APNI -- Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. Alliance Party. A mainly middle-class political party which aims to attract support from both the main communities in Northern Ireland. David Ford has been the leader of the party since October 2001.

Battle of the Boyne -- This battle took place in 1690 between the armies of the Protestant King William II and the Catholic King James II. The victory of William of Orange marked a watershed in Irish history in that it secured power for the Protestant ascendancy whilst marking the end of the Catholic nobility and gentry in Ireland. The battle itself is celebrated each year on 12 July by parades organized by the Loyal/Orange Orders.


A Peace Wall constructed in West Belfast, Northern Ireland after centuries of bloody conflict. Source: http://www.russvitale.net/photos/DublinBelfast/

Belfast Agreement -- see Good Friday Agreement.

"Bloody Friday" - On 21 July, 1972 the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) exploded 26 bombs across Belfast which killed 11 people and injured more than 130.

"Bloody Sunday" - On 30 January, 1972, 13 people were shot dead and 14 more injured by soldiers of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army during an anti-Internment march in Derry. The Army claimed they had only fired after being shot at; those involved in the parade maintained that those shot were innocent victims. The events of the day have been the subject of much controversy and two separate inquiries by the British government. The first of these, under Lord Widgery in 1972, was widely criticized as being flawed and having completely exonerated the soldiers involved. In 1998, following a long campaign, a new inquiry was set up and chaired by Lord Saville.

Bogside - A working-class Catholic area in Derry. The name originally applied to one street but now includes a large section of the older part of the city. Many people in the area support the Republican movement.

Collusion - A number of incidents during the conflict have led to accusations that the security forces actively co-operated with Loyalist paramilitaries in attacks on known Republicans as well as the wider Nationalist community. This alleged co-operation has been termed 'collusion'.

Devolution government -- sub-central government with executive and legislative powers inside a unitary state.

DUP -- Democratic Unionist Party. The second largest of the Unionist parties after the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). The party mainly attracts support from working-class Protestants. Ian Paisley has been leader of the DUP since it was formed in 1971.

Good Friday Agreement (GFA) -- see "Politics" link to "Understanding the Good Friday Agreement.

Integration -- unifying a territory or culture under one set of norms. In Northern Ireland two main types of integration are advocated: into the UK and into Ireland.

INLA - Irish National Liberation Army. One of the main Republican paramilitary groups. Formed in 1975 from disaffected members of the Official IRA (OIRA) and members of other Republican groups, the INLA did not assent to the ceasefire in 1994.

Internment - On August 9, 1971 the government decided to intern without trial those suspected of paramilitary-related activities without trial. Initially the measure was used exclusively against suspects within the Catholic community. This policy was protested in Derry at the Civil Rights March on Bloody Sunday.

IRA -- Irish Republican Army -- see PIRA and OIRA. The original and primary Nationalist paramilitary group. The IRA split in 1969 into the PIRA (more militant, declaring war on the occupying British Army) and the OIRA (less popular, claiming to used defensive violence only). Currently the term is applied to what used to be called the PIRA because the OIRA has virtually ceased to exist since their 1972 ceasefire.

IRSP - Irish Republican Socialist Party. A very leftist political group, considered to be the political wing of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). Main aim is to establish a 32 county socialist republic in Ireland. The IRSP has been critical of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefires.

Loyalist - Strictly the term refers to one who is loyal to the British Crown. The term in Northern Ireland context is used by many to imply that the person gives tacit or actual support the use of force by paramilitary groups to 'defend the union' with Britain.

Nationalist - In Northern Ireland the term is used for those who hold a long-term wish for the reunification of Ireland. The majority of people from the Catholic community are Nationalist. It should be noted that not all Nationalists support Republican (more militant) groups.

Normalization -- The process of reducing the British security forces in Northern Ireland in the wake of the paramilitary ceasefires and the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). There has been widespread Nationalists and Republican criticism that this process has not taken place quickly enough. On the other hand, Unionist politicians have criticized the policy as having gone too far in the absence of decommissioning and ongoing paramilitary activity.

