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List of Organisations Associated with 'the Troubles'

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

Page Compiled By: Martin Melaugh

Additional Material: Brendan Lynn and Fionnuala McKenna

The following is a comprehensive list of organisations and groups that have been involved in or related to the Northern Ireland conflict during the past 30 years.

A

Action Against Drugs
(AAD)
A group which is believed to have formed in 2012 (?). It claimed responsibility for the killing of alleged drug dealer Danny McKay on 25 October 2012.... ...
Advisory Committee
Consisting of eleven individuals drawn from across Northern Ireland society, this body was established in 1972 to advise William Whitelaw, then Secret... ...
All Children Together
(ACT)
A group established in 1972 which sought the introduction of integrated education in Northern Ireland. Following the Education Reform (Northern Irelan... ...
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
(APNI)
Political party based in Northern Ireland, which was formed in April 1970. Currently aligned with the Liberal Democrat Party in Britain. Supports unio... ...
American Ancient Order of Hibernians
(AAOH)
A Catholic and Nationalist Irish-American organisation which is best known for organising the annual Saint Patrick's Day parade in New York. Memb... ...
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a worldwide campaigning movement that works to promote all the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human R... ...
An Crann / The Tree
An organisation set up to support victims of the conflict. (See: Details on Victims Organisations.)
Ancient Order of Hibernians
(AOH)
A Catholic and Nationalist organisation based in Ireland which has traditionally worked in support of the Catholic faith and also supported Irish Nati... ...
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference
(AIIC)
The 'Conference' was established under the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 15 November 1985. The 'Conference' deals with matters within N... ...
Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council
(AIIC)
The 'Council' was established following a summit meeting between Margaret Thatcher, the then British Prime Minister, and Garret Fitzgerald,... ...
Anti-Discrimination Association
(ADA)
A unionist/loyalist sponsored group set up in 1988 to highlight perceived discrimination against Protestants. One of the founders of the group was Gre... ...
Anti-Internment League
(AIL)
A group based in London which opposed the use of Internment without trial in Northern Ireland.
Anti-Partition League
(APL)
Established by Nationalist politicians in Northern Ireland in November 1945 in an effort to launch a concerted campaign against partition. In the face... ...
Apprentice Boys of Derry
(ABD)
One of the smaller 'Loyal Order' organisations; the others being the 'Orange Order' and the 'Royal Black Institution'. T... ...
Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group
(APDG)
A Nationalist group established in north Belfast which seeks to represent the opinions of residents in discussions with the Parades Commission or in d... ...
Army Intelligence
(See: Military Intelligence.)
Assets Recovery Agency
(ARA)
The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) is a Non-Ministerial Department based in London. The Director of the ARA reports to the British Home Secretary but is... ...
Association for Legal Justice
(ALJ)
A group set up in 1971 to monitor complaints made against the courts and the security forces.
Association of Inter Church Families
(AIF)
The association was originally established in 1973 in the Republic of Ireland to press for changes in legislation to allow religiously mixed married c... ...

B

'B-Specials'
synonyms: Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) (See: Ulster Special Constabulary; USC.)
'Bloody Sunday' Initiative
(See: Pat Finucane Centre.)
'Bloody Sunday' Justice Campaign
(BSJC)
A campaigning group who were pressing for a new inquiry into the events of 'Bloody Sunday'. The group is made up of relatives of those kille... ...
Belfast Charitable Trust for Integrated Education
(BELTIE)
A group set up in October 1984 to support the development of integrated education in Belfast.
Between
A group set up in the Republic of Ireland in 1971 with the aim of promoting better relations between the communities in Northern Ireland. The associat... ...
Bill of Rights Forum
(BORF) The Bill of Rights Forum was established in 2006 to produce agreed recommendations on behalf of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (N... ...
Bogside Residents Association
(BRA)
A residents group formed in 1994 (?) to protest at those Loyal Institution parades and marches which passed close to the Bogside area of Derry. The Bo... ...
Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland
(BCNI)
"The Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland is an independent and impartial public body, which reviews all UK Parliament constituency boundarie... ...
British Army
(BA)
The United Kingdom's (UK) standing army. The British Army has had a presence in the region prior to and following the partioning of Ireland and t... ...
British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC)
Television and radio broadcasting company providing a service in the United Kingdom. BBC Northern Ireland has been reporting 'the Troubles'... ...
British Intelligence
(See: Security Service, MI5; and Military Intelligence.)
British Irish Association
(BIA)
An independent organisation which was founded in 1972 with the aim of improving understanding of the conflict in Northern Ireland. The group does not... ...
British Irish Exchange
(BIE)
A project set up to improve British Irish relationships. The project is administered by the British Irish Exchange Education Trust and is based in Eng... ...
British Irish RIGHTS WATCH
(BIRW)
British Irish Rights Watch was an independent non-governmental organisation and registered charity that monitored the human rights dimension of the co... ...
British Ulster Dominion Party
(BUDP)
synonyms: Ulster Dominion Group (UDG) A small group originally formed by Professor Kennedy Lindsay in 1975 which argued that Northern Ireland should b... ...
British-Irish Council
(BIC)
synonyms: Council of the Isles This body was established under the Good Friday Agreement (1998) and consists of representatives drawn from members of... ...
British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body (BIIPB) / British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly
(BIPA)
; from 2008 The BIIPB was established on 26 February 1990 and grew out of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council (AIIC). The BIIPB meets every six... ...
British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference
(BIIC)
The name given to the body established under the terms of Good Friday Agreement (1998) which would allow for the British Prime Minister and the Taoise... ...

