Addressing Key Questions

Below are a number of commonly asked questions relating to the political situation in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s. We have included some simple sample answers below that will make study and revision super-effective.

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1. What was the Ulster Convention?

• The Ulster Convention was a political event held in Northern Ireland in June 1974 in response to the Sunningdale Agreement, which aimed to establish a power-sharing executive and a Council of Ireland.
• The Convention was organised by unionists who were strongly opposed to the Agreement, fearing that it would lead to closer ties between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, eventually undermining Northern Ireland's status within the United Kingdom.
• The Convention was marked by passionate speeches and demonstrations, reflecting the deep divisions within the unionist community.
• Unionist leaders, including Harry West and Ian Paisley, used the Convention to rally opposition to the Agreement, which they believed betrayed unionist principles.
• The Ulster Workers' Council Strike, which followed the Convention, effectively brought Northern Ireland to a standstill and led to the collapse of the power-sharing executive in May 1974.
• The failure of the Sunningdale Agreement marked a significant setback in efforts to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland, and the Ulster Convention symbolised the unionist community's resistance to any form of power-sharing with nationalists.

2. What were the successes and failures of the Ulster Convention?

• The Ulster Convention had both successes and failures, reflecting the complexity of the political situation in Northern Ireland at the time.
• One of its major successes was its ability to unite a significant portion of the unionist community against the Sunningdale Agreement, which they viewed as a threat to Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom.
• The Convention was a powerful demonstration of unionist solidarity and opposition to power-sharing with nationalists.
• This unity contributed directly to the success of the Ulster Workers' Council Strike, which ultimately led to the collapse of the power-sharing executive established under the Sunningdale Agreement in May 1974.
• However, the Convention also had significant failures. While it succeeded in bringing down the Sunningdale Agreement, it did not offer a constructive alternative solution to the ongoing conflict.
• The Convention's failure to propose a viable path forward contributed to the continued political stalemate in Northern Ireland.

• Additionally, the collapse of Sunningdale deepened the divisions between unionists and nationalists, making it more difficult to find a lasting resolution to the Troubles.
• The Convention's focus on opposition rather than reconciliation meant that it ultimately failed to contribute to long-term peace in the region.

3. What was Ulsterisation?

• Ulsterisation was a security policy the British government implemented in Northern Ireland in the late 1970s.
• It aimed to reduce British soldiers' direct involvement in the conflict, known as the Troubles, by transferring more responsibility for law and order to locally recruited forces, primarily the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).
• The strategy was designed to make the conflict appear less as a war between the British Army and Irish republicans and more as an internal security issue managed by local forces.
• This approach was intended to decrease the political cost of the conflict for the British government by reducing the number of British Army casualties and shifting the burden onto Northern Irish forces.
• However, Ulsterisation was controversial and had mixed results. While it did reduce the visible presence of British troops on the streets, it also led to increased tensions, as the predominantly Protestant RUC and UDR were seen by many in the Catholic community as biased and overly aggressive.
• This perception further alienated the Catholic population and contributed to ongoing violence and distrust between the communities.

4. What impact did Roy Mason's period as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have on the activity of the IRA?

• During Roy Mason's tenure as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1976 to 1979, he adopted a tough, no-nonsense approach to dealing with the IRA and other paramilitary groups.
• Mason focused on a security-driven strategy aimed at containing and reducing the IRA's activities through increased military pressure and intelligence operations.
• He refused to negotiate with the IRA and worked closely with the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) to clamp down on republican violence.
• Mason's hardline policies included intensifying Ulsterisation, which shifted the burden of security operations onto local forces such as the RUC and the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), while the British Army took a more supportive role.
• As a result, the IRA found it increasingly difficult to operate as freely as they had in the past, facing more frequent disruptions to their activities.
• However, Mason's approach also alienated many in the nationalist community, who felt that the increased security measures were disproportionately targeting them.
• While his tenure saw some success in reducing IRA activity, it also contributed to the deepening of sectarian divisions. It did little to address the underlying political issues fueling the conflict.