(O)IRA -- Official IRA -- see IRA

Orange Orders -- These gatherings are Protestant social clubs for the middle to upper class, with heavy political involvement. Unionist leader David Trimble is a member. They have annual parades commemorating the Battle of the Boyne. In recent times these parades have become a contentious issue between the two communities in Northern Ireland. For Protestants the parades are considered to be a celebration of their culture but for Catholics they are judged to be examples of Protestant triumphalism.

OUP -- Official Unionist Party -- see UUP

Partition -- This term refers to the division of the island of Ireland into two areas, the Republic of Ireland (26 southern counties) and Northern Ireland (6 northern counties). Partition was brought about by the Government of Ireland act (1920) and the Treaty of Peace (December 1921).

(P)IRA -- Provisional IRA, a.k.a. "Provos" -- see IRA

PSNI -- Police Service of Northern Ireland - see RUC.

PUP -- Progressive Unionist Party. Loyalist political party which has links to the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). David Ervine and Billy Hutchinson are the main spokesmen for the party.

Republican - In a Northern Ireland context the term Republican is taken to imply that the person gives tacit or actual support to the use of physical force by paramilitary groups with Nationalist aims. The main aim of Republicans being the establishment of a United (32 county) Ireland.

RUC -- Royal Ulster Constabulary. This was the Northern Ireland police force from 1922 to 2001, responsible for dealing with politically motivated crime as well as ordinary law enforcement. They were often accused of being puppets of the British Army or at least the Unionist majority. However, efforts are being made to include more Catholics and/or Nationalists on the force, which was almost entirely made up of Protestant officers. In November 2001 the name of the RUC was changed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

SDLP -- Social Democratic and Labour Party. A moderate Nationalist political party which supports the aim of a United Ireland, but only through non-violent means. The party attracts a lot of middle-class Catholic supporters and also some working-class support. John Hume was leader from 1979 to 2001 when he stepped down.

SF -- Sinn Féin, literally "Ourselves Alone." Largest Republican party in Northern Ireland, said to be the political manifestation of the IRA; led by Gerry Adams since 1983, who has always denied his membership in the IRA. The main support for the party is from working-class Catholics.

Stormont -- This term refers both to the Unionist controlled government of Northern Ireland between 1921 and 1972 and also to the grand buildings in east Belfast in which the government sat between 1932 and 1972.

Ulster - This is a term frequently used, mostly by Unionists, to describe Northern Ireland. It refers to the fact that the six counties that make up Northern Ireland were (and remain) part of the province of Ulster. Some people, mainly Nationalists, take exception to the use of the term.

UDA - Ulster Defense Association. The largest of the Loyalist paramilitary groups. Formed in 1970 and not proscribed (declared illegal) until 1992. The UDA has used the cover-name of Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) to claim many sectarian killings.

UDP - Ulster Democratic Party. Loyalist political party which had links to the Ulster Defense Association (UDA) and the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). Garry McMichael was the main spokesman for the party.

UFF - Ulster Freedom Fighters. A Loyalist paramilitary group. A cover-name used by the Ulster Defense Association (UDA).

UUP - Ulster Unionist Party. The largest of the Unionist parties, the Ulster Unionist Party mainly attracts middle-class Protestant support. The party has close links with the Orange Order. David Trimble has been leader of the UUP since 1995.

UVF - Ulster Volunteer Force. Also known as the Protestant Action Force (PAF), Protestant Action Group (PAG), and Red Hand Commando (RHC), this is the second largest of the Loyalist paramilitary groups after the UDA / UFF. The modern UVF was formed in 1965 and was responsible for the first bomb attacks during the current 'Troubles'. They are voiced politically by the PUP.

Unionist - In Northern Ireland the term is used to describe those who wish to see the union with Britain maintained. The majority of those people who are from the Protestant community are Unionist. It should be noted that not all Unionists support Loyalist (more militant) groups.

Source: CAIN Web Service - Glossary, Martin Melaugh and Brendan Lynn, April 2004
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/glossary.htm