The Troubles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Troubles |
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 Political map of Ireland |
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| Belligerents | ||||||||
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State security forces
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Irish republican paramilitaries
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Ulster loyalist paramilitaries
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| Casualties and losses | ||||||||
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British Army: 705 Irish Army: 1 Gardaí: 9 IPS: 1 Total: 11 |
PIRA: 292 INLA: 38 OIRA: 27 IPLO: 9 RIRA: 2 Total: 368 |
UDA: 91 UVF: 62 RHC: 4 LVF: 3 UR: 2 Total: 162 |
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| Civilians killed: 1,840 (or 1,935 inc. ex-combatants) Total dead: 3,532
Total injured: 47,500+ All casualties: around 50,000 |
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The Troubles (called Na Trioblóidí in Irish) was a long and sometimes violent conflict in Northern Ireland. It happened during the late 20th century, mostly from the late 1960s until 1998. It is also known as the Northern Ireland conflict.
Even though it mainly took place in Northern Ireland, there was also violence in parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and other parts of Europe.
Contents
Understanding The Troubles
The main issue during The Troubles was about Northern Ireland's future. Some people, called Unionists or Loyalists, wanted Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom. Most of these people were Protestants.
Other people, called Irish Nationalists or Republicans, wanted Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom. They wanted it to join a united Ireland. Most of these people were Catholics.
Key Groups Involved
During The Troubles, different groups were involved in the conflict. These groups included:
State Security Forces
These were the official police and military groups. They worked to keep order and protect the state.
- British Armed Forces: The army, navy, and air force from the United Kingdom.
- Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC): The police force in Northern Ireland at the time.
- Irish Defence Forces: The army of the Republic of Ireland.
- Gardaí: The police force in the Republic of Ireland.
Irish Republican Groups
These groups wanted Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland. Some of them used violence to try and achieve this goal.
- Provisional IRA (IRA): A well-known republican paramilitary group.
- Irish National Liberation Army (INLA): Another republican paramilitary group.
Ulster Loyalist Groups
These groups wanted Northern Ireland to stay part of the United Kingdom. Some of them also used violence.
- Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF): A loyalist paramilitary group.
- Ulster Defence Association (UDA): Another loyalist paramilitary group.
Impact and End of the Conflict
More than 3,500 people lost their lives during The Troubles. Many more were injured. About half of those who died were civilians, meaning they were not part of any fighting group.
The conflict is generally considered to have ended with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. This agreement was a peace deal that helped to bring an end to most of the violence. It led to changes in how Northern Ireland was governed and helped paramilitary groups to disarm.
Even after the Good Friday Agreement, there have been some smaller, ongoing conflicts, but the main period of The Troubles ended in 1998.
Images for kids
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A "peace line" in Belfast, 2010, built to separate nationalist and unionist neighbourhoods.
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The Irish National Liberation Army began operations in the mid-1970s.
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A picture of a city street with an army vehicle in the road. British Army in South Belfast, 1981.
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A watchtower at a heavily fortified RUC base in Crossmaglen.
See also
In Spanish: Conflicto norirlandés para niños
