<--- Click Here For History Before 1970

September 1971 Formation of the Ulster Defense Association, an umbrella for Protestant gangs that kill hundreds of Catholics in coming decades

Jan. 30, 1972 The British army kills 13 Catholics in what becomes known as "Bloody Sunday." Almost two months later the British government dissolves the Northern Ireland parliament and assumes direct rule from London.

Nov. 21, 1973 British and Irish governments, Protestants and moderate Catholic groups agree to new power-sharing Executive for Northern Ireland. The government collapses in six months

April 9, 1981 Bobby Sands, leader of hunger strike in Maze Prison, is elected to the British Parliament.

Oct. 20, 1982 Inspired by Sands' victory, IRA's allied Sinn Fein party runs for first time in Northern Ireland election and wins 10 percent of the vote

Oct. 12, 1984 An IRA bomb kills five people at a hotel at Brighton, where then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and other Conservative Party leaders were staying during the party's annual convention. Thatcher was unhurt

October 1993 The worst week of violence in Northern Ireland since the early 1970s. An IRA bomb kills nine Protestants and pro-British gangs kill 13.

Dec. 15, 1993 Ireland proclaims itself a republic and leaves the British commonwealth.

Sept. 1, 1994 The IRA begins what it calls "complete cessation of military operations." British seek assurances IRA's truce will be permanent and a commitment to eventual disarmament. Neither are forthcoming.

Oct. 13, 1994 Two major outlawed pro-British groups, the Ulster Defense Association and Ulster Volunteer Force, call a joint cease-fire.

Nov. 28, 1995 On the eve of U.S. President Clinton's first trip to Northern Ireland, British and Irish governments appoint former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell to resolve IRA disarmament controversy.

June 10, 1996 Multiparty talks chaired by Mitchell open in Belfast. Sinn Fein is barred.

May 16, 1997 The new British Prime Minister Tony Blair promises Sinn Fein place in talks if IRA calls new truce. The IRA renews its cease-fire two months later, but two hard-line Protestant parties boycott talks as Sinn Fein walks in.

Dec. 27, 1997 Assassination of senior Protestant militant "King Rat" triggers wave of gun attacks on Catholics; paramilitary cease-fires in jeopardy.

April 10, 1998 On Good Friday, eight parties accept an accord envisioning a Protestant-Catholic administration, links with the Irish Republic, gradual paroles for IRA and pro-British convicts and disarmament of paramilitary groups to be completed on May 22, 2000

July 1, 1998 David Trimble, Protestant leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, is elected future senior Cabinet minister. He says Sinn Fein won't get Cabinet posts unless IRA starts to disarm

Aug. 15, 1998 A dissident IRA member plants a car bomb that kills 29 people in Omagh. It becomes the deadliest terrorist strike in Northern Irish history.

Oct. 16, 1998 Trimble and John Hume, moderate Catholic leader of Social Democratic and Labor Party, win the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in brokering a peace plan.

Click Here For History After 1998 --->