The Short(er) History of Ireland

~10000bce Ice Age ends

~7000bce First humans in Ireland come from Scandinavia across land bridge
from Scotland
~3500bce Neolithic man arrives; farming introduced
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------~1800bce Early Bronze age
~1200bce Late Bronze age
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------~600bce Massaliot (Marseillais) Greek explorers discover British Isles
Qreteni (Cruithin or Pretani) dominant population in British Isles
510bce Himilco the Phoenician visits Sacra (Ireland)
~500bce Iron age people reach Great Britain
Aristotle writes of the islands Ierne (Ireland) and Albion (Great
~350bce Britain), which lie beyond the Celts
La Tne (Iron Age B) Celtae (mainly Veneti of Brittany) land in SW
~250bce Albion
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------~100bce Celtic-Germanic Belgae colonise south
coast of Albion
55bce Roman Empire under Julius Caesar
invades south-eastern Albion
South-eastern coast of Albion brought
54bce under protection of Rome.
Dumnonii (Veneti or Loegrians) of
southwest Albion migrate to Caledonia

Unknown date:.
Belgic tribes (Fir Builg)
settle in modern Ulster and
Munster

27bce North Iberian Celts surrender to Roman

Empire
7bce

Jesus of Nazareth born

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C1
27

Jesus of Nazareth crucified

by Romans

~35

Civil war ensues in Roman

Albion (Britannia)

43

Emperor Claudius orders

suppression of fighting in
Britannia; Roman army
invades in force

78

Agricola begins full-scale

pacification of Great
Britain

82

Agricola invades Galloway

and Strathclyde; incumbent
Damnonian Gamanraid flee to
modern Connaught.
Agricola considers invasion
of Iverna (Hibernia)

86

Rising in Danubia causes

redeployment of Britannic
legions; Roman expansion
halted

Unknown date:.
Loegrians (Lagin) settle in modern
Leinster
Ireland partitioned into four ``Parts'' the Parts of the Iverni (or Erainn, a
Belgic tribe), the Lagin, Ol Nechnacht
(i.e. the Damnonian Gamanraid) and the
Uluti (another Belgic tribe).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C2
~150

Feni from N. Iberia under Tuathal Techtmar invade east coast of

Ireland; colony of Midhe created.
Part of the Lagin reduced to vassal state; Ireland now divided into
five ``Fifths'' (Cige).

199

Conn (of the Hundred Battles), grandson of Techtmar (?) becomes King
of Midhe?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C3
Unknown date: Eoganachta from N.Iberia or S.
Gaul (?) under Mug Nuadat (Eogan) colonise
modern Munster; Belgic Erainn submit to
Eoganachta rule.
Mug incites other provinces to rise against
the Connachta (tribe of Conn); Ireland divided
into Leth Cuinn (Conn's half) and Leth Moga
(Mug's half)

260

Gallienus becomes
ruler of Rome; Empire
descends into anarchy

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C4: The High Kingdom

305

Constantine proclaimed
Roman Emperor.
Empire stabilises;
Christianity becomes

Unknown date: Irish Celts (principally

Laigin) colonise Anglesey and Lleyn in
modern Wales; later driven out.

official religion

344

Picts and Irish begin

raiding Brittania; Irish
christened "Scotti" by
Romans.

~375

Eochaid Mugmedon becomes

King of Midhe?

~400

Niall (of the Nine

Hostages), son of Eochaid
Mugmedon, becomes King of
Midhe?

"Gael" enters common use, describing

Iberian Celts and their allies; Gaelic
language based on Iberian (Q-Celtic)
dialects becomes lingua franca in Ireland.
High Kingdom founded at Tara in Midhe.

Unknown date: Belgic tribes of Munster

migrate to south Wales and Cornwall; Ogham
alphabet introduced back into Ireland from
colonies.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C5

427

Unknown date: Connachta invade Part of

Niall dies, probably on a raid Ol Nechnacht and destroy ruling
on Brittania; Loegaire,
Domnonians; Cige Connacht founded.
Niall's son, becomes King of
Midhe carves out Airgiallan vassal
Midhe.
states from Cige Ulaid.
Niall's sons, Connall and Eogain,
found states (Tr Connall, Inis Eogain
and later Tr Eogain) in Cige Ulaid;
incumbent Cruthin and Erainn (Old
Scots) driven east of the Bann.
Old Scots colonise Pictish lands
around Strathclyde in Caledonia.

431

Palladius sent by Pope

Celestine as first Bishop to
Ireland

432

St. Patrick begins mission in

Ireland.