C

Campaign for Democracy in Ulster
(CDU)
The Campaign for Democracy in Ulster (CDU) was established in early 1965 by a group of British Labour Party MPs. The chairperson and prime mover of th... ...
Campaign for Democratic Rights in Northern Ireland
(CDRNI)
Content being prepared
Campaign for Devolved Parliament
(CDP)
A campaign launched in March 1988 to try to replace the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA) by a devolved parliament in Northern Ireland. Under the plan the p... ...
Campaign for Equal Citizenship
(CEC)
A campaign established during a meeting in Belfast on 14 May 1986. The CEC argued that British political parties, such as the Labour and Conservative,... ...
Campaign for Labour Representation in Northern Ireland
(CLRNI)
A campaign set up in 1977 to try to persuade the British Labour Party to organise and stand for election in Northern Ireland. Currently it is not poss... ...
Campaign for Social Justice
in Northern Ireland (CSJ) A group which began campaigning for 'civil rights' in Northern Ireland in 1964. The Campaign for Social Justice in... ...
Catholic Anti-Discrimination
(CAD)
A group set up in 1969 to campaign against what it saw as discrimination and prejudice against Catholics in industry, commerce and government.
Catholic Ex-Servicemen's Association
(CEA)
An organisation set up in 1971 following the introduction of Internment with the stated aim of 'protecting' Catholic areas. It founding memb... ...
Central Citizens' Defence Committee
(CCDC)
An organisation established in 1969 which amalgamated a number of West Belfast community and defence groups. The first Chairman of the CCDC was Jim Su... ...
Central Community Relations Unit
(CCRU)
The CCRU was established in 1987 to advise the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the British Government, on community relations in Northern... ...
Central Statistical Office
(CSO)
United Kingdom government department which until 1995(?) was responsible for collecting statistical information about the work of all the various sect... ...
Centre for Cross-Border Studies
The Centre for Cross Border Studies is a joint initiative by The Queen’s University of Belfast, Dublin City University and the Workers’ Educational As... ...
Centre for Religion
The Centre for Religion is currently a development project of the local authority for the city and district of Armagh. The overall aim of the Centre i... ...
Centre for the Social Study of Religion
The Centre for the Social Study of Religion (CSSR) has been created by The Queen’s University of Belfast as an academic unit, specialising in the soci... ...
Centre for the Study of Conflict
(CSC)
The Centre for the Study of Conflict was an interdisciplinary research centre within the School of History, Philosophy and Politics at the University... ...
Challenge for Youth
(CY)
A project established in 1989 to provide motivational training for disadvantaged and 'at risk' young people. The project was set up by the N... ...
Charter Group
(CG)
The Charter Group was established in 1986 and largely drawn from the ranks of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). Led by Harry West, a former leader of t... ...
Children's Community Holidays
(CCH)
An organisation formed in 1975 to provide summer holidays for children (8 to 15 years) from Catholic and Protestant areas which were suffering from th... ...
Children's Project
(Northern Ireland)
An organisation established in 1983 by Gary Rocks, with finance from the Irish Children's Fund in Chicago, to enable meaningful contacts between... ...
Churches' Central Committee for Community Work
(CCCW)
The committee was set up in 1971 to promote practical inter-church co-operation in the areas of community and social work. The committee is one of the... ...
Churches' Peace Education Programme
(CPEP)
An programme established in 1978 to support the Education for Mutual Understanding (EMU) initiative by supplying schools with curriculum materials, pr... ...
Co-operation Ireland
(CI)
(Previously Co-operation North) An organisation established in June 1978 by leaders in business, trade unions and academic life, with the objective of... ...
Co-operation North
(CN)
(See: Co-operation Ireland; CI.)
Coiste na n-Iarchimí
According to the Coiste web site: "Coiste na n-Iarchimí is the umbrella organisation co-ordinating groups and individuals working for the social,... ...
Combined Loyalist Military Command
(CLMC)
An umbrella organisation established in 1991(?) to co-ordinate the activities of all the Loyalist paramilitary groups. It was made up of 12 representa... ...
Commission for Victims and Survivors
Northern Ireland See entry in the list of victims groups.
Commissioner of Complaints
The officer and office set up in 1969(?) to deal with complaints made against local authorities (currently the 26 district councils) and other public... ...
Committee on the Administration of Justice
(CAJ)
A group established in 1980 to monitor the administration of justice in Northern Ireland and to work for the highest standards in the administration o... ...
Communist Party of Ireland
(CPI)
Political Party which organises in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The CPI was originally formed in 1933 but split in 194x into the Iris... ...
Communist Party of Northern Ireland
(CPNI)
Communist Political Party established after the Communist Party of Ireland split in 194x into the Irish Worker's Party (IWP), in the Republic of... ...
Community Action for Locally Managed Stress
(Calms)
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on victims organisations.)
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
(CFNI)
Formerly known as the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust (NIVT), the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is an independent grant-making body. The... ...
Community of the Peace People
(CPP)
synonyms: Peace People (See: Peace People.)
Community Relations Branch
(CRB)
The Community Relations Branch of DENI plays a role in trying to improve community relations between young (up to the age of 25) people in Northern Ir... ...
Community Relations Branch, Department of Education Northern Ireland
(See: Department of Education Northern Ireland, Community Relations Branch.)
Community Relations Commission
(CRC)
(See: Northern Ireland Community Relations Commission; NICRC)
Community Relations Council
(CRC)
synonyms: Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (NICRC) The Council was established in January 1990 to attempt to promote better community rela... ...
Community Relations In Schools
(CRIS)
CRIS was set up in the Belfast area in 1983 to support teachers who are involved in cross-community inter-schools links.
Compiled:
Martin Melaugh ... Additional Material: Brendan Lynn and Fionnuala McKenna Material is added to this site on a regular basis - information on this pag... ...
Confederation of British Industry
(CBI)
The CBI is a group which represents the interests of industry and commerce in the United Kingdom. The CBI is active in Northern Ireland and it has an... ...
Conservative Party in Northern Ireland
(CPNI)
synonyms: The 'Model' North Down Association of the Conservative Party (??) A branch of the British Conservative Party. Although both the La... ...
Conservative Party, The
synonyms: The Conservative and Unionist Party One of the two main British political parties. Historically the Conservative Party was closely aligned w... ...
Consultative Group on the Past
(CGP)
synonyms: Independent Consultative Group; Independent Consultative Group on the Past The Consultative Group on the Past was an independent group estab... ...
Continuity Irish Republican Army
(CIRA)
synonyms: Irish Continuity Army Council (ICAC); Continuity Army Council (CAC) A Republican paramilitary group which came to prominence in 1996 when it... ...
Corrymeela Community, The
(CC)
A dispersed community of Protestants and Catholics established by the Reverend Ray Davey in 1965. The Corrymeela Community has a number of aims: to sh... ...
Council for Catholic Maintained Schools
(CCMC)
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMC) was established in 1989 with the backing of the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI)... ...
Council for the Union
(CU) A group set up in 1981 by James Molyneaux, the then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, to try to halt what he saw as the drift towards a united... ...
Council of the Isles
The Council of the Isles was the original term for the British-Irish Council. (see British-Irish Council)
Counteract
Counteract is a unit established in 1990 by members of the trade union movement and sponsored by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) to work aga... ...
Criminal Assets Bureau
(CAB)
The Criminal Assets Bureau was established on the 15 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland as a Statutory Body by the Criminal Assets Bureau Act (19... ...
Cross
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association
(CARA)
The Crumlin Ardoyne Residents Association (CARA) was one of a number of residents groups set up, in nationalist areas across Northern Ireland, to prot... ...
Cultural Traditions Group
(CTG)
The CTG was established in 1988 but was incorporated into the Community Relations Council (CRC) in January 1990. The group was set up to encourage bet... ...
Cumann na mBan
The women's wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The organisation was proscribed (illegal) in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. T... ...

D

Dáil Éireann
The 'lower house' of the parliament of the Republic of Ireland. The electorate in the Republic of Ireland elect Teachta Dála (TDs - Dáil Dep... ...
Dáil Uladh
Ulster Parliament (?). The name given to a nine county parliament that was proposed in 1972. The idea received support among nationalists and was prom... ...
Democracy Now
(DN)
An organisation set up on 15 July 1992 to try to persuade the British Labour Party to organise and stand for election in Northern Ireland. Currently i... ...
Democratic Dialogue
(DD)
Democratic Dialogue was set up in 1995, in the wake of the paramilitary ceasefires, as a 'think tank' geared to stimulating fresh approaches... ...
Democratic Left
(DL)
Political party in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Began when a number of people, including six Teachta Dála (TDs - members of Dáil Éira... ...
Democratic Unionist Loyalist Coalition
(DULC)
Content being prepared
Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP)
synonyms: Ulster Democratic Unionist Party (UDUP) One of the two main Unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. The DUP was formed in September... ...
Department of Economic Development
(DED)
Content being prepared
Department of the Environment
(DOE)
Content being prepared
Departments of Government
Under the system of direct rule from Westminster introduced in 1972 Northern Ireland was administered by six government departments: Environment (DOE)... ...
Derry Citizens' Action Committee
(DCAC)
A group established on 9 October 1968 which was made up of representatives from a number of groups which at that time operated in Derry. Ivan Cooper w... ...
Derry Citizens' Defence Committee
(DCDC)
synonyms: DCD Association (DCDA)(?) A group set up in July 1969 with the aim of defending the Catholic areas of Derry against what it viewed as attack... ...
Derry Housing Action Committee
(DHAC)
A small, radical group set up in February 1968 (Ó Dochartaigh; 1994) to campaign for improvements to housing in Derry. The group was made up of radica... ...
Derry Housing Association
(DHA)
The DHA was set up in October 1965 and its first chairman was John Hume, currently the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). The as... ...
Derry Unemployed Action Committee
(DUAC)
An initally small, radical group, set up on 22 January 1965 at a meeting in Quigley's Hotel, Foyle Street, Derry, to campaign for investment in j... ...
Direct Action Against Drugs
(DAAD)
A (paramilitary) organisation which emerged in 1994 (?) during the then Irish Republican Army (IRA) ceasefire. DAAD claimed the responsibility for kil... ...
Director of Public Prosecutions
(DPP)
The person, and office, responsible for bringing criminal prosecutions against people accused of crime in Northen Ireland (??). (xx)
Dissident Irish Republican Army
(DIRA)
synonyms: 'Real' Irish Republican Army (RIRA); Óglaigh na hÉireann (See: 'Real' Irish Republican Army; RIRA)
Down Orange Welfare
(DOW)
A Loyalist paramilitary group formed in 1972 under the leadership of (Colonel) Peter Brush and Herbert Heslip. It was claimed that the group had links... ...
Drumcree Faith and Justice Group
(DFJG)
The group was established in 1985 in Portadown in response to Orange Parades that were passing through Nationalist areas of the town. The group wished... ...
Dunloy Residents Group
(DRG)
The Dunloy Residents Group was established to protest at the number of Loyal Institution parades that took place in the village. Dunloy is a Catholic... ...
Dutch-Northern Irish Advisory Committee
(DNIAC)
A group (established in 1973 ??) made up of educationalists, Churchmen and others, in both Holland and Northern Ireland. The group arranged trips to H... ...

