The Troubles, a historical ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "irregular war" or "low-level war". 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.
Laws in both theRepublic of Ireland and theUK proscribe (ban) membership of a number ofIrish republican andUlster loyalist groups. Several other smaller paramilitary factions have appeared throughout the Troubles, and some groups have used cover-names to deflect responsibility for attacks.
In this context,operational refers to the period during which the 'official' paramilitary campaign was conducted.
| Name | Initials | Operational |
|---|---|---|
| Saor Éire | SÉ | 1967–1975 |
| Provisional Irish Republican Army | PIRA | 1970–2005 |
| Official Irish Republican Army | OIRA | 1970–1972 |
| Irish National Liberation Army | INLA | 1974–2009 |
| Irish People's Liberation Organisation | IPLO | 1986–1992 |
| Continuity Irish Republican Army | CIRA | 1994– |
| Real Irish Republican Army | RIRA | 1997– |
| Óglaigh na hÉireann (Real IRA splinter group) | ONH | 2009– |
Umbrella groups
| Name | Initials | Operational |
|---|---|---|
| Ulster Protestant Volunteers | UPV | 1966–1969 |
| Ulster Volunteer Force Red Hand Commando | UVF RHC | 1966– 1972–2007 |
| Ulster Defence Association Ulster Freedom Fighters | UDA UFF | 1971– |
| Ulster Resistance | UR | 1986–? |
| Loyalist Volunteer Force | LVF | 1996–2005 |
| Orange Volunteers | OV | 1998– |
| Red Hand Defenders | RHD | 1998– |
Umbrella groups
In the table below:
| Group | Year | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | ||
| Provisional IRA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Official IRA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UVF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UDA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| INLA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IPLO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continuity IRA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Real IRA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LVF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listing includes brief summary of ideology and position on theGood Friday Agreement 1998.
1921–1972
1998–
1921–1972
TheParliament of Northern Ireland:
1972–1998
1998–
