombed by IRA July 8 LVF kill Catholic taxi driver Michael McGoldrick amid Loyalist rioting caused by decision to prevent Orangemen from marching from Drumcree Church into Portadown, County Armagh via the Garvaghy Road. This is the first of the Drumcree parade stand-offs July 11 RUC reverse their decision of July 6 to ban Garvaghy roadmarch leads to Nationalist rioting July 14 Killyhevlin Hotel bombed in Enniskillen; later, Republican Continuity Army Council (CAC) admit responsibility for the attack October John Hume and Gerry Adams present further peace proposals to British government November 11 Cross-party and community delegation visits site of the WWI Battle of the Somme as memorial service to commemorate the Northern and Southern Irish who died in the Great War 1997 February 12 IRA killing of British soldier Bombardier Stephen Restorick at Bessbrook, County Armagh - last British soldier killed by Provisional IRA May 1 British general election; Labour party sweeps to power, ending eighteen years of Tory rule; Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister, Mo Mowlam is appointed Secretary of State for N. Ireland June New Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Belfast June British government publishes decommissioning policy document agreed with Irish government June 6 Republic of Ireland elections; John Bruton defeated and Bertie Ahern of Fianna Fáil becomes Taoiseach June 16 Two RUC constables Roland Graham and David Johnston shot dead in Lurgan by IRA - last two RUC officers killed by Provisional IRA June 28 Alban Maginness installed as first Catholic Belfast Lord Mayor July 6 High tension at Garvaghy Road where Orange march forced down despite strong Nationalist protest. Orange Order unilaterally abandons or re-routes seven other contentious parades July 20 Restoration of IRA ceasefire September 9 Sinn Féin enters negotiations, accepting Mitchell Principles. Two days later, IRA rejects Principles. DUP and UKUP withdraw from talks September 15 Multi-party talks resume, with Senator George Mitchell as chairman December 27 LVF leader Billy Wright shot dead in Maze Prison by INLA Back to top 1998 March 3 Friends Catholic Damien Trainor and Protestant Philip Allen shot dead by Loyalist Volunteer Force in Poyntzpass, County Armagh March Northern Irish politicians visit White House, including representatives of Sinn Féin. Belfast City Council organizes its first St. Patrick's Day celebration March 23 UDP and Sinn Féin back in talks for substantial negotiations on strands one, two and three April 10 Agreement finally reached on Good Friday in hours after April 9 deadline set by Senator Mitchell. Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble accepts the accord, but is immediately faced with large disaffected body of his party, led by MP's Jeffrey Donaldson, Martin Smyth and Willie Ross. President Clinton is credited with helping to finalize the agreement with his contribution on the telephone to all parties throughout the night of April 9-10 May 22 Referenda take place in the Republic and in Northern Ireland. Overwhelming vote in both jurisdictions in favor of the Belfast Agreement (often referred to as the Good Friday Agreement). The Agreement aims for a power-sharing executive Assembly to be based at Stormont, greater awareness of human rights, a review of policing, institutes a North-South council and a British-Irish Council to promote greater cooperation throughout the British Isles June 25 Elections to 108-member Northern Ireland Assembly. UUP win 28 seats, SDLP 24, DUP 20, Sinn Féin 18, Alliance 5, UKUP 5, PUP 2, Women's Coalition 2. In gathering of Assembly, UUP leader David Trimble voted First Minister, and SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon elected Deputy First Minister July High tension surrounds traditional Orange parade in Drumcree. Newly appointed Parades Commission bans parade but Orange Order hopes to defy ruling, which it claims is unlawful. RUC barricade Unionists from walking traditional route July 11 Three small boys burned to death when house torched in largely Loyalist estate in town of Ballymoney. This incident shocks the community and has the effect of ending the Loyalist Drumcree riots August 15 A massive bomb explodes in busy shopping street in Omagh, County Tyrone. 29 people killed; many more badly injured. A group calling itself the Real IRA admit that it was their attack. Shortly afterwards, the group calls ceasefire September 3 US President Bill Clinton visits Belfast, Omagh and Armagh. Pledges his continuing hopes in and support for peace process September 14 Stormont Assembly inaugural meeting. Four minutes silence maintained for Omagh victims. Unionist parties object to Sinn Féin holding positions in the Executive of the Assembly before the IRA has decommissioned its arms October 31 Deadline for establishing Executive passes without progress December 18 Agreement reached on Executive structure, to comprise 10 government departments and six cross-border implementation bodies LVF start decommissioning of their weapons 1999 March 15 Rosemary Nelson, Catholic solicitor, killed in a car bomb by the loyalist group, the Red Hand Defenders April 1 Multi-party talks at Hillsborough end with a "Hillsborough Declaration" agreed by Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern June 30 deadline for devolution set by Tony Blair passes without the establishment of the Executive July An attempt to form the Executive of the Assembly collapses when David Trimble and the other UUP Assembly members fail to attend the sitting Patten Commission on Policing reports its recommendations October David Trimble defends the Belfast Agreement at the UUP conference. British Secretary of State Mo Mowlam replaced by Peter Mandelson November George Mitchell reports that the basis now exists for devolution to occur and the formation of an executive to take place. At the Assembly on November 29, 10 ministers appointed to the power-sharing Executive. The British parliament approves a devolution order for the transfer of power from Westminster to the Assembly at Stormont. November 16 de Chastelain Report on Decommissioning December 1 Direct rule ends and the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Ministerial Council, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement, take effect. The Anglo-Irish Agreement is replaced by the British-Irish Agreement. Articles Two and Three of the Irish Constitution are replaced by new Articles. The new Executive of the Assembly meets for the first time 2000 January Unionists demand IRA decommissioning by January 31; David Trimble threatens to resign if the British government do not suspend the new institutions February Devolved government is suspended by the British government and direct rule reintroduced May 5 The British government announces that it will enable the Assembly and Executive to be restored by May 22 and commits itself to implementing the Patten Report and achieving demilitarization by June 2001 May 6 IRA issues a statement indicating that it will put arms beyond use in the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and announces its intention to allow two international statesmen to inspect a number of its arms dumps. The British government publishes legislation on policing based on the Patten Report recommendations October The UUP adopts proposals by David Trimble to prevent Sinn Féin ministers from attending North-South Ministerial Council meetings December Bill Clinton visits Ireland for the last time as US president 2001 January 24 Peter Mandelsen resigns as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Replaced by John Reid May 8 Trimble threatens to resign as First Minister on July 1 if no IRA decommissioning by June 30 deadline June 7 Westminster elections: DUP and Sinn Féin make gains at expense of UUP and SDLP. The DUP increases its representation at Westminster from 3 to 5 seats. Sinn Fein wins 4 seats compared with 2 in the 1997 election. The SDLP retains its 3 seats, but its share of the vote falls below Sinn Féin's for the first time. The UUP wins 6 seats compared with 10 in 1997 June 19 Stone throwing at Holy Cross School August 11 3 men arrested in Colombia on suspicion of IRA involvement with Colombian guerrilla forces (FARC). USA expresses its disapproval to Republican leaders September Confrontation recurs at Holy Cross school in North Belfast as local residents protest at Catholics taking their children along their road. Widespread condemnation of the protest September 17 John Hume resigns as SDLP leader; deputy leader Seamus Mallon also resigns. Mark Durkan elected as new party leader October 23 Following a surge of feeling in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the USA, IRA decommissioning confirmed to have taken place by General de Chastelain Back to top |
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