Soldiers' Stories

Premieres Monday 26 October at 9pm

 
 
 
1967 NICRA Founded1967 NICRA Founded1 February 1967 – Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) is founded. The group, inspired by the 1960s civil rights movement, has 5 key demands on issues such as housing, employment and voting rights.
1969 Battle of Bogside1969 Battle of Bogside12 to 14 August 1969 – The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) attempt to break up a protest against the annual loyalist Apprentice Boys march in Derry. Days of fighting follow between residents of the Catholic Bogside area and the RUC, leading to the creation of segregated ‘no-go’ areas.
1972 Bloody Sunday1972 Bloody Sunday30 January 1972 – The British Army opens fire on a Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association march in Derry. 14 civilians are killed during the Bloody Sunday Massacre, stirring a growth in militancy of the Irish republican movement.
1972 Direct Rule1972 Direct RuleMarch 1972 – In response to growing disquiet in the country, Edward Heath declares ‘direct rule’, suspending the Unionist dominated Parliament of Northern Ireland at Stormont and ordering troops to dismantle ‘no-go’ areas.
1974 Birmingham Pub Bombing1974 Birmingham Pub Bombing1974 sees an offensive of violent attacks by the IRA and republican groups on the British mainland. The M62 Bombing of a bus carrying British servicemen and their families kills 11 people. Attacks on two pubs in Guildford kills 5 more. Another at the Mulberry Bush pub (image) in Birmingham kills 21.
Airey NeaveAirey Neave30 March 1979 – Airey Neave, the Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, is killed by a Car Bomb outside the House of Commons. The Irish National Republican Liberation Army claim responsibility for the attack.
Bobby Sands on Hunger StrikeBobby Sands on Hunger Strike10 April 1981 – Bobby Sands is elected as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone while on hunger strike. The prolific and influential campaigner dies at the end of a 66 day protest on 5 May that year, aged 27.
1984 Brighton Bomb1984 Brighton Bomb12 October 1984 – An IRA bomb at Grand Hotel in Brighton kills five people, including Conservative MP Sir Anthony Berry and injures dozens. The assassination attempt on then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher happens whilst Brighton is playing host the Conservative Party conference.
1998 Good Friday Agreement Hand Shake1998 Good Friday Agreement Hand Shake10 April 1998 – The Good Friday Agreement is reached under the leadership of Tony Blair, Irish Taioseach Bertie Ahern and US Senator Mitchell, laying the foundations for the resumption of devolved government, decommissioning of weapons, prisoner release and power sharing. A referendum carried out the following month shows that the deal reached carried 71% of pubic approval in Northern Ireland.
1998 Good Friday Agreement1998 Good Friday Agreement10 April 1998 – The Good Friday Agreement is reached under the leadership of Tony Blair, Irish Taioseach Bertie Ahern and US Senator Mitchell, laying the foundations for the resumption of devolved government, decommissioning of weapons, prisoner release and power sharing. A referendum carried out the following month shows that the deal reached carried 71% of pubic approval in Northern Ireland.
1998 Omagh Bomb1998 Omagh Bomb15 August 1998 – In scenes reminiscent of the height of the troubles in the 1970s, the Real IRA, a splinter group of the Provisional IRA, detonates a car bomb in Omagh in protest of the Good Friday Agreement. 29 people are killed.
2007 Power Sharing2007 Power Sharing26 March 2007 – The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein enter into government together in a power sharing agreement following elections for the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly. Reverend Iain Paisley is appointed as First Minister with former IRA leader Martin McGuiness as his deputy.
 
 
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