What are 'The Troubles' in Ireland?

Answer 1

"The Troubles" is a euphemism for violence between Catholic and Protestant factions in Northern Ireland, which remains part of the United Kingdom. This stemmed mainly from competition for land and jobs between the religions, and eventually became open fighting and terrorism. This spanned roughly the period from 1969 to 1988, but continues on a smaller scale to the present.

The British sent troops to the area to quell violence, but they soon became targets of IRA nationalists, who also bombed targets in Britain. Each side in the conflict accused the other, which was used to justify inhumane treatment, terrorist attacks on civilians, and many cases of killings in revenge.

From the Protestant viewpoint

The "Troubles" were created by Irish Nationalists who opposed British rule, not acting on behalf of Irish people or the Irish Government. Protestants formed organisations to defend themselves against Nationalist attacks. Eventually the protestants starting attacking catholics instead of defending attacks.

The British Army first started "Operation Banner" to defend the Catholic minority from the Protestant majority. This was welcomed at first but then the Nationalists turned on the British Army. The British Army did not take sides during Operation Banner and adopted a peacekeeping role between the two communities.

IRA personnel who were killed by the British Army were done so in the act of terrorism. However, there were also mass detentions of individuals without trial.

The bombing and shooting of innocent people (both protestant and catholic) that the IRA/PIRA/CIRA/RIRA/INLA (different names, same organisation) carried out was an act of terrorism and, as such, makes these people terrorists.

From the IRA viewpoint

The troubles in Ireland were in Northern Ireland and started in 1969 and ended in the mid '90s. The Troubles started when the Catholics (nationalists) of the north were terrorized and burned out of their homes by the Protestants (unionists). The north was controlled by the British, but they did little to help the Catholics, because they were Irish and the unionists were happy to live under British rule. So the IRA began to act to defend their fellow countrymen, which they did. They started attacking the unionist population and the RUC, who were the police force of northern Ireland and were made up of British anti-Irish people. They attacked the British army more than anyone else. There was nothing much said or done by anyone until the IRA extended its campaign to mainland England and bombed it for years, just to give the English population a taste of what their government had caused in Ireland, so the Brits could not ignore it anymore, so then they branded the Irish "terrorists." Then the British army started shooting innocent civilians and unarmed IRA members on numerous occasions.