444

St.Patrick founds Ard Macha

(Armagh) near Emain Macha,
capital of Ulster, as
ecclesiastical capital of
Ireland.

493

St. Patrick dies (?)

~500

Fergus Mac Erc, King of

Dalriada, moves his capital
from Dunseverick to Caledonia.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C6
546

St. Columba (Columcille) founds Derry.

555

St. Comgall founds monastery of Bangor.

St. Columba leaves Ireland for Iona after being censured by Irish

563

Synod.
Battle of Moin-daire-Lothair; Cruithnic army defeated by force led by
the Clan Connall and the Clan Owen.

574

St. Columba crowns Aedan King of Dalriada on Iona.

575

St. Columba holds convention at Gortinanima, near Limavady, to

determine future of Scotland (Caledonia).

590

St. Columbanus sails from Bangor and starts mission in France

597

St. Columba dies on Iona.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C7: The Golden Age

603
~608

St. Comgall dies in Bangor.

Aedan, King of Dalriada, dies.

627

Battle of Brae Slieve; Cruithnic dynasty of Coleraine overthrown.

Congal Clane (One-Eye) becomes King of the Old Scots.

628

Congal Clane kills the High King, Suibne Menn of the Clan Owen.
Domnall, son of Hugh, becomes High King.

629

Congal Clane kills King of Dalriada.

Battle of Dun Ceithirnn; O'Neill under Domnall defeat Congal; Congal
flees to Scotland.

637

Congal Clane returns with large army, led by Domnall Brecc, grandson
of Aedan.
Battle of Moira; Congal killed; Domnall Brecc loses title to his
Irish territories.

~700

Brehon Laws - rights and status of all defined based on tribal

hierarchy

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C8
774

Last use of the term ``Cruthin'' in Cige Ulaid.

795

First recorded Viking raid

~800

Book of Kells illuminated

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------841
~900

C9: The Vikings

Viking longphort established at Dublin
Cork, Limerick, Waterford founded by Vikings

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C10

902

Dublin longphort abandoned

917

Walled city at Dublin founded by Vikings

964

Dal Cais under Mahon (Mathgamain) seize throne of Cashel

976

Brian Boru becomes King of Dal Cais

984

Brian Boru gains control of all of Southern Ireland

997

Brian Boru and High King Malachy divide Ireland between them

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------1002

C11
Malachy cedes High Kingship to Brian Boru

1014

Brian Boru killed fighting Vikings at Clontarf; Viking power wanes

1066

William (the Conqueror), King of Normandy, invades England

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C12: The Normans

1111

Synod of Rathbresail; Ireland divided into 24 Dioceses and 2

Archbishoprics

1132

St Malachy becomes Archbishop of Armagh

1152

Synod of Kells; 36 Dioceses and 4 Archbishoprics created

1154

Pope gives Norman King Henry II of England permission to claim

Ireland

1162

Murtough MacLochlainn becomes High King

1164

Teampul More built at Derry

1166

Murtough MacLochlainn blinds captive King Eochaid of Dal Fiatach;

killed in subsequent rebellion.
Rory O'Connor becomes High King.
Tiernan O'Rourke invades Leinster to settle score with King Dermot
MacMurrough; MacMurrough flees to England.
MacMurrough pledges allegiance to King Henry II; Richard FitzGilbert
de Clare (Strongbow), Earl of Pembroke, strikes deal with MacMurrough

1167

MacMurrough returns to Leinster with small force

1169

Norman force lands at Bannow Bay; Norse (Viking) settlement of

Wexford defeated

1170

Raymond le Gros lands at Baginbun.

Strongbow arrives with troops; captures Waterford from Norsemen.
Strongbow marries Aoife MacMurrough, daughter of Dermot
Dermot MacMurrough dies; Strongbow becomes King of Leinster.
Rory O'Connor besieges Dublin; is defeateed by Normans.

1171

Henry II arrives to keep Strongbow in check; Strongbow submits and is

granted Kingdom of Leinster.
Dermot McCarthy, King of Desmond, submits to Henry; southern kings
and bishops follow suit

1172

Hugh de Lacy appointed Viceroy; given Kingdom of Meath.

