The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Troubles. The Troubles – historical ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "irregular war" or "low-level war". The conflict began in the late 1960s and is usually deemed to have ended with the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Although the Troubles mostly took place in Northern Ireland, at times violence spilled over into parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.

Main articles

General

Timelines

of republican actions

of loyalist actions

Paramilitaries

Laws in both the Republic of Ireland and the UK proscribe (ban) membership of a number of Irish republican and Ulster loyalist groups. Several other smaller paramilitary factions have appeared throughout the Troubles, and some groups have used cover-names to deflect responsibility for attacks. In this context, operational refers to the period during which the 'official' paramilitary campaign was conducted.

Republicans

Umbrella groups

Loyalists

Umbrella groups

Cover names used by paramilitaries

Periods of activity

In the table below:

State security forces

United Kingdom

Northern Ireland

Republic of Ireland

Political parties

Listing includes brief summary of ideology and position on the Good Friday Agreement 1998.

Irish nationalist

Pro-Agreement

Anti-Agreement

Others

Unionist

Pro-Agreement

Anti-Agreement

Other

Political structures

Northern Ireland government

1921–1972 1998–

Northern Ireland legislatures

1921–1972 The Parliament of Northern Ireland: 1972–1998 1998–

Republic of Ireland government

United Kingdom government

Peace process

Co-operative bodies

Key steps in the peace process

Cultural and religious organisations

Religious

Sporting

Politico-religious fraternal organisations

Unionist/Protestant

Nationalist/Catholic