E

E4A
E4A was a special intelligence unit within the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). E4A was established in 1978 (?) as the RUC equivalent of 14 Intelligen... ...
Ecology Party
(EP)
One of the smaller political parties in Northern Ireland. Its main concern was with environmental matters. Now called The Green Party.
Electoral Office for Northern Ireland
(EONI)
The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI) is the organisation that supports the Chief Electoral Officer in carrying out his statutory responsib... ...
Enniskillen Together
(ET)
Formed in 1987 following the Enniskillen Bomb, planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which killed eleven people and injured 63 others. The group... ...
Equal Opportunities Commission
(EOC)
In 1999 the The EOC was merged with the The Fair Employment Commission (FEC), The Commission for Racial Equality (Northern Ireland), and The Northern... ...
European Court of Human Rights and European Commission of Human Rights
(ECHR)
A court of final appeal for individuals and organisations within the European Community. Cases are brought before the European Commission of Human Rig... ...
European Parliament
(EP)
A Parliament made up of elected members from the countries of the European Community. When the Parliament was first planned in 1976 Northern Ireland w... ...
European Union
(EU)
synonyms: European Community (EC) The European Union began as a Common Market of European countires. It is comprised of 28 member states (in 2014). Bo... ...
Ex-Prisoners Interpretative Centre
(EPIC)
EPIC is a loyalist political ex-prisoner organisation, formed as a charitable group by ex-combatants from an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Red Hand... ...

F

Fair Employment Agency
(FEA)
The FEA was established by the Fair Employment Act of 1976 to address the perceived problem of religious or political discrimination in the workplace.... ...
Fair Employment Commission
(FEC)
The FEC was established by the 1989 Fair Employment Act which replaced the Fair Employment Agency (FEA). The Commission was given the power to assist... ...
Fair Employment Tribunal
(FET)
The FET was established by the 1989 Fair Employment Act. The Tribunal hears complaints under the Fair Employment legislation.
Families Achieving Change Together
(FACT)
Formerly: Families Against Crime by Terrorism (FACT) - name changed on 6 August 2003. An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. FACT... ...
Families Acting for Innocent Relatives
(FAIR)
Formed in 1989 the organisation is based largely in South Armagh and consists of relatives of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and Ulster Defence Regim... ...
Families Against Intimidation and Terror
(FAIT)
A group formed in 1990 by Nancy Gracey and others following the shoting of her son by a paramilitary organisation. The group opposed the use of violen... ...
Families of the Disappeared
(FOTD)
Established in 1994 to campaign for information for those families with relatives who it was alleged had 'disappeared' during the troubles i... ...
Fear (Fermanagh) Ltd
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Fianna Fáil
(FF)
synonyms: Fianna Fáil The Republican Party One of the two main political parties in the Republic of Ireland. Originally formed from the wing of Sinn F... ...
Fianna na hÉireann
(FE)
The youth wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Traditionally used to support the activities of the IRA.
Fine Gael
(FG)
One of the two main political parties in the Republic of Ireland. Originally formed from the wing of Sinn Féin which supported the treaty of 1921. The... ...
Force Research Unit
(FRU)
synonyms: Force Reaction Unit (FRU) Force Research Unit (FRU) was a special unit of Military (Army) Intelligence that was probably set up during 1979.... ...
Forum for a New Ireland
synonyms: New Ireland Forum (See: New Ireland Forum.)
Forum for Community Work Educaiton (NI)
(FCWE)
The Forum is a voluntary body which was set up in 1981 to support community work education by providing educational and training courses for community... ...
Forum for Peace and Reconciliation
(FPR)
This was a Forum that was established following the Downing Street Declaration. The first meeting was held on 28 October 1994 in Dublin Castle. The Fo... ...
Friends of Ireland
(FOI ?)
An organisation formed by leading Irish-Americans who believed that the United States had a role to play in finding a settlement of the Northern Irela... ...
Friends of Sinn Féin
A group established in the 1990s to organise support for Sinn Féin across Ireland, Britain and North American.
Friends of the Union (Group)
(FOUG ?)
An organisation established in June 1986 to "increase knowledge and understanding of the need to maintain the union of Great Britain and Northern... ...

G

Óglaigh na hÉireann
(ONH)
(Óglaigh na hÉireann is an Irish term for 'Volunteers of Ireland', or 'Irish Volunteers'.) synonyms: Irish Republican Army (IRA);... ...
Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA)
The GAA was founded in 1884 to promote those sports which were indigenous to Ireland. At the same time the aim was to discourage British influence on... ...
Garda Síochána
(Irish for 'Guardians of the Peace') synonyms: An Garda Síochána; Irish Police An Garda Síochána - Ireland's National Police Service -... ...
Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition
(GRRC)
The Garvaghy Road Residents Group (later the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition; GRRC) was formed by Nationalists in Portadown in 1995. The main aim of... ...
Give Innocent Victims Equality
(GIVE)
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Glebe House
(See: Harmony Community Trust.)
Glencree Centre for Reconciliation
(GCR)
The group was formed in 1974 to try to improve relations between the Republic of Ireland and its neighbours in particular Northern Ireland. Glencree p... ...
Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective
(GARC)
The Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) was one of a number of residents groups set up, in nationalist areas across Northern Ireland, to prote... ...

H

Harmony Community Trust
(HCT)
The Harmony Community Trust was established in 1975 by International Voluntary Service (NI) and the Rotary Club of Belfast. The aim was to obtain a ve... ...
Headquarters Mobile Support Unit
(HMSU)
The Headquarters Mobile Support Unit (HMSU) was a special unit established in 1978 (?) by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and was intended to be t... ...
Healing Through Remembering
(HTR)
Healing Through Remembering is an extensive cross-community project made up of a range of individual members holding different political perspectives.... ...
Help and Advice with Victims Every Needs
(HAVEN)
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Helsinki Watch
Helsinki Watch is an international human rights body based in the United States of America. The group has written critical reports of both the securit... ...
Historical Enquiries Team
(HET)
synonyms: Historical Inquiries Team The Historical Enquiries Team - a unit within the Police Service of Norhern Ireland (PSNI) - was established to re... ...
Holiday Projects West
(HPW)
An organisation (now no longer in existence) which was set up in March 1972 in Derry with the aim of giving children from the area an holiday with fam... ...
Homeless Citizens' League
(HCL)
A pressure group set up in Dungannon, County Tyrone, on 24 May 1963 to campaign for better housing in the area. The HCL was initially founded by Angel... ...
Human Rights Commission
(See: Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.)