Norman expansion begins

1175

Treaty of Windsor; Rory O'Connor recognised as King of Connacht in

return for tribute

1177

John de Courcy sets out from Dublin to conquer Ulster

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C13
1245 Sligo castle built by Maurice FitzGerald.
1270

Aedh O'Connor, King of Connacht, defeats Normans at Athankip; Norman

expansion grinds to halt

1297

Parliament at Dublin passes legislation in attempt to prevent Norman

lords going native

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C14
1314

English defeated at Bannockburn by Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland

1315

Edward Bruce, brother of Robert, lands at Larne; occupies Ulster with

the aid of the O'Neills

1316

Bruce declares self High King of Ireland

1317

Robert the Bruce arrives with army

1318

Murtough O'Brien defeats Richard de Clare at Dysert O'Dea; Normans

lose control of Thomond.
John de Bermingham defeats Edward Bruce at Faughart; Bruce killed

1361

King Edward III appoints Lionel of Clarence as King's Lieutenant

(Justiciar)

1366

Lionel holds Parliament at Kilkenny; imposes draconian Statutes in

attempt to ensure English dominance

1394

King Richard II sends army to Ireland

1399

King Richard II sends army to Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1477

C15: Beyond the Pale

Garret More Fitzgerald becomes Eighth Earl of Kildare; elected
Viceroy (Justiciar).
King Edward IV sends Lord Grey to replace Garrett More; Grey
unceremoniously sent back to England

1485

Battle of Bosworth Field in England; Richard III killed.

Henry Tudor (VII) to throne; beginning of Tudor dynasty of English
kings

1487

Garret More supports pretender Lambert Simmel; Simmel crowned Edward

VI in Dublin

1492

Christopher Columbus reaches the Americas

1494

Henry VII sends Sir Edward Poynings to regain control of Ireland.

Poynings holds Parliament at Drogheda; accuses Garret More of
treason.
"Poynings' Law" passed : Irish Parliament can only convene with
consent of England and all laws must be approved by England in
advance

1495

Garret More arrested and taken to Tower of London; reinstated as

viceroy by Henry VII

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C16: Reformation
1507

Henry VIII to throne

1510

Reformation begins

1513

Garret More dies; Garret Oge Fitzgerald, son of Garret More, becomes
viceroy

1534

Garret Oge summoned to London; leaves his son, "Silken" Thomas, Lord
Offaly, as Deputy.
Thomas misinformed that Garret Oge has been beheaded; Thomas rebels

1535

Sir William Skeffington captures Thomas's stronghold at Maynooth.

Silken Thomas surrenders

1536

Union of England and Wales.

George Browne appointed Archbishop of Dublin; given task of reforming
Irish Church

1537

Silken Thomas and five uncles executed in London.

Henry VIII declared King of Ireland by Irish Parliament.
Land declared ultimately the property of the Crown, to be re-granted
with the King's permission

1541

Henry VIII appoints self head of Church of Ireland

1547

Edward VI to throne, aged 10

1549

Book of Common Prayer published in England; beginning of

Protestantism in Anglican Church

1553

(Bloody) Mary I to throne; restores Catholicism in England

1556

Offaly and Leix (renamed King's and Queen's Counties) plantation;

settlers come from England or the Pale

1558

Elizabeth I to throne

1559

Conn O'Neill, First Earl of Tyrone, dies; Shane O'Neill succeeds him.
Hugh O'Neill, nephew of Shane, taken to England by the Lord Deputy,
Sir Henry Sidney

1560

Elizabeth restores Protestantism in England.

Irish Parliament acknowledges Elizabeth as head of Irish Church;
imposes the Book of Common Prayer; makes Church attendance compulsory

1562

Start of Elizabethan Wars

1565

Shane O'Neill's rising

1567

Death of Shane O'Neill; Hugh O'Neill returns

1569

Catholic rebellion in northern England.

Sir Peter Carew lays claim to Fitzgerald and Butler estates in
Desmond.
James Maurice Fitzgerald leads unsuccessful rebellion; escapes to
Continent

157?

Small Ulster plantations

1579

Fitzgerald returns with force from Italy and Spain; wages

unsuccessful war in support of Catholicism.
Land forfeited to Crown for plantation

1585

Hugh O'Neill made Earl of Tyrone

1588

Spanish Armada launched against England; defeated and wrecked on

Scottish and Irish coasts.
Elizabeth orders survivors executed; Ulster chiefs disobey

1592

Foundation of University of Dublin

1593

Hugh O'Neill declares himself The O'Neill, heir of the High Kingdom

1594

Ulster chiefs rebel; start of Nine Years' War

1598

O'Neill defeats Sir Henry Bagenal at Yellow Ford.

