The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, defined the start of the Troubles as 1 January 1966 for the purposes of the act. What were the Troubles in Northern Ireland? Where did the Troubles take place and who lived there?

Understanding the Context

Why did the conflict start during the Troubles? Who were the main groups involved in the Troubles? How did the Troubles affect everyday life for the people in Northern Ireland? How did Northern Ireland descend into the cycle of violence that marked the period known as the 'Troubles', and what was done to find a solution?

Key Insights

The governance of these counties has been contested ever since, sparking the bloody 30-year conflict known as the Troubles. In this four-part series, we’ll be taking a look at the history of the Troubles, and why the scars of this conflict remain. What You Need to Know About The Troubles | Imperial War Museums For 30 years, Northern Ireland was scarred by a period of deadly sectarian violence known as “the Troubles.” This explosive era was fraught with car bombings, riots and revenge killings that ran... Driven by longstanding enmities between Catholics and Protestants over British rule, the conflict pitted neighbor against neighbor in acts of guerrilla warfare. The Troubles is a euphemism for...

Final Thoughts

The Troubles in Northern Ireland is a complex topic that we’ve tried our best to simplify. Hundreds of years worth of tension, conflict and political turmoil led to an infamous period in Ireland’s past.