I

14 Intelligence Company
synonyms: 14 Intelligence and Security Company (14 ISC); 14 Int. and Sy; 'Det' 14 Intelligence Company was a special unit of the British Arm... ...
Independent Commission for Police Complaints
(ICPC)
This body was enacted under the Police (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 in order to oversee the internal investigation process by the Royal Ulster Consta... ...
Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains
The commission was created under legislation enacted (26 May 1999) in the British and Irish parliaments to supervise the recovery of the remains of th... ...
Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland
A group established on 3 June 1998 by the British government under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. The main function of the Commission was to... ...
Independent Consultative Group on the Past
See: Consultative Group on the Past
Independent International Commission on Decommissioning
(IICD)
A group established on 26 August 1997 as part of the Peace Process to oversee the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons. The Commission was set up b... ...
Independent Labour Party
(ILP)
Content being prepared
Independent Monitoring Commission
(IMC)
This body was established in September 2003 by the British and Irish governments to report on the carrying out of commitments made in the Good Friday... ...
Independent Orange Order
(IOO)
The Independent Orange Order (IOO) is one of the Loyal Orders. It was formally constituted in June 1903. The IOO grew out of protests by some members... ...
Independent Progressive Socialist
(IPS)
Content being prepared
Independent Reviewer Justice and Security (NI) Act 2007
On 22 May 2008 the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward MP, appointed an Independent Reviewer of the Justice and Security (Nor... ...
Independent Television
(ITV)
The second main broadcasting authority in the United Kingdom. ITV began broadcasting in 19?? after the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) had alre... ...
Independent Television News
(ITN)
The news gathering section of Independent Television (ITV). (See also: Independent Television.)
Independent Unionist Group
(IUG)
A political grouping established in Belfast in 1978. One of the founding members was Hugh Smyth. In 1979 the group became the Progressive Unionist Par... ...
Industrial Development Board
(IDB)
An organisation set up in 19?? by the British Government which has the task of encouraging inward investment in Northern Ireland. The IDB can offer gr... ...
initial letter of the name of the organisation
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Institute for Conflict Research
(ICR)
The Institute for Conflict Research (ICR) was formally established in June 2001, although it had previously operated under the names of Community Conf... ...
Inter-Church Emergency Fund for Ireland
(ICEFI)
An initiative established in 1974 by the Conference of European Churches with the aim of distributing funds given by European Churches for peace and r... ...
Inter-Church Group on Faith and Politics
(ICGFP)
A group set up in 1983 to reflect on the demands the Christian faith makes on the politics of Northern Ireland. The group has published a number of pa... ...
Interfriendship
A group established in November 1990 to try to improve community relations in Lurgan, County Armagh, and surrounding districts following a number of s... ...
Intergovernmental Conference
(IGC)
synonyms: Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (AIIC) (See: Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference.)
International Conflict Research Institute
(INCORE)
Established in 1993, INCORE (International Conflict Research Institute) is a joint project of Ulster University and the United Nations University. Com... ...
International Fund for Ireland
(IFI)
The International Fund for Ireland was established in the wake of the Anglo-Irish Agreement (AIA). The fund was designed to support economic developme... ...
International Voluntary Service Northern Ireland
(IVS-NI)
IVS is the Northern Ireland branch of Service Civil International and was set up in 1971 to provide opportunities for voluntary work that aims to help... ...
Irish Association
(IA) for Cultural, Economic and Social Relations The association was originally founded in 1938 to promote communication and understanding between Nat... ...
Irish Commission for Justice and Peace
(ICJP)
A permanent secretariat of the Catholic Irish Bishop's Conference that was set up in 1970 to consider issues concerned with Peace, Human Rights,... ...
Irish Congress of Trade Unions
(ICTU)
Congress is the single umbrella organisation for trade unions in Ireland representing a wide range of interests of almost 750,000 working people, both... ...
Irish Continuity Army Council
(ICAC)
synonyms: Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA), Continuity Army Council (CAC) (See: Continuity Irish Republican Army.)
Irish Independence Party
(IIP)
A Nationalist political party which was launched in 1977. The founding members of the IIP were Frank McManus and Fergus McAteer. The party advocated B... ...
Irish Labour Party
(ILP)
One of the main political parties in the Republic of Ireland. The party was founded in 1912. The party doubled the number of Teachta Dalá (TDs - membe... ...
Irish National Caucus
(INC)
The INC was founded on 6 February 1974 by the current President, Seán McManus. The INC describes itself as a "human rights organisation dedicated... ...
Irish National Congress
(INC)
The Irish National Congress was formed in January 1990. Initially it was involved in sponsoring and organising events to commemorate the 75th annivers... ...
Irish National Liberation Army
(INLA)
synonyms: People's Liberation Army (PLA); People's Republican Army (PRA); Catholic Reaction Force (CRF) A Republican paramilitary group whic... ...
Irish Network for Non-violent Action Training and Education
(INNATE)
An umbrella group established in 1987 to provide support to groups and individuals interested in finding non-violent approaches to situations of confl... ...
Irish Northern Aid Committee
(NORAID)
synonyms: NORAID The Irish Northern Aid Committee was most commonly known as NORAID. The organisation was established in 1969 and based in the United... ...
Irish Peace Institute
(IPI)
The IPI was formed in 1984 with the aim of making a contribution to peace-building
Irish People's Liberation Organisation
(IPLO)
synonyms: believed to have included - Catholic Reaction Force The IPLO began as breakaway faction from the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). The... ...
Irish Republican Army
(IRA)
synonyms: Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), Provos, Óglaigh Na hÉireann, Direct Action Against Drugs (DAAD) The Irish Republican Army (IRA) wa... ...
Irish Republican Brotherhood
(IRB)
A secret organisation that was actively involved in the 1916 Rising in Dublin. The IRB was the forerunner of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republ... ...
Irish Republican Socialist Party
(IRSP)
A political party formed on 8 December 1974 to campaign for an all-Ireland socialist republic. The founder of the party was Seamus Costello but the be... ...
Irish Workers' Group
(IWG)
Content being prepared
Irish-American Unity Conference
(IAUC)
The Irish-American Unity Conference (IAUC) is an Irish-American group which has provided funds for job-creation projects in deprived Nationalist areas... ...

J

Justice for the Forgotten
(JFF) A group established in 1994 to campaign to uncover the truth about the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings on 17 May 1974. Selection of Statements issu... ...
Justice Watch
(JW) A group set up in December 1990 in the United States of America (USA), by Congressman Joseph Kennedy and Ray Flynn, to monitor human rights issue... ...

K

Kairos
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)

L

Labour '87
A small political party founded in 1987 to try to bring together those who supported socialist / labour policies. The party was established as a resul... ...
Labour Committee on Ireland
(LCI)
A left-wing pressure group within the British Labour Party which was seeking a policy of British withdrawal from Northern Ireland.
Labour Party of Northern Ireland
(LPNI)
The Labour Party of Northern Ireland (LPNI) was established in 1985 on the initiative of Paddy Devlin and Billy Blease. The LPNI involved some of thos... ...
Labour Party, British
(LP)
One of the two main political parties in Britain. The Labour Party currently forms the government of the United Kingdom (UK). Traditionally the Labour... ...
Liberal Democrat Party
(LDP)
The modern equivalent of the old British Liberal Party. The Liberals were critical of many aspects of the working of Unionist government in Northern I... ...
Liberty
A human rights pressure group which was previously called the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL). The organisation has taken an active intere... ...
Lifeline
A group first set up in response to the 'La Mon House Restaurant' bombing in Belfast in 1978. The groups offers support to the families of i... ...
Linen Hall Library
One of the few remaining subscription libraries in the United Kingdom (UK). The library holds a number of collections of material of Irish interest. T... ...
Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Lower Ormeau Concerned Community
(LOCC)
The Lower Ormeau Concerned Community (LOCC) was set up in March 1992 in order to organise opposition to what the local community perceived was the pro... ...
Loyal Citizens of Ulster
(LCU)
A small militant Loyalist group which was formed in Derry in 1968. It was initially lead by Ronald Bunting. The group were present at a number of Loya... ...
Loyal Orange Institution
(LOI)
synonyms: Orange Order (See: Orange Order.)
Loyal Orange Lodge
(LOL)
Part of the structure of the Orange Order. The Orange Order is made up of 1,400 Private Lodges, 126 District Lodges, 12 County Lodges, and one Grand L... ...
Loyalist Association of Workers
(LAW)
LAW was formed in 1971 and was initially led by Billy Hull who was a trade union official. It took over from an earlier grouping called the Workers�... ...
Loyalist Commission
(LC)
The Loyalist Commission is comprised of representatives of three Loyalist paramilitary groups - the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the Ulster Volun... ...
Loyalist Communities Council
(LCC)
The Loyalist Communities Council was formed in 2015 and includes representatives of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Associatio... ...
Loyalist Defence Volunteers
(LDV)
Content being prepared
Loyalist Prisoners' Aid
(LPA)
An organisation set up to provide aid for Loyalist prisoners and their families.
Loyalist Retaliation and Defence Group
(LRDG)
synonyms: Red Hand Commando (RHC) The LRDG was involved in a campaign of attacks in 1991 against Catholics working in shops which sold An Phoblacht (R... ...
Loyalist Volunteer Force
(LVF)
The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) is believed to have formed in 1996 from disaffected 'maverick' members of the mid-Ulster brigade of the U... ...