Uprising in Munster destroys plantation

1599

Earl of Essex arrives with army; outmanoeuvred by O'Neill

1600

Lord Mountjoy assumes control of Crown forces; garrisons Ireland and

destroys food stocks.
O'Neill asks for help from Spain

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C17: Plantation
Spanish land at Kinsale.
Mountjoy besieges Spanish; O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell march
1601 length of Ireland and besiege Mountjoy.
O'Neill's forces botch attack; Mountjoy victorious.
O'Donnell flees to Spain
James Stuart (I and VI) to throne; single crown for England and
Scotland.

1603

Treaty of Mellifont; O'Neill surrenders.

End of Elizabethan Wars; enforcement of English law.
Belfast founded on estate of late Earl of Donegall to recover debts

1605

Gunpowder Plot

1606

Private plantation in Ards by Scots

1607

Ulster chiefs flee to Spain.

Counties Armagh, Cavan, Coleraine, Donegal, Fermanagh and Tyrone
declared forfeit and Crown property

1609

Plantation of Ulster implemented; lowland Scots and English arrive

1612

Coleraine county and Derry city given to London Companies to

administer; both renamed Londonderry

1613

Sir Arthur Chichester summons Parliament in Dublin

1614

Construction of Londonderry's Walls started

1615

Parliament dissolved; Chichester recalled to England.

First Convocation of Church of Ireland

1617

Londonderry's Walls completed

1625

Charles I to throne

1633

Sir Thomas Wentworth made Lord Deputy

1634

Church of Ireland accepts Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of

England

1638

Presbyterian rebellion in Scotland

1641

Gaelic and Old English (Norman) rebellion in Ulster.

Charles I refused permision by English Parliament to raise personal
army to fight rebellion

1642

Owen Roe O'Neill arrives from Spain to lead rebellion.

English Civil War starts

1646

Parliamentarians victorious in Civil War

1649

Charles I executed; monarchy abolished.

Arrival of Cromwell in Ireland to defeat Royalist garrisons

1650

Exile of Irish landowners to Connaught.

22% of land now owned by Catholics

1660

Restoration of the monarchy; Charles II to throne

1685

James II to throne

168?

Cromwellian land settlement overturned in Irish parliament; never

implemented

1688

Glorious Revolution; James II deposed.

Mary II and William III (of Orange) declared joint monarchs

1689

Roman Catholics denied the Throne.

Siege of Londonderry

1690

Arrival of William of Orange.

Battle of the Boyne

1691

Battle of Aughrim.
Surrender and Treaty of Limerick

1695

"Flight of the Wild Geese" : most of James' army flees to the

Continent.
First Penal Laws.
14% of land owned by Catholics

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C18: Ascendency
Act of Succession; only members of Church of England allowed Throne.
1701 William dies in riding accident; Anne I to throne
1704

Penal Code enacted; Catholics denied vote and barred from military

1707

Act of Union, England and Scotland.

Scottish Parliament abolished; Kingdom of Great Britain created

~1710 Secret organisations founded; peasant wars over land

1714

Hanoverian George I to Throne, takes little interest; respective

Parliaments now in charge of GB and Ireland, however Poyning's Law
still in force; Sir Robert Walpole first Prime Minister of GB.
7% of land owned by Catholics

1715

Jacobite rebellion in Scotland

1717

Freemasonry "comes out" in London.

Beginning of Irish Presbyterian (Scots-Irish) exodus to North
American colonies

1745

Jacobite rebellion in Scotland

1775

Henry Grattan becomes leader of Irish Patriot Party

1776

American War of Independence; many Scots-Irish emigrants involved

1778

Irish Volunteers formed

1782

Penal Laws relaxed.

Poyning's Law revoked; legislative independence for Ireland

1789

French Revolution

1790

Armagh Observatory built

1791

United Irishmen founded in Belfast by Theobald Wolfe Tone

1793

Catholics given vote

1795

Battle of the Diamond; Orange Order founded

1796

Arrival of French at Bantry Bay with Wolfe Tone

1798

United Irishmen rebel.

Death of Wolfe Tone

1800

Act of Union, Great Britain and Ireland passed

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C19: Union and Empire

1801

Irish Parliament abolished; United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Ireland created

1803

Robert Emmet's rising

18??

Napoleonic Wars

1823

Catholic Association founded by Daniel O'Connell

1828

O'Connell elected for Clare

1829

Catholic Emancipation Act

1837

Victoria to throne

1840

Repeal Association founded by O'Connell

1843

O'Connell holds Monster Meetings

1845

Queen's Colleges founded in Belfast, Cork and Galway.

