Ireland. Flashcards
(46 cards)
Where was the Northern Irish parliament situated
Stormont
How were tensions looking in Ireland at the time of Heath’s ascendency
Very high; there was an explosion of sectarian violence in the early 70s
Who did Heath intially back to solve the Ireland situation
Brian Faulkner, head of the Ulster Unionist Party
Name two paramilitary organisations operating in Nothern Ireland in the 70s
IRA, INLA, UDA, UVF
What were Faulkners policies and why were they unpopular
As the head of the Belfast Govt, Faulkner imposed night time curfews and internment(custody without trial). These proved to be ineffective and discriminatory, with 95% of those interned in early 70s being Catholic. IRA commander called it the “best recruiting tool we ever had”
Name some events of violence in Ireland in the 70s
McGurks bar-15 dead to uvf bomb
Bloody Sunday-13 dead to British Army
Aldershot barracks-7 dead
Irish Parliament-2 killed by loyalist bomb
What retaliatory action was taken after bloody Sunday
The British embassy in Dublin was burned down
what events happened in 1972 to make it the bloodiest year of the troubles
1,382 explosions, 10,628 shooting incidents and 480 deaths.
Heath suspended Stormont control and bought in direct rule from parliament, appointing Willie Whitelaw as sec of state.
What was Heaths aim in regards to Ireland and the IRA
Not only try to defeat the IRA as the loyalists and unionists wanted, but the find permanent peace in a solution for ireland. This lead to negotiations with the main N.I. political parties
What was Heaths most important contribution to the N.I. peace process
The Sunningdale Agreement in 1973, a complex plan for powersharing with support from the SDLP(republican moderates), the alliance(moderate unionists leaning neutral) and the UUP(major unionists).
What did the Sunningdale Agreement propose
Power sharing for nationalists and unionists
New N.I. assembly elected by proportional representation
Council of Ireland with some influence from Republic of Ireland
Why was the Sunningdale Agreement unsuccesful in some regards
Extremists on both sides were not onboard, denouncing it as a sell out. The UVF and UDA were both opposed, and the UUP pulled out in ‘74 as Faulkner was replaced as head of UUP by Harry West who was opposed.
It was undermined by the events on the British mainland, including the miners strikes and Heaths fall from power.
Finally, in the 74 GE, parties opposed to Sunningdale put up a single candidate in each constituency, whilst the pro vote was split. 11/12 of constituencies returned candiates opposed to the Agreement.
What lead to Conservatives not being able to continue in power in ‘74
Concern over the Sunningdale Agreement leading to the Tories not being able to rely on the UUP, preventing their reelection.
What was set up by the Shipyard worker Harry Murray, what was its goal and how did it go about achieving this
The Ulster Workers Council, determined to bring down the executive, announced a strike beginning in May 1974
What did the 1974 Strike achieve
Broadly, the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement and resignment of Faulkner as a state of emergency was declared.
What did Wilson establish to determine N.I.’s future
The Northern Irish Consitution Convention
Who was killed in 1979 by an IRA car bomb
Airey Neave, Tory spokesman on N.I.
What did the 1975 elections result in in Ireland and why was this an issue for the peace process
A Unionist majority who were unwilling to compromise.
When was the N.I. Consitution Convention dissolved
1976
What was removed from terrorist prisoners in ‘76, prompting the Blanket Protest and later the Dirty Protest in ‘78.
Special Category Status, essentially meaning they would simply be treated as criminals rather than enemies in a war.
What did the Blanket and Dirty Protests entail
Prisoners refused to wear clothes, going naked or simply with blankets. Later, alleging ill treatment by guards, they refused to leave their cells, leaving them unable to slop out and so smearing excrement along their cell walls.
Approximately how many were involved in the Dirty Protest by ‘79
250
Who lead the 1980 Hunger Strikes and what were they subsequently elected for
Bobby Sands who in ‘81 became MP for West Tyrone
What consequences did the Hunger Strikes bring
Despite not being granted special category status, the ultimate goal of the protest, there was huge public outrage, with 100,000 marching at Bobby Sands funeral, to protests in Paris and Milan to widespread support in NA, the hunger strikes were extremely influential.