M

Making Belfast Work
(MBW)
Making Belfast Work (MBW) was an initiative launched in July 1988 by the British government aimed at addressing the economic, educational, social, hea... ...
Maranatha Community
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Market and Opinion Research International
(MORI)
One of the United Kingdom's (UK) main polling organisations. Mainly associated with polls of political opinion but also canvases attitudes on a r... ...
Market Research Bureau Ireland
(MRBI)
One of the main opinion polling organisations in Ireland. Has been used by many news agencies and other organisations to canvas the opinion of people,... ...
Mediation Network
(Ireland)
Originally known as the Northern Ireland Conflict and Mediation Association this group was formed in 1986 by a group of people seeking to encourage no... ...
Membership:
Membership was estimated at a couple of dozen active members with a network of supporters in Ireland and continental Europe. Arsenal: Before decommiss... ...
MI5
synonyms: Security Service (See: Security Service.)
Military Intelligence
synonyms: Army Intelligence Military Intelligence is a section within the British Army responsible for gathering, analysing, and acting upon informati... ...
Military Reaction Force
(MRF)
synonyms: Military Reconnaissance Force (MRF); Mobile Reconnaissance Force (MRF) The Military Reaction Force (MRF) was a special unit within Military... ...
Ministry of Defence
(MOD)
The British government department with responsibility for supplying the armed forces that are deployed in Northern Ireland.
Mobile Support Units
(MSU)
synonyms: Headquarters Mobile Support Units (HMSU) Also known as Headquarters Mobile Support Units (HMSU) these were special units formed within the R... ...

N

National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) NI
This organisation was formed in 1988 by a group of trainers who wished to use NCBI models for prejudice reduction in workshops in Northern Ireland.
National Council for Civil Liberties
(NCCL)
synonyms: Northern Ireland Council for Civil Liberties (NICCL) (See: Liberty.)
National Council of YMCA's of Ireland
The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) developed in London as a prayer fellowship. The movement in Ireland seeks to promote mutual respect... ...
National Democratic Party
(NDP)
A political party which operated mainly in Belfast during the years 1965 to 1970. The party from the National Unity movement which pressed for reform... ...
National H-Block / Armagh Committee
A pressure group set up to campaign on behalf of political status for Republican prisoners. This group took over from the early Relatives Action Commi... ...
National Peace Council
(NPC)
The NPC is an umbrella organisation for peace groups. The Northern Ireland Working Group of the NPC brings together representatives from member organi... ...
National Union of Students/Union of Students in Ireland
(NUS/USI)
The NUS/USI was established in 1972 under a unique arrangement where both the British and Irish national student unions jointly organise in Northern I... ...
Nationalist Party
(NP)
The NP was the main Nationalist party in Northern Ireland during most of the years of Unionist government at Stormont. For most of the period the NP r... ...
Natural Law Party
(NLP)
A quasi political party which believed that the Northern Ireland conflict could be solved if people practise transcendental meditation and 'yogic... ...
New Agenda
(NA)
1992 The name initially adopted by the Democratic Left Party when it broke away from the Workers' Party in February 1992. (See: Democratic Left.)
New Consensus Group
(NCG)
A group founded in 1989 in the Republic of Ireland which campaigned for the setting up of a devolved government in Northern Ireland, increased integra... ...
New Ireland Forum
(NIF)
The NIF was established in April 1983 by Garret Fitzgerald in an attempt to seek an agreed approach on Northern Ireland among nationalists on the Isla... ...
New Ireland Group
(NIG)
synonyms: New Ireland Movement This organisation was founded by John Robb in 1982. The group campaigned for a new approach to Northern Ireland arguing... ...
New Ireland Movement
(NIM)
(See: New Ireland Group.)
New Ulster Movement
(NUM)
The New Ulster Movement was formed early in 1969 and campaigned for political, economic and social reforms in Northern Ireland. Among its ideas were a... ...
New Ulster Political Research Group
(NUPRG)
A group set up by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in January 1978. In March 1979 the NUPRG published a plan for a negotiated independent Northern... ...
NIACRO - Community Relations Project
This project developed out of the work of the Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) in the Portadown / Crai... ...
Nonviolent Action Training Project
(NAT)
The main aim of NAT is to encourage groups to explore imaginative, effective and non-violent ways of working in the context of Northern Ireland.
NORAID
synonyms: Irish Northern Aid Committee (See: Irish Northern Aid Committee.)
North and West Belfast Parades Forum
synonyms: North and West Belfast Parades and Cultural Forum This is an umbrella group which is comprised of: Unionist politicians (including the Ulste... ...
North Down and Ards Loyalist Support Group
(NDALSG)
(or North Down and Ards Orange Support Movement) A group which first came to public attention when it held a rally on 21 (?) March 1997 in support of... ...
Northern Consensus Group
(NCG)
A group, mainly made up of professional Catholics and Protestants, which has argued for a political solution within Northern Ireland involving both co... ...
Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee
A body to scrutinise matters relating to Northern Ireland was first proposed by the Proceedure Committee of the House of Commons in 1990 but it was no... ...
Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders
(NIACRO)
An organisation devoted to reintegrating offenders into society.
Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise
(NICE)
NICE began work in 1977 when it took groups of Catholic and Protestant children to America on holiday. NICE aims to promote peace, reconciliation and... ...
Northern Ireland Children's Holiday Scheme
(NICHS)
A holiday scheme for disadvantaged Catholic and Protestant children and young people. The scheme began life in Liverpool in 1972 but moved its base to... ...
Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
(NICRA)
The main organisation involved in the Civil Rights movement from the late 1960s to the 1970s. The NICRA grew out of the work of the Campaign for Socia... ...
Northern Ireland Community Relations Commission
(NICRC)
The Community Relations Commission was established by an Act of Parliament in 1969 to foster harmonious relations in the region. The Commission compri... ...
Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education
(NICIE)
The Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) was established in 1987 as a voluntary organisation to develop, support and promote Inte... ...
Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
(NICVA)
The NICVA is an intermediary body, between government and the voluntary sector, which has the main aim of developing the voluntary sector in Northern... ...
Northern Ireland Forum
(NIF)
The Forum was established following the forum election in May 1996. Representatives were elected to the Forum on the basis of party strength at the el... ...
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
(NIHE)
The NIHE is a central agency with the main responsibility of providing public sector housing in Northern Ireland. It was established in 1971 following... ...
Northern Ireland Housing Trust
(NIHT)
The NIHT was established in 1945 with a remit to build public sector housing 'for workers' in co-ordination with local authorities. The Trus... ...
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
(NIHRC)
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a body which was provided for in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and which was formally established... ...
Northern Ireland Labour Party
(NILP)
The NILP was a socialist political party founded in 1924 which attracted most of its support from the working-class of Belfast. The party avoided the... ...
Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association
(NIMMA)
The Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association was established in 1974. Its main objective is: "Supporting couples who are united in love across... ...
Northern Ireland Office
(NIO)
The NIO is a ministerial department within the British government. The Secretary of State has a seat at the British Cabinet. The NIO was responsible f... ...
Northern Ireland Policing Board
(NIPB)
The Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) is the group that holds the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to public account. The NIPB began its... ...
Northern Ireland Unionist Party
(NIUP)
The NIUP was formed in January 1999 after an internal dispute over policy within the United Kingdom Unionist Party (UKUP). As a result four of the the... ...
Northern Ireland Victims Commission
The Commission was set up in October 1997by Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to investigate how the victims of ... ...
Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust
(NIVT)
(See: Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.)
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
(NIWC)
(1996-2006) The NIWC was formed in 1996 as a cross-community party with an agenda of "reconciliation through dialogue, accommodation and inclusio... ...
Notes:
(xx)     Indicates that an entry is being prepared. (?)     Information is a best estimate while awaiting an update. (??)     Information is doubtful... ...
Nova
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)

O

Office of the Oversight Commissioner
synonyms: Oversight Commissioner In the wake of the Good Friday Agreement an Independent Commission on Policing was set up in order to review the futu... ...
Official Irish Republican Army
(OIRA)
synonyms: 'Officials'; 'Stickies' The Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) was the term given to the remnants of the IRA followin... ...
Official Republican Movement
(ORM)
A group which formed early in 1998 following a split in the Workers' Party in 1997. The ORM drew its support from those who had supported the Off... ...
Official Unionist Party
(OUP)
(See: Ulster Unionist Party.)
Omagh Community Trauma and Recovery Team
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Omagh Support and Self Help Group
The Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) was founded in the aftermath of the Omagh Bomb on Saturday 15 August 1998. The group acts as a source of... ...
Orange Cross, The
(OC)
An organisation associated with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) which sought to provide aid for sentenced and remand prisoners. The organisation was... ...
Orange Order
(OO)
synonym: Loyal Orange Institution The largest of the three main Loyal Orders. The Orange Order was founded on 21 September 1795 and currently has betw... ...
Orange Volunteers
(OV)
A Loyalist paramilitary group formed in the early 1970s which was associated with the Orange Order. The group was headed by Bob Marno an ex-serviceman... ...
Organised Crime Task Force
(OCTF) The Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) was formed in September 2000 to act as a forum in the effort to combat serious and organised crime. The O... ...
Outcry
Organisation founded by Nancy Gracey to campaign on behalf of people suffering from intimidation and violence at the hands of paramilitary groups. Nan... ...
Oversight Commissioner
(See: Office of the Oversight Commissioner.)

