Historians say conflict has been continuous ever since English troops first colonised parts of Ireland in the 11th century. The two faces of Belfast. A UVF slogan along the Shankill Road. The block in the background is Divis Tower on the Falls Road, the last remaining block from Divis Flats, the incubator of Catholic protest in the 1960s. Here is a list of major events since large-scale violence erupted in 1969.
Loyalists respond by attacking Catholic areas.
August 1969 Britain sends troops to the province - initially to protect Catholics from Protestant attacks. November 1971 British troops shoot dead 13 unarmed Catholics in the Nationalist heartland of Derry - an incident which became known as 'Bloody Sunday'. March 1972 London asssumes direct responsibility for law and order in Northern Ireland, bypassing the Ulster government and parliament which have been in operation since 1922. The Northern Ireland government resigns in protest, whereupon Britain dissolves the Ulster parliament and adopts direct rule from London. 1973-4 Sectarian killings proliferate between Protestants and Catholics.