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The Troubles
Map of Ireland's capitals.png
Political map of Ireland
Date Late 1960s–1998
Location
Northern Ireland
Violence occasionally spread to the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe
Result
Belligerents

State security forces


  • Irish Defence Forces
  • Gardaí

Irish republican paramilitaries

  • Provisional IRA
  • Official IRA (1969–1972)
  • Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) (1974–1998)
  • Irish People's Liberation Organisation (IPLO) (1986–1992)
  • Continuity IRA (1994–)
  • Real IRA (1997–)

Ulster loyalist paramilitaries

  • Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
  • Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
  • Red Hand Commando (RHC) (1972–1994)
  • Ulster Resistance (UR) (1986–1989)
  • Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) (1996–1999)
Casualties and losses

British Army: 705
∟(inc. UDR)
RUC: 301
NIPS: 24
TA: 7
Other UK police: 6
Royal Air Force: 4
Royal Navy: 2
Total: 1,049


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
Civilians killed: 1,840 (or 1,935 inc. ex-combatants)
Total dead: 3,532
Total injured: 47,500+
All casualties: around 50,000

The Troubles (Irish: [Na Trioblóidí] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) was a guerrilla/nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century.

It is also known 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 many said it ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Although the Troubles primarily took place in Northern Ireland, at times the violence spilled over into parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.

A key issue was the state of Northern Ireland. Unionists/loyalists (most of whom were Protestants) wanted Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom. Irish nationalists/republicans (most of whom were Catholics) wanted Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and join a United Ireland.

More than 3,500 people were killed in the conflict. Of those: 52% were civilians, 32% were members of the British security forces, and 16% were members of paramilitary groups.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Conflicto norirlandés para niños

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