Young Ireland movement founded.
Potato blight arrives from mainland Europe

1846

Total potato crop failure; first deaths of starvation

1847

Soup kitchens.
Small harvest.
Death of O'Connell

1848

Total famine.
Young Ireland "rebellion" : Battle of Widow MacCormack's cabbage
patch.
Stephens flees to France

1849

Total famine

1850

Tenant League founded

1851

Louis Napoleon's coup d'tat, Stephens involved

1856

Stephens returns; tour of Ireland

1858

IRB founded by Stephens.

Fenian brotherhood founded in US by Stephens and O'Mahony.

Scrabo Tower erected

1861

American Civil War.

Funeral of McManus

1863

Founding of "Irish People" newspaper

1865

American Civil War ends.

Arrest and escape of Stephens.
"Irish People" editors arrested

1866

Stephens deposed by American Fenians.

Kelly arrives in Ireland

1867

Fenian Rising.
Execution of Allen, Larkin and O'Brien

1869

Disestablisment of (Anglican) Church of Ireland

1870

First Land Act

1875

Parnell elected for Meath

1877

Potato crop failures

1879

Famine scare.
Land League founded by Davitt; Land War starts

1880

First boycotts

1881

Second Land Act.

Parnell imprisoned

1882

Kilmainham treaty; Parnell released; Land War ends.

Murder of Chief Secretary for Ireland

1884

Founding of Gaelic Athletic Association.

Electoral reform

1885

Irish Unionist Party founded to fight Home Rule

1886

First Home Rule Bill

1887

Forged Parnell letters published

1889

Forgeries exposed

1890

Parnell's divorce case; Parnell deposed from leadership of Irish

Party

1891

Parnell dies

1893

Second Home Rule Bill.

Gaelic League founded

1899

Griffith founds "United Irishman" newspaper

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------C20: Partition
1903

Land Purchase Act

1904

Griffith founds "Sinn Fin" newspaper and political party

1906

Liberal Party in power; no need for Irish Party support; no Home Rule
Bill

1909

Land Purchase Act

1910

Irish Party holding balance of power

1911

Parliament Act; House of Lords no longer has veto on legislation

1912

Third Home Rule Bill.

Solemn League and Covenant.
Irish Labour Party founded

1913

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) founded.

Irish Citizen Army and Irish National Volunteers founded

1914

Curragh mutiny.
Gun-running.
First World War starts.
Home Rule passed with provisos for Ulster

1916

Easter Rising

1917

Prisoners released.
Eamonn de Valera elected for East Clare.
New "Sinn Fin" political party formed

1918

End of First World War.

Sinn Fin victory in Ireland

1919

Dil ireann meets.

Collins organises killing of police

1920

Government of Ireland Act; Ireland partitioned.

Black&Tans and Auxiliaries arrive.
Bloody Sunday

1921

NI Parliament opened; Craig PM.

Anglo-Irish Treaty.
Irish Free State (Saorstt ireann) created

1922

Anti-Treaty faction takes over Four Courts.

Pro-Treaty victory in election; Civil War.
PR abolished for local elections in NI.
Republican riots in Belfast, 232 dead; Special Powers Act passed

1923

End of Civil War; Pro-Treaty victory

1925

Boundary Commission collapses; Nationalists sit in NI Parliament for

first time

1926

Sinn Fin split; De Valera founds Fianna Fil

1927

General Election in Free State; Fianna Fil enter Dil ireann

1932

General Election in Free State; Fianna Fil in power.

Treaty renounced; economic war with UK.
NI Parliament Buildings opened at Stormont.
Unemployment riots in Belfast

1934

Fascist "Blueshirts" appear and quickly disappear

1935

Sectarian riots in Belfast

1937

ire constituted

1938

Agreement with UK; rights in Treaty ports given up

1939

IRA campaign in GB.

Second World War; ire declares itself neutral.
Internment in ire of IRA members

1940

Craig dies; Andrews PM of NI

1943

Basil Brooke PM of NI

1945

End of Second World War.

General election in UK; Labour in power.
United Kingdom becomes founder member of United Nations

1948

General Election in ire; Fianna Fil defeated

1949

ire leaves Commonwealth of Nations; Republic of Ireland declared.

UK government promises no change in NI position without consent of
Stormont

1955

Republic of Ireland joins United Nations

1956

Beginning of IRA "Border Campaign"

1962

Border Campaign winds down, 19 dead.

