A glossary of Terms Related to the Conflict
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- Ballymurphy A large working-class Catholic estate in the West Belfast. Many people in the area support the Republican movement. "Bandit Country"
- Betting Shop Killings / Bookmakers Shop Killings
- Border Question See
- Brit(s) Colloquial shortening of British. Mostly used in a derogatory manner by Republicans and mainly to refer to the British Army. See also
- See also
- British Mainland See
B'B-Special(s)' synonyms: Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) The name given to a part-time force of Ulster Special Constabulary (USC) that was disbanded in 1970. Originally there were three units of the USC, 'A', 'B', and 'C'. The 'A' and 'C' units were disbanded before the beginning of the current conflict. See: Abstracts of Organisations entry. Ballygawley On 20 August 1988 a bus carrying British soldiers was blown up by a landmine planted by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) near Ballygawley, County Tyrone. Eight soldiers were killed and 27 injured. Ballykelly On 6 December 1982 a bomb at the Droppin' Well bar in Ballykelly, County Derry, killed 17 people and injured a further 66 people. Among the dead were 11 off-duty members of the British Army. Responsibility for the explosion was later claimed by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). Ballymurphy A large working-class Catholic estate in the West Belfast. Many people in the area support the Republican movement. "Bandit Country" The term was first used by Merlyn Rees, then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, to describe districts near the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland where the security forces considered the threat of attack from the Irish Republican Army (IRA) to be particularly high. In later years the term became synonymous with the area of South Armagh. 'Battle' of the Bogside On 12 August 1969 serious disturbances broke out following a Loyal Order parade by the Apprentice Boys' of Derry which passed close to the Bogside area of Derry. These disturbances then led to violent clashes between the Catholic residents of the Bogside and members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) backed by Loyalists. Calm was only restored on 14 August 1969 when British troops were deployed on the orders of the British government. The three days of rioting became known as the 'Battle of the Bogside'. Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne took place in 1690 between the rival armies of the Protestant King William II and his father-in-law, the Catholic King James II. Although the conflict between the two men owed much to the political rivalry in Britain and on continental Europe, it took on great significance in Ireland. This was largely due to the fact that the victory of William II marked a watershed in Irish history in that it secured power for the Protestant ascendency whilst marking the end of the Catholic nobility and gentry in Ireland. The battle itself is celebrated each year on 12 July by parades organised by the Loyal Orders. In recent times these parades have become a contentious issue between the two communities in Northern Ireland. For Protestants the parades are considered to be a celebration of their culture but for Catholics they are judged to be examples of Protestant triumphalism. Belfast
Betting Shop Killings / Bookmaker's Shop Killings On 5 February 1992 five Catholic civilians were killed in a gun attack on a bookmakers (a licensed betting shop) in the Ormeau Road area of Belfast. In a statement claiming responsibility the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), a cover name (pseudonym) used by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), concluded with the words "Remember Teebane". (See: Teebane) Beyond the Pale Although the term is not specific to the Northern Ireland conflict it derives from an earlier period of conflict in Ireland's history. When something is said to be 'beyond the pale' it is taken to mean that it is intolerable or unacceptable. The Pale was a rough fortification built by the English around the Dublin area and marked the limit of English control in Ireland for a number of centuries. The area beyond the fortification, or Pale, was in the control of the native Irish and was seen by the British as being unruly. Bilateral Given the difficulties of involving the various parties and groups in political talks in Northern Ireland it has often been the case that discussions have had to be arranged on a bilateral basis (two sided) rather than on an all-inclusive basis. 'Blackman' / 'Blackmen' A member of the Royal Black Institution, the full title of which is the 'Imperial Grand Black Chapter of the British Commonwealth'. The terms 'Blackman' and 'Blackmen' are commonly used by both unionists and nationalists. The Royal Black Institution is one of 'loyal orders', the other main ones being the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys of Derry. 'Black Propaganda' During the conflict in Northern Ireland both the security forces and paramilitary organisations often attempted to spread false accounts and negative versions of events in order to discredit their opponents. This process became known as 'black propaganda'. The term has most often been used by Republicans about the security forces. 