5. Who were the Peace People?

• The Peace People was a grassroots movement in Northern Ireland founded in 1976 by Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan, and journalist Ciaran McKeown.
• The movement emerged in response to the ongoing violence of the Troubles, particularly after a tragic incident in which three children were killed during a confrontation between the British Army and the IRA in West Belfast.
• Deeply moved by the tragedy, Williams and Corrigan organised a peace march that drew thousands of people, signalling widespread public desire to end the violence.
• The Peace People quickly gained momentum, organising rallies and marches that brought together people from both Protestant and Catholic communities, united in their demand for peace and an end to sectarian violence.
• The movement's message was simple but powerful: ordinary people could bring about change through non-violent means and community solidarity.
• The Peace People were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 for their efforts. Although the movement faced challenges in maintaining its initial momentum, particularly as the conflict dragged on, it played a crucial role in promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and the idea that peace was possible in Northern Ireland.

6. Briefly outline the economic consequences of the Troubles.

• The Troubles had significant and long-lasting economic consequences for Northern Ireland. The conflict, which lasted from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, caused extensive damage to the region's infrastructure and economy.
• Frequent bombings, shootings, and other forms of violence disrupted daily life and made certain areas of Northern Ireland unsafe for both residents and businesses. As a result, investment in the region plummeted, and many businesses either closed down or relocated to safer areas.
• Unemployment rates soared, particularly in heavily affected urban areas like Belfast and Derry. The tourism industry, which had the potential to be a significant source of income for Northern Ireland, was also severely impacted as visitors avoided the region due to the violence.
• Additionally, the British government had to spend vast sums on security and policing to manage the conflict, diverting funds away from other essential services.
• The economic divide between the Protestant and Catholic communities widened during the Troubles, with many Catholics experiencing higher rates of poverty and unemployment.
• Overall, the Troubles left Northern Ireland economically weakened and contributed to the social and political instability that persisted for decades.

7. What steps did Roy Mason take to improve Northern Ireland's economy?

• As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1976 to 1979, Roy Mason took several steps to improve the region's struggling economy despite the ongoing Troubles conflict.
• Understanding that economic deprivation fuelled discontent and violence, Mason aimed to boost investment and create jobs in Northern Ireland.
• He worked to attract new businesses to the region by offering financial incentives, such as grants and tax breaks, to companies willing to set up operations there.
• Mason also supported infrastructure projects designed to modernise Northern Ireland's economy, including improvements to transportation and communications networks.
• Additionally, he sought to revive traditional industries, such as textiles and shipbuilding, which had been in decline, in order to create more employment opportunities.
• Despite these efforts, Mason faced significant challenges in achieving his economic goals due to the persistent violence and instability that made Northern Ireland a less attractive place for investment.
• Furthermore, some saw his focus on security and economic measures as neglecting the need for political reform, which many believed was essential for long-term economic stability.
• While Mason's initiatives had some positive impact, they were not enough to overcome the deep-seated economic problems exacerbated by the conflict.

8. What idea did James Molyneaux favour as a solution to the Troubles?

• James Molyneaux, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) from 1979 to 1995, favoured an integrationist approach to solving the Troubles.
• Molyneaux believed that the best way to end the conflict in Northern Ireland was to fully integrate the region into the United Kingdom rather than seeking a separate political arrangement or devolved government for Northern Ireland.
• He argued that Northern Ireland should be governed directly from Westminster, with the same political and legal framework as the rest of the UK.
• Molyneaux's integrationist stance was rooted in his desire to maintain Northern Ireland's status as part of the United Kingdom and to resist any attempts to unite Ireland or establish a power-sharing government that included nationalists.
• He believed that integration would help stabilise the region by removing the uncertainty surrounding Northern Ireland's political future and reducing the influence of both republican and nationalist forces.
• However, his approach was criticised by those who felt that it ignored the legitimate aspirations of the nationalist community and failed to address the underlying causes of the conflict.
• Molyneaux's strategy ultimately did not gain widespread support, and other approaches, such as the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement, were pursued instead.

9. What was the Long War?

• The Long War was a strategy adopted by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Troubles.
• It referred to the IRA's plan to sustain a prolonged campaign of armed resistance against British rule in Northern Ireland, with the ultimate goal of achieving a united Ireland.
• The Long War strategy was based on the belief that the British government would eventually be worn down by the conflict's continuous and relentless nature, leading to its withdrawal from Northern Ireland.
• This strategy involved a combination of guerrilla warfare, including bombings, assassinations, and ambushes, as well as a focus on maintaining popular support among the nationalist community.
• The IRA also sought to disrupt the normal functioning of the state by targeting key infrastructure, such as transportation and communication networks, and by creating a sense of insecurity among the population.
• The Long War strategy was coupled with a political approach, where the IRA's political wing, Sinn Féin, worked to gain electoral support and legitimacy.
• The strategy ultimately played a significant role in prolonging the conflict, as it kept pressure on the British government and prevented any easy resolution to the Troubles.