IRA rejected by nationalist community; retreats into Marxist ideology

1963

Terence O'Neill PM of NI

1964

Divis Flats riots in Belfast.

Civil Rights movement founded in Dungannon

1965

O'Neill-Lemass talks

1966

Civil Rights meeeting at Maghera; IRA sidelined.

Malvern Street murder of Catholics by UVF; Special Powers Act
invoked.
Recommended closure of most railway lines in NI

1967

NI Civil Rights Association founded

1968

First Civil Rights marches; reforms announced.

Civil Rights march broken up by RUC in Londonderry

1969

"People's Democracy" marchers attacked by mob at Burntollet Bridge

with RUC support.
Troops sent to Londonderry and Belfast to protect Catholics from
Loyalist gangs and take over from RUC.
IRA split; Official IRA and Provisional IRA formed.
O'Neill resigns; James Chichester-Clark PM of NI

1970

Social Democratic and Labour Party formed in NI

1971

First British soldier killed by Provisional IRA.

Democratic Unionist Party formed in NI.
Chichester-Clark resigns; Brian Faulkner PM of NI.
Internment introduced

1972

Bloody Sunday.
Stormont Parliament suspended; Direct Rule introduced as temporary
measure; William Whitelaw first Secretary of State for NI.
PIRA bomb campaign in NI; Loyalist murders of Catholics in revenge.
Official IRA declares opposition to further violence

1973

UK and Irish Republic join European Economic Community.

Sunningdale agreement; power-sharing assembly proposed in NI.
Local Government re-organisation in NI; 6 Counties abolished; 26
Districts created with minimal powers.
De Valera retires from Presidency of Republic; Erskine Childers
elected President.
Government of Republic falls; Fine Gael/Labour coalition in power.
Council of Ireland agreed by NI and Republic; limited powers.
Faulkner leader of NI Assembly

1974

General Election in UK; Labour in power, Harold Wilson PM of UK.

Assembly meets; Ulster Workers Strike.
NI Assembly dissolved; Direct Rule re-imposed

1975

PIRA bomb campaigns in GB.

De Valera dies.
Merlyn Rees Secretary of State for NI.
New NI convention proposed

1976

NI convention dissolved

1977

Roy Mason Secretary of State for NI

1978

Number of NI MPs at Westminster increased to 17

1979

Irish Republic joins European Monetary System; two Pounds no longer

equivalent.
Humphrey Atkins Secretary of State for NI

1980

First hunger strikes in Long Kesh (Maze) prison

1981

Hunger strikes end.

James Prior Secretary of State for NI

1982

"Rolling devolution" proposed for NI

1983

NI Assembly formed

1984

New Ireland Forum publishes report; It advocates a federal Ireland

based on the four Provinces.
General election in UK; Gerry Adams elected for West Belfast; never
takes seat at Westminster.
Douglas Hurd Secretary of State for NI

1985

Tom King Secretary of State for NI.

Anglo-Irish agreement

1986

UK and Irish Republic sign Single European Act.

NI Assembly dissolved

1988

General election in UK

1989

Peter Brooke Secretary of State for NI

1990

Mary Robinson elected President of the Republic

1992

Three-stranded process proposed.

First formal negotiations between Unionists and Republic Government.
Talks collapse.
General Election in UK; Gerry Adams loses West Belfast to Joe Hendron
(SDLP).
Sir Patrick Mayhew Secretary of State for NI.
UK and Irish Republic sign Treaty on European Union (Maastricht
Treaty)

1993

Hume-Adams talks.
Downing Street Declaration

1994

European Union born out of EEC.

Father Brendan Smyth affair - Government of Republic falls.
Albert Reynolds resigns - Bertie Ahern elected leader of Fianna Fil.
PIRA declares ceasefire; UVF, UDA, RHC declare ceasefire.
Fine Gael/Labour/Democratic Left coalition - John Bruton Taoiseach

1995

Framework document published.

Molyneaux resigns as leader of Ulster Unionists - David Trimble
elected leader.
All-party talks stalled over decommissioning of paramilitary arms;
Mitchell Commission established

1996

Mitchell report; Elections proposed.

PIRA breaks ceasefire; bombs in London.
Proximity talks begin at Stormont; Unionist parties boycott talks due
to presence of Tnaiste, Dick Spring.
NI Assembly elections : Round-table talks teams selected

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Information from ``Ireland - A History'' by Robert Kee, ``A Short History of

Ireland'' by Martin Wallace, ``The Cruthin'' by Ian Adamson, and other sources.
andrewg