P

Parades Commission
(PC) The Parades Commission was established in late 1997 following the recommendations of the North Report. The Commission has two main roles, the fir... ...
Parents And Kids Together
(PAKT)
A family and community project established in 1993 in Lurgan, County Armagh. The group organises a range of developmental activities for parents, chil... ...
Parker Committee
A committee, led by Lord Parker, which in 1972 reported on the methods used by the security forces in interrogating detainees in Northern Ireland. Two... ...
Pat Finucane Centre
(PFC)
A human rights and political development organisation based in Derry. The group was originally founded in 1989 as the Bloody Sunday Initiative and in... ...
Pax Christi International
(PCI)
An international Catholic peace movement founded in France near the end of the Second World War. Pax Christi Ireland was established in 1967 and Pax C... ...
Peace '93
An initiative set up in Dublin in March 1993 in the aftermath of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) bombing of a shopping area of Warrington, England. Tw... ...
Peace and Reconciliation Group
(PRG)
Was originally founded in Derry in 1976 as a local group of the Peace People. In 1978 the PRG became an independent organisation so that it could work... ...
Peace and Reconciliation Inter-Schools Movement
(PRISM)
A movement formed in 1982, following an initiative by the then Minister of Education for Northern Ireland, to encourage young people from different ba... ...
Peace Committee
(PC)
Founded in 1976 with the merger of the Churches for Peace Group and the Trade Union for Peace Group. The Committee aims: to promote understanding betw... ...
Peace People
(PP)
synonyms: Community of the Peace People; Northern Ireland Peace People The organisation was established in 1976 following the death of three young chi... ...
Peace Pledge Ireland Campaign
(PPIC)
A group established in 1989 to promote, on an all-Ireland basis, ecumenical community events. Organises Irish History lecture groups and assists in th... ...
Peace Train Organisation
A group that was established in the late 1980s. It was set up in response to what was seen as Irish Republican Army (IRA) efforts to disrupt the rail... ...
People's Democracy
(PD)
The PD was formed on 9 October 1968 following the events at the Derry March on 5 October 1968. The PD was a left-wing radical group which was formed b... ...
People's Liberation Army
(PLA)
synonyms: Irish National Liberation Army (See: Irish National Liberation Army, INLA.)
Performing Arts North
(PAN)
A group established in 1991 to develop community relations projects using various art forms. Music, drama, and the visual arts are used as a vehicle t... ...
Phoenix Youth and Community Projects
(PYCP)
A group set up in 1981 to try to combat youth unemployment, alcohol abuse, and sectarianism in the Lurgan area in the 1980s. Aims include: create empl... ...
Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
(PONI)
The office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) was established (on 3 November 2000) under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 to pr... ...
Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI)
synonyms: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (Incorporating the Royal Ulster Constabulary) The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is the ne... ...
Positive Action for Innocent Victims in North Down
An organisation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on victims organisations.)
Prayer Enterprise And Christian Effort
(PEACE)
Established in 1974 in Cork, Republic of Ireland, to promote prayer and peace and reconciliation in Ireland.
PRISM
(See: Peace and Reconciliation Inter-Schools Movement.)
Progressive Democratic Party
(PD)
synonyms: Progressive Democrats; PDs One of the smaller political parties in the Republic of Ireland it is more commonly referred to as the Progressiv... ...
Progressive Unionist Party
(PUP)
A small Loyalist political party which has links with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). The party was formed in 1979 out of the Independent Unionist G... ...
Project Children
A holiday scheme established in the United States of America in 1975 by Denis Mulcahy and Pat Mulcahy (brothers). Like other such schemes the project... ...
Project Portadown
A project set up in 1990, following the breakdown of relations in the Portadown area, with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding between t... ...
Protestant Action Force
(PAF)
synonyms: Protestant Action Group, Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) Both the Protestant Action Force (PAF) and the Protestant Action Group (PAG) were cove... ...
Protestant And Catholic Encounter
(PACE)
A group established in 1968 in response to the outbreak of conflict in Northern Ireland. The main aims are: to promote harmony and goodwill between co... ...
Protestant Task Force
(PTF)
A small Loyalist paramilitary group that was active during the 1970s. The PTF killed a number of Catholics who it claimed were associated with the Iri... ...
Protestant Unionist Party
(PUP)
A political party led by Ian Paisley in the 1960s which dissolved in favour of the Democratic Unionist Party in 1971. In June 1970 Paisley won the Nor... ...
Provisional Irish Republican Army
(PIRA)
synonyms: Irish Republican Army (IRA) (See: Irish Republican Army.)
Provisional Sinn Féin
(PSF)
synonyms: Sinn Féin (See: Sinn Féin.)

Q

Quaker House
Established in 1982 in Belfast by Quakers from Britain and Ireland as a contribution towards reconciliation and a just peace in Northern Ireland. Repr... ...
Quango
(s)
Quango is the unofficial term applied to what are known as 'quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations' or 'non-departmental publi... ...
Queen's University of Belfast
(QUB)
The oldest of the two universities in Northern Ireland. The QUB began as Queen's College in 1845 and became a university in 1908. The university... ...

R

'real' Irish Republican Army
(rIRA)
synonyms: Óglaigh na hÉireann; 'Dissident Republicans; 'dissident' Irish Republican Army; Irish Republican Army (IRA) This Republican P... ...
Radio Telefis Éireann
(RTE)
The main television and radio broadcasting company in Republic of Ireland. (xx)
Raphoe Reconciliation Project
The Raphoe Reconciliation Project was established in 1998 and is a project based in Raphoe in County Donegal. The aims of this project are to provide... ...
Red Branch Knights
(RBK)
A small Loyalist paramilitary group that came to public attention in September 1992. The group claimed responsibility for incendiary devices and a bla... ...
Red Hand Commando
(RHC)
A small Loyalist paramilitary group which was, at times, closely associated with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). The RHC was formed in 1972 and had... ...
Red Hand Defenders
(RHD)
The name 'Red Hand Defenders', a Loyalist paramilitary grouping, was first used 1998. Initially the group was believed to be made up of diss... ...
Relatives Action Committee
(See: National H-Block / Armagh Committee.)
Relatives For Justice
(RFJ)
A group mainly made up of relatives of those who had been killed by members of the security forces in disputed circumstances. The group was establishe... ...
Republican Clubs
(See: Workers' Party.)
Republican Labour Party
(RLP)
RLP was formed in Belfast 1960 by Gerry Fitt and Harry Diamond, both of whom were Stormont Members of Parliament. It supported a non-violent Republica... ...
Republican Network for Unity
(RNU)
Formerly: 'Ex-POW's and Concerned Republicans against RUC/PSNI' The Republican Network for Unity (RNU) was formed in 2007. The grouping... ...
Republican Sinn Féin
(RSF)
A breakaway group from Sinn Féin (SF) which was formed in 1986. At the 1986 SF Ard Fheis, SF decided to end its traditional abstention policy from the... ...
Resistance
A small Loyalist paramilitary group that was believed to have received a consignment of arms in 1988. The group was believed to be part of the Combine... ...
Rowntree Trusts
(RT)
synonyms: Joseph Rowntree Trusts There are three Joseph Rowntree Trusts. They were all set up at the same time, but have different purposes. They are... ...
Royal Air Force
(RAF)
A branch of the British Armed Services. The RAF provides air transport and reconnaissance to the security services in Northern Ireland. The RAF regime... ...
Royal Black Institution
(RBI)
synonyms: Imperial Grand Black Chapter of the British Commonwealth One of the Loyal Institutions. The RBI is essentially the senior branch of the Oran... ...
Royal Irish Regiment
(RIR)
A regiment of the British Army formed in July 1992 when the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and the Royal Irish Rangers were merged. Most commentators s... ...
Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC)
synonyms: Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was the name of the Northern Ireland police force from 1 June... ...
Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve
(RUCR)
A special reserve force attached to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). The force is made up of 1,500 full-time and 3,200 part-time members.