10. Why did Gerry Adams want Sinn Féin to become more involved in politics in the late 1970s?

• In the late 1970s, Gerry Adams, a prominent leader of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Sinn Féin, began advocating for a strategy shift that would see Sinn Féin become more involved in mainstream politics.
• Adams believed that the IRA's armed struggle alone would not be enough to achieve their goal of a united Ireland. Instead, he argued that a dual strategy, often called the "Armalite and ballot box" approach, was necessary.
• This strategy involved continuing the armed campaign while simultaneously engaging in the political process to build support for republican objectives.
• Adams saw the potential for Sinn Féin to gain electoral support, particularly within the nationalist community in Northern Ireland, by participating in elections and using political institutions as a platform to advance their cause.
• He believed that this political involvement would help legitimise the republican movement and put additional pressure on the British government to negotiate.
• This approach eventually led to Sinn Féin's increasing prominence in Northern Irish politics and played a key role in the peace process that culminated in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

11. Why is 27 August 1979 regarded as one of the bloodiest days of the Troubles?

• 27 August 1979 is regarded as one of the bloodiest days of the Troubles due to two major attacks carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).
• On this day, the IRA orchestrated the Warrenpoint Ambush, the deadliest attack on the British Army during the conflict. It simultaneously assassinated Lord Louis Mountbatten, a member of the British royal family, in a separate incident.
• The Warrenpoint Ambush occurred when the IRA detonated two large bombs near Warrenpoint, County Down, targeting a British Army convoy.
• The attack killed 18 British soldiers and wounded several others, marking the highest single-day death toll for the British Army during the Troubles.
• The ambush was meticulously planned and executed, demonstrating the IRA's capability to inflict significant casualties on British forces.
• On the same day, Lord Mountbatten was killed when the IRA placed a bomb on his boat in Mullaghmore, County Sligo. The explosion also killed three others, including two teenagers.
• These coordinated attacks shocked the British public and intensified the conflict, leading to a harsh response from the British government and further escalating the violence in Northern Ireland.

12. Why did IRA prisoners go on hunger strike in 1981?

• The IRA prisoners went on hunger strike in 1981 as part of their protest against the British government's decision to end Special Category Status for paramilitary prisoners, which had previously granted them privileges similar to those of prisoners of war.
• The British government, under Margaret Thatcher, had phased out Special Category Status in 1976, treating republican prisoners as ordinary criminals rather than political prisoners.
• The IRA prisoners, led by Bobby Sands, demanded the restoration of these privileges, including the right to wear their own clothes, the right not to do prison work, and the right to free association with other prisoners.
• The hunger strike was a last resort after other forms of protest, such as the blanket and dirty protests, failed to achieve their goals.
• The prisoners believed that the hunger strike would draw international attention to their plight and force the British government to concede to their demands.
• The hunger strike became a powerful symbol of resistance and martyrdom for the republican movement, especially after Bobby Sands was elected to the British Parliament during the strike.
• Ten prisoners died before the hunger strike was called off in October 1981.

13. What was the New Ireland Forum and what was Margaret Thatcher's response to it?

• The New Ireland Forum (NIF) initiative was launched in 1983 by the Irish government, led by Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, to explore possible political solutions to the conflict in Northern Ireland.
• The Forum brought together the major nationalist parties from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, including Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).
• The Forum met multiple times and considered a wide range of proposals, eventually producing a report in 1984 that outlined three possible solutions for the future of Northern Ireland: a unitary state that would encompass all 32 counties of Ireland, a federal/confederal state with shared powers between North and South, and a joint authority in which both the British and Irish governments would govern Northern Ireland together.
• Margaret Thatcher, the British Prime Minister at the time, famously dismissed the Forum's proposals during a press conference, saying, "That is out. Out. Out."
• Thatcher's rejection of the proposals highlighted the deep divide between the British government's position and the aspirations of Irish nationalists. Her response was seen as a setback for those seeking a negotiated solution to the conflict.