A glossary of Terms Related to the Conflict



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T


Taig(s)
Taig is a derogatory term for Catholics used (mainly) by Loyalists. The origin of the word Taig is unclear, it may derive from a common firstname for Catholic boys or may be a derivation from the surname Teague. The letters 'KAT' are still painted on walls in Northern Ireland and are an acronym for 'Kill All Taigs'. Loyalist prisoners in the Maze prison had a mural in one of the 'H-blocks' which contained the wording: "Yabba-Dabba-Doo, Any Taig Will Do" implying that all Catholics were legitimate targets.

Taoiseach
The official term used to describe the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland. The word itself comes from the Irish language and it translates into English as the 'chief'.

TD(s) / Teachta Dála 
Member(s) of Dáil Éireann, the Irish Parliament.

Teebane


On 17 January 1992 the Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb killing eight Protestant civilians who had been travelling in a minibus past Teebane crossroads between Cookstown and Omagh, County Tyrone. The men had been working at a military base in County Tyrone and were travelling home when the attack occurred.

Terrorist(s) / Terrorism
Terrorist is a term used in Northern Ireland to refer to a member of a paramilitary group. The term has been mainly, but not exclusively, used by Unionists and representatives of the British Government and mainly, but again not exclusively, in connection with Republican paramilitary groups. [The CAIN web site uses the more neutral term of 'paramilitary'.]
See also: Loyalist Paramilitary Groups, Republican Paramilitary Groups, Paramilitary

'the Troubles'
The term 'the Troubles' is a euphemism used by people in Ireland for the present conflict. The term has been used before to describe other periods of Irish history. [On the CAIN web site the terms 'Northern Ireland conflict' and 'the Troubles', are used interchangeably.]

'Tiochaidh ár Lá'
A slogan in Irish commonly used by supporters and members of the Republican movement. It translates into English as 'Our day will come'.

'Totality of Relationships'
On 8 December 1980 an Anglo-Irish summit was held between Charles Haughey, then Irish Prime Minister, and Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister. In his public statements after this meeting Haughey highlighted that both governments had agreed that any political solution in Northern Ireland would have to consider the "totality of relationships within these islands". The phrase was taken to mean that all parties both in Britain and Ireland would have to be involved in such a process and that all issues and problems would have to be addressed by way of open negotiations.

'Tout(s)'
Anyone, from either side of the community, who passes on information to the security forces in Northern Ireland is referred to as an informer or a 'tout'.

Towards a Lasting Peace
The title of a policy document published by Sinn Féin (SF) in February 1992.

Towards a New Ireland
The title of a policy document published by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1972. 
See: Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). (1972) Towards a New Ireland - Proposals by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). Derry: Social Democratic and Labour Party.

'Triple Lock'
This term emerged during the political negotiations in the 1990s involving Northern Ireland politicians and the British and Irish governments. In essence it proposed that three basic conditions had to be met before any final settlement could be agreed. Namely, there had to be an agreement between the political parties within the North of Ireland; any proposal had to win the acceptance of the electorate within Northern Ireland through a referendum; and finally, it had to win the support of the British parliament. Later the concept of 'triple lock' was applied to the political talks that were to culminate with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in April 1998.

TUAS
The term refers to a document produced by the Republican movement in the summer of 1994 in which it set out its objectives in the wake of the ceasefire called by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on 31 August 1994. For Republicans it was understood to mean 'Totally Unarmed Struggle' whilst political opponents and critics suggested that it really stood for 'Tactical Use of Armed Strategy'.
See: Republican Movement. (1994) The 'TUAS' Document, [An internal Republican Movement document that is thought to date from the summer of 1994]. Dublin: Sunday Tribune.

'Twenty-Six Counties'
This is one of the terms used by some Nationalists, particularly Republicans, to describe the Republic of Ireland. It refers to the fact that the state is made up of twenty-six of the 32 counties of Ireland. Many people take exception to the use of the term.
See also: Éire, Irish Free State, Republic of Ireland, 'South of Ireland'

'Twin Track Initiative'
On 28 November 1995 the British and Irish governments launched a renewed effort in to end the political stalemate in Northern Ireland. This became known as the 'twin track initiative' and it involved making progress simultaneously on the decommissioning issue and on all-party negotiations.

U


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

Ulster Defence Association (UDA)
pseudonyms: Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
The largest of the Loyalist paramilitary groups. Formed in 1970 and not proscribed (declared illegal) until 1992. The UDA has used the covername of Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) to claim many sectarian killings.
See: Abstracts of Organisations entry.

Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR)
A regiment of the British Army which was recruited in 1972 from within Northern Ireland. Most of the initial membership of UDR was composed of prior members of the 'B-Specials'. The regiment was almost entirely Protestant. The regiment was eventually merged with the Royal Irish Rangers to form the Royal Irish Regiment.
See: Abstracts of Organisations entry.

Ulster Democratic Party (UDP)
Loyalist political party which had links to the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). Garry McMichael was the main spokesman for the party.
See: Abstracts on Organisations entry.

Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
A Loyalist paramilitary group. A covername used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).
See: Abstracts on Organisations entry.

Ulster Says 'No'
In the wake of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in November 1985 Unionists began a campaign of opposition against it and one of the slogans used was Ulster says 'No'.

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP)
synonyms: Official Unionist Party (OUP)
The largest of the Unionist parties. The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) mainly attracts middle-class Protestant support. The party has close links with the Orange Order. David Trimble has been leader of the UUP since 1995.
See: Abstracts of Organisations entry.

Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
pseudonyms: Protestant Action Force (PAF), Protestant Action Group (PAG), Red Hand Commando (RHC)
The second largest of the Loyalist paramilitary groups after the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) / Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF). The modern UVF was formed in 1965 and was responsible for the first bomb attacks during the current 'Troubles'. It is believed to be associated with the Red Hand Commando (RHC).
See: Abstracts of Organisations entry.

'Ulsterisation'
In the mid-1970s, as part of a major overhaul of its security policy in Northern Ireland, the British government moved to reduce the role of the British Army in favour of the locally recruited Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). This process was referred to as 'Ulsterisation' as it put the local recruits, who were overwhelmingly Protestant, into the front line in the fight against Republican paramilitaries.

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

'Unionist Veto'


Term used by Nationalists to refer to the fact that the 'consent principal' gives the Unionist majority in Northern Ireland an effective veto over the future of the region.
See also: Consent Principal

United Kingdom
A collective term that includes Britain and Northern Ireland. In other words, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Beginning with the kingdom of England, it was created by three acts of union: with Wales in 1536, Scotland in 1707, and (the whole of) Ireland in 1801. Political union between Britain and Ireland was secured by the Union Bill which was approved on 1 January 1801, so the term United Kingdom originally applied to the whole of Ireland and Britian. Since the independence of the Republic of Ireland the term United Kingdom now refers to the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland.
See also: Britain

V


Veto
In the context of Northern Ireland the term 'veto' is often used by opposing politicians to allege that political progress is being blocked by members of the other community. In particular it has been used by Republicans who argue that the British government has given Unionists a veto over any movement towards a united Ireland.

W


Warrington
On 20 March 1993 a bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded in a shopping centre in the town of Warrington, England, killing two young boys and injuring 56 other people.

Warrenpoint
On 27 August 1979 the Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched a number of attacks on the British Army near the town of Warrenpoint, County Down, in which eighteen members of the Parachute Regiment were killed.

'Washington Three' (conditions)
During a visit to Washington on 7 March 1995 Sir Patrick Mayhew, then Secretary of Sate for Northern Ireland, set out three conditions that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) would have to accept before the British government would allow the entry of Sinn Féin (SF) into the proposed political negotiations. These were subsequently referred to as the 'Washington Three' conditions and included the following requirements: a willingness by the PIRA to "disarm progressively" (decommission their illegal weapons); an agreement on the method of decommissioning; and that there had to be a start a start to the process of decommissioning before any talks could begin.

Way Forward
In April 1984 weeks before the publication of the 'New Ireland Forum Report' the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) published a policy document the 'Way Forward' which outlined its proposals for a political settlement in Northern Ireland. In addition on 2 July 1999 the title, the 'Way Forward', was used by the British and Irish governments for a joint paper produced by them. It was hoped that it would lay the basis for breaking the political stalemate that had developed over decommissioning and the granting of devolved power to the institutions proposed under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).

West 'Brit' / West British
A derogatory term used by Nationalists or Republicans when talking of someone who they would see as Irish but who would classify themselves as British.

Westminster
Refers to the parliament of the United Kingdom based in the Palace of Westminster in London.

Workers' Party
A Republican political party which has its origins in the Official Sinn Féin (OSF) movement. Strongly socialist and anti-sectarian.
See: Abstracts on Organisations entry.

X




Y


'Yellow Card'
All serving British soldiers in Northern Ireland were issued with instructions setting out the conditions and circumstances in which it is acceptable for them to use their weapons. The instructions were written on a yellow coloured card and hence were known as the 'yellow card'.

'Yes' Campaign
During the referendum campaign on the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) in April and May 1998 those who supported the GFA came together in a 'Yes' campaign in order to persuade the electorate in Northern Ireland to vote 'Yes' for the GFA.

Young Citizens' Volunteers (YCV)
This term first emerged in 1912 but during 'the Troubles' in Northern Ireland it was the title used by the youth wing of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).

'Young Militants'
The title given to the youth wing of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

'Young Turks'
The phrase 'Young Turks' was first used to refer to a group of Republicans from Northern Ireland who emerged from the mid-1970s onwards and who became closely associated with the policies and leadership of Gerry Adams. The term was also used in connection with younger members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Z

This is a third draft of a glossary of terms that are found on the CAIN web site. Anyone reading about the Northern Ireland conflict will come across many words and terms which require some explanation. In the above section the reader will find: explanations of terms used throughout the CAIN Internet site which may cause confusion; alternative terms for, say, the same organisation; and words which have a political context or overtone.

While the CAIN site uses some terms in preference to others, as mentioned above, none of the text in scanned documents, or in quoted passages, has been changed - the terms used by the original authors are unaltered. The reader should also consult the 'Abstracts on Organisations' for further information.

A useful reference is:


'An Alphabetical Listing of Word, Name and Place in Northern Ireland' by Seamus Dunn & Helen Dawson (2000)

This extract is taken from the book:

AN ALPHABETICAL LISTING 
OF WORD, NAME AND PLACE 
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
AND THE LIVING LANGUAGE 
OF CONFLICT
by Seamus Dunn and Helen Dawson (2000) 
ISBN 0-7734-7711-X (Hardback) 309pp £59.95
Symposium Series Volume 57
The Edwin Mellen Press
Lewiston*Queenstone*Lampeter

Orders to local bookshops or:



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T: (01570) 423-356



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E: emp@mellen.demon.co.uk

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