S

Saint Columb's Park House
(SCPH)
synonyms: Saint Columb's Reconciliation Trust Sain Columb's Park House in Derry is a day and residential centre focusing on community relati... ...
Saoirse
(Saoirse is an Irish word which means 'freedom' or 'liberty'.) Saoirse is the main Republican prisoner support organisation which... ...
Saor Éire
(Saor Éire is an Irish term for 'Free Ireland'.) synonyms: Saor Éire Action Group A minor Republican paramilitary group which was active in... ...
Scottish Unionist Party
(SUP)
A small political party established in April 1986 in Scotland to support the campaign against the Anglo-Irish Agreement. The SUP was supported by the... ...
Security Service
synonyms: MI5 Security Service (popularly know as 'MI5') is the United Kingdom's (UK) security intelligence agency. MI5 states its obje... ...
Selection of Publications
by the UUUC: United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC). (1975). A Guide to the Convention Report, (November 1975). Belfast: UUUC.
Shankill Defence Association
(SDA)
A Loyalist vigilante group which was set up in the summer of 1969. The group was led by John McKeague and at its height claimed a membership of 1,000.... ...
Shankill Stress and Trauma Centre
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Silent Too Long
(STL)
A group set up in 1981 by the relatives of innocent Catholics victims of the conflict. STL maintained that most of these victims had been ignored by t... ...
Sinn Féin
(SF)
synonyms: Provisional Sinn Féin A political party which represents the view of many Republicans in Northern Ireland. The party is dedicated to the ach... ...
Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP)
One of the two main Nationalist parties in Northern Ireland. The party was formed on 21 August 1970 and its first leader was Gerry Fitt. Many of those... ...
Social Democratic Party
(SDP)
synonyns: Liberal Democrats, Social and Liberal Democrats (See: Liberal Democrat Party, LDP.)
Socialist Party
(SP)
The Socialist Party is a Dublin-based Trotskyist party affiliated to the Committee for a Workers International and led in Northern Ireland by Peter Ha... ...
Socialist Workers' Party
(SWP)
The Socialist Workers' Party (SWP) is a Trotskyist formation with perhaps two dozen members in Northern Ireland and no regional office.
South Armagh Republican Action Force
A Republican paramilitary group which claimed responsibility for a number of killings in the South Armagh area during 1975. The group was believed to... ...
South Down Action for Healing Wounds
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Speak Your Piece
(SYP)
SYP was established in 1995 to tackle controversial issues affecting young people in schools, youth and community groups in Northern Ireland. The proj... ...
Special Air Service
(SAS)
A secretive and elite regiment of the British Army. The SAS has been used in Northern Ireland (officially) since 7 January 1976 in operations against... ...
Special Branch
synonyms: RUC intelligence division The intelligence department within the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) was known as Special Branch. Special Branch... ...
Speedwell Project
(SP)
The project was established in 1991, in Parkanur Forest Park, as a cross-community project to bring Catholic and Protestant school children together t... ...
Spirit Of Drumcree
(SOD)
An extreme presure group within the Orange Order which campaigns against what it says is the comprising attitude of those in authority in the Order. T... ...
Spirit of Enniskillen Trust
A group set up in 1989 to allow young people (16 to 19 years of age) to travel to travel to other countries to see how people overcome their differenc... ...
Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights
(SACHR)
The SACHR was an official body which was established under the 1973 Constitution Act. The body was set up to monitor how effective anti-discrimination... ...
Strategic Review of Parading
Body, The (SRP) The terms of reference for The Strategic Review of Parading Body were announced in February 2007. The Review was established by the Br... ...
Survivors of Trauma
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)

T

Tara
A Loyalist paramilitary group founded in 1966 by William McGrath. The group promoted a religious brand of anti-Catholicism. Tara is believed to have a... ...
Tara Counselling and Personal Development Centre
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Territorial Army
(TA)
A reserve force of the British Army made up of full-time and part-time members. The TA recruits members in Northern Ireland but the troops are not dep... ...
The Compensation Agency
(CA)
The Compensation Agency was established in April 1992 to support the victims of violent crime by providing compensation to those who sustain loss as a... ...
The Electoral Commission
(EC)
The Electoral Commission is an independent body that was set up by the UK Parliament in November 2000. The aim of the Commission is to increase public... ...
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland
(EC)
The Equality Commission was established in 1999 under the proposals contained in the Good Friday Agreement. The Commission was formed by the merger of... ...
The Green Party
(GP)
Formerly The Green Party of Northern Ireland and the Ecology Party. The party was launched on 12 February 1990 by Peter Doran but is now led by Dr. Jo... ...
Third Force
The name given to a number of attempts by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), to create a 'defensive militia'.... ...
Thirty-Two County Sovereignty Movement
synonyms: Thirty-Two County Sovereignty Movement; 32CSM; 32 County Sovereignty Committee The Thirty-Two County Sovereignty Movement (formerly known as... ...
Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust
An orgainsation set up to support victims of the conflict. (xx) (See: Details on vicitims organisations.)
Time to Go
(TTG)
A group set up in (England in) July 1988 to promote discussion on the issue of the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland. A number of pro... ...
Towards Respect and Understanding
(TRUST)
A project that was established as a pilot by Craigavon Borough Council's community relations programme. The project works with young people and t... ...
Traditional Unionist Voice
(TUV)
Traditional Unionist Voice is a political movement (/political party?) which represents unionists who are opposed to the political accommodation reach... ...
Troops Out Movement
(TOM)
A group that was formed in 1973 to press for the removal of British troops from Northern Ireland. The movement has attracted the support of a small nu... ...

U

Ulster Army Council
(UAC)
An umbrella group of Loyalist paramilitaries which was set up in 1973. The UAC was headed by Andy Tyrie who at the time was commander of the Ulster De... ...
Ulster Citizen Army
(UCA)
A name which appeared in 1973 and was associated with three members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) who wanted to make the association more le... ...
Ulster Citizen's Civil Liberties Centre
(UCCLC)
An Ulster Defence Association (UDA) sponsored group which was set up in 1974 (?). Leading members included Sammy Smyth and Harry Chicken. The group pu... ...
Ulster Clubs
Initially this organisation was established in the autumn of 1985 as a means of opposing attempts to re-route loyalist parades away from Nationalist a... ...
Ulster Community Action Group
(UCAG)
An Ulster Defence Association (UDA) sponsored group established in early 1970s. The group dealt with social and community work and initially was based... ...
Ulster Constitution Defence Committee
(UCDC)
The UCDC was established in 1966 and was made up of a committee of 13 with Ian Paisley as the head of the committee. The UCDC was the means by which P... ...
Ulster Constitution Party
(UCP)
The Ulster Constitution Party (UCP) was formed in the early 1970s. The party published a periodical journal entitled 'The Ulster Constitution... ...
Ulster Defence Association
(UDA)
synonyms: Ulster Freedom Fighters The UDA was the largest Loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 from a numb... ...
Ulster Defence Regiment
(UDR)
The UDR was a locally recruited regiment of the British Army and became operational on 1 April 1970. The UDR was merged with the Royal Irish Rangers i... ...
Ulster Democratic Party
(UDP)
synonyms: Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party (ULDP) The UDP was formed in 1989 from the ULDP which had been set up by the Ulster Defence Association (UD... ...
Ulster Democratic Unionist Party
(UDUP)
synonyms: Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) (See: Democratic Unionist Party; DUP.)
Ulster Dominion Group
(UDG)
synonyms: British Ulster Dominion Party (BUDP) (See: British Ulster Dominion Party; BUDP.)
Ulster Freedom Fighters
(UFF)
synonyms: Ulster Defence Association (UDA) The UFF is a cover-name used by the UDA and as such the UFF could draw on the support of one of the largest... ...
Ulster Independence Association
(UIA)
A group that was active in 1979 and which was calling for an independent sovereign Northern Ireland as an solution to the constitutional question. The... ...
Ulster Independence Committee
(UIC)
The UIC was formed in 1988 and the leader at that time was Hugh Ross a Presbyterian minister. The UIC called for an independent Northern Ireland free... ...
Ulster Independence Movement
(UIM)
The Ulster Independence Movement (UIM) developed out of the Ulster Independence Committee (UIC) in 1994 as a formal political party. Its leader, Hugh... ...
Ulster Independence Party
(UIP)
The UIP was launched in October 1977 with the aim of achieving a "free and independent Ulster". The establishment of the party followed the... ...
Ulster Liberal Party
(ULP)
synonyms: Unionist Liberal Party ? (ULP) A small political party which had little electoral success. The ULP was closely linked with the then British... ...
Ulster Loyalist Association
(ULA)
A Loyalist pressure group which was active in the early 1970s. William Craig was president of ULA and Martin Smyth was also a leading member. The grou... ...
Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee
(ULCCC)
synonyms: the Co-ordinating Committee The ULCCC was set up after the 1974 Loyalist strike. The ULCCC consisted of representatives of the main Loyalist... ...
Ulster Loyalist Democratic Party
(ULDP)
synonyms: Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) (See: Ulster Democratic Party, UDP.)
Ulster Loyalist Front
(ULF)
The ULF was a political party founded in 1973 by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF). The ULF was linked with the National Front (NF; a British Fascist p... ...
Ulster Popular Unionist Party
(UPUP)
synonyms: Ulster Progressive Unionist Party (UPUP) The UPUP was formed in January 1980 by James Kilfedder who had been an Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)... ...
Ulster Protestant Volunteers
(UPV)
A Loyalist paramilitary style grouping which was established in the late 1960s. The UPV had close links with the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee... ...
Ulster Resistance
(UR)
A Loyalist paramilitary style organisation which was formed on 10 November 1986 by Ian Paisley, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Pe... ...
Ulster Service Corps
(USC)
A Loyalist paramilitary / vigilante group established in 1976. The USC had links with the United Unionist Action Council (UUAC). The group had many ex... ...
Ulster Special Constabulary
(USC)
synonyms: Specials; 'A-Specials'; 'B-Specials'; 'C-Specials' The USC, or 'Specials', were originally formed in... ...
Ulster Special Constabulary Association
(USCA)
An association of former members of the Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) or the 'B-Specials'. The group was formed in 1970 (?) following th... ...
Ulster Television
(UTV)
The Northern Ireland regional television service of the Independent Television (ITV) company. Unlike the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which... ...
Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP)
synonyms: Official Unionist Party (OUP) The Ulster Unionist Party is one of the two main Unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. The UUP has c... ...
Ulster Vanguard
(UV)
The Ulster Vanguard movement was essentially a political pressure group within unionism. It was formed on 9 February 1972 and was led by William Craig... ...
Ulster Volunteer Force
(UVF)
synonyms: Protestant Action Force; Protestant Action Group The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is a Loyalist paramilitary group that was formed in 1966.... ...
Ulster Workers' Council
(UWC)
The Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) was a Loyalist organisation set up in 1974. It was comprised initially of a group of workers from the major ind... ...
Ulster Young Militants
(UYM)
synonyms: Young Militants (YM) (See: Young Militants; YM.)
Ulster Young Unionist Council
(UYUC)
The UYUC is the youth section of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). The UYUC was dissolved in January 2004 in the wake of its ongoing opposition to the... ...
Ultacht Trust
(UT)
ULTACH Trust was founded in September 1989. The principal aim of ULTACH Trust is to widen the appreciation of the Irish language and culture throughou... ...
Unionist Party of Northern Ireland
(UPNI)
The Unionist Party of Northern Ireland (UPNI) was officially launched in September 1974. It was formed by a group of people who had been members of th... ...
United Kingdom Unionist Party
(UKUP)
The UKUP was formed in 1995 by Robert McCartney, a former member of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), who won a by-election in June 1995 to become a Me... ...
United Labour Party
(ULP)
This was a 'democratic socialist' party launched in 1978. One of the founding members was Paddy Devlin who had been a member of the Social D... ...
United Ulster Unionist Council
(UUUC)
synonyms: United Ulster Unionist Coalition; Unionist Coalition The UUUC was established in January 1974 to oppose the Sunningdale Agreement. The UUUC... ...
United Ulster Unionist Movement
(UUUM)
This group was formed by the majority of members from the Ulster Vanguard who broke with William Craig in 1977. The UUUM was led by Ernest Baird. The... ...
United Ulster Unionist Party
(UUUP)
The United Ulster Unionist Party (UUUP) was formed in early 1977 from the United Ulster Unionist Movement (UUUM). The UUUM had been formed by members... ...
United Unionist Action Council
(UUAC)
The United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) was a group formed by the steering committee of the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) in early 1977. The... ...
United Unionist Assembly Party
(UUAP)
The United Unionist Assembly Party (UUAP) was formed by Denis Watson, Boyd Douglas, and Fraser Agnew, who were elected to the Northern Ireland Assembl... ...
United Unionist Council
(UUC)
At the elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly in November 2003 a number of former assembly members linked to the United Unionist Assembly Party (U... ...
Unity Movement
(UM)
A grouping of Nationalists that was formed in April 1973. The main spokesperson for the Unity Movement was Frank McManus who at the time was Member of... ...
University of Ulster
(UU)
The University of Ulster (UU) is one of two universities in Northern Ireland. Staff at the UU have carried out a wide range of research on various asp... ...

V

Vanguard Movement
synonyms: Ulster Vanguard (UV) (See: Ulster Vanguard, UV.)
Vanguard Service Corps
(VSC)
synonyms: Ulster Volunteer Service Corps (UVSC) A Loyalist paramilitary grouping that was associated with the Ulster Vanguard (UV) movement. (See: Uls... ...
Vanguard Unionist Loyalist Coalition
(VULC)
Content being prepared
Vanguard Unionist Party
(VUP) (See: Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party, VUPP.)
Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party
(VUPP) synonyms: Vanguard Unionist Party (VUP) The Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP) was established as a political party on March 1973. The... ...
Victims And Survivors Trust
(VAST)
VAST is a charitable organisation founded on 25 March 1998 to help victims of the conflict become survivors. It is mainly based in west Belfast. (See:... ...
Victims Liaison Unit
(VLU)
The Victims Liaison Unit was established on 30 June 1998 as part of the Northern Ireland Office to implement the recommendations contained in the Bloo... ...
Victims Unit
(VU)
The Victims Unit was established in 2000 as a dedicated unit with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), its role was to... ...
Volunteer Political Party
(VPP)
The Volunteer Political Party (VPP) emerged in September 1974 as the 'political wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)'. The chairman of t... ...

W

WAVE
WAVE is a grass roots cross community organisation established in 1991 to provide support and care to people bereaved of a spouse as a result of viole... ...
West Belfast Loyalist Coalition
(WBLC)
Content being prepared
West Ulster Unionist Council
(WUUC)
The WUUC was a pressure group within the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) based mainly in the west of Northern Ireland. Its members were mainly drawn from... ...
Widows Against Violence Empowered
(WAVE)
(See: WAVE)
Women Together For Peace
(WTFP)
synonyms: Women Together Women Together (For Peace) was launched in November 1970 when Catholic and Protestant women came together to campaign for the... ...
Women's Action
A group that formed to provide support to the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). The group was involved in the Ulster Workers’ Council (UWC) strike in... ...
Women's Coalition
synonyms: Northern Ireland Women's Coalition (NIWC) (See: Northern Ireland Women's Coalition; NIWC.)
Women's Peace Movement
synonyms: Peace People (See: Peace People, PP.)
Woodvale Defence Association
(WDA)
Content being prepared
Workers Party
(WP)
The Workers' Party (WP) grew out of Official Sinn Féin which was considered the political wing of the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA). The... ...
Workers' Committee for the Defence of the Constitution
(WCDC)
A Protestant workers' organisation set up in late 1969. Was established to oppose the 'Republican' Civil Rights movement. Was largely i... ...
World Socialist Party - Ireland
(WSPI)
A sister party of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, with the same programme.
CAIN contains information and source material on the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland.
CAIN is based within Ulster University.