'The Blanket' Refers to the protest against criminal status by Republican prisoners in the Maze Prison between 1976 and 1981. As part of the protest to achieve political status the prisoners refused to wear prison clothing and chose instead to cover themselves with blankets. The protest led to the 'hunger strike' of 1981 during which Bobby Sands and nine other Republican prisoners died. See: Key Event entry. "Bloody Awful Country" On returning to London after his first visit as Home Secretary to Northern Ireland, Reginald Maudling was quoted as saying: "For God's sake bring me a large Scotch ... what a bloody awful country". 'Bloody Friday' On 21 July 1972 the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) exploded some 26 bombs across Belfast which killed 9 people and injured more than 130. On 16 April 2002 the IRA issued astatement offering its "sincere apologies and condolences" for the "deaths and injuries of non-combatants". Within this statement was a specific reference to the bombings on 'Bloody Friday'. See: Key Event entry. 'Bloody Sunday' On Sunday 30 January 1972 13 people were shot dead by soldiers of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army during an anti-Internment march in Derry. A further 14 people were shot and injured and of these one died in June the same year. Whist the Army claimed they had only fired after being shot at, those involved in the parade denied such claims and maintained that those shot were innocent victims. The events of the day have been the subject of much controversy and as a result two separate inquiries were established by the British government. The first of these by Lord Chief Justice Widgery in 1972 was widely criticised as being flawed and having completely exonerated the soldiers involved. In 1998 following a long campaign a new inquiry set up and chaired by Lord Saville. See: Key Event entry. Bogside A working-class Catholic area in the cityside of Derry. The name originally applied to one street but now includes a large section of the older part of the city. Many people in the area support the Republican movement. Bombay Street During sectarian clashes on the night of 15 June 1969 Bombay Street in West Belfast, a Catholic area, was attacked by Protestants and all the houses on the street were burned to the ground. Although the street itself was later rebuilt the events of that night were remembered and used by Republicans as a reason for never again allowing their community to be left defenceless. As a result when the issue of decommissioning of Irish Republican Army (PIRA) weapons was raised in the late 1990s people were urged to 'remember Bombay Street'. 
'Border Poll' Following the suspension of Stormont in March 1972 Edward Heath, then British Prime Minister, promised to hold a referendum to measure support in Northern Ireland for the continuation of the union with the United Kingdom. The 'Border Poll' was held on 8 March 1973. The referendum was largely boycotted by the Nationalist electorate whilst in a turnout of 60% over 98% voted in favour of the existing link with the rest of the United Kingdom. In spite of initial plans to hold regular polls on the constitutional issue none was ever conducted after 1973. 'Border Question' See: Constitutional Question Brighton Hotel Bomb On 12 October 1984 the Irish Republican Army (IRA) exploded a bomb in the Grand Hotel, Brighton, during the Conservative Party conference. Although five people were killed the real target of the attack Margaret Thatcher, then British Prime Minister, escaped without injury. 'Brit(s)' Colloquial shortening of British. Mostly used in a derogatory manner by Republicans and mainly to refer to the British Army. See also: British Britain Britain, or Great Britain, is a collective term for England, Scotland and Wales. Strictly the term never included Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is however part of the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). Although Northern Ireland is not geographically part of Britain the majority of the population, mainly those who are Protestant and Unionist, very emphatically consider themselves to be British. See also: British, United Kingdom British Refers to those living in Britain or those who have British citizenship. The majority of the population in Northern Ireland, mainly those who are Protestant and Unionist, consider themselves to be British. See also: Britain 'British Isles' This was a term used to refer to the group of islands off the north-west coast of Europe comprising Britain, Ireland, and adjacent smaller islands. The term is still widely used in Northern Ireland and Britain. With the independence of the Republic of Ireland the term is no longer strictly accurate and is considered derogatory by some. A more correct term would be the 'British and Irish Isles'. 'British Mainland' See: 'Mainland' 'Broadcasting Ban' In 1972 the Irish government, in the wake of the growing unrest in the North of Ireland, chose to ban the broadcasting of interviews involving members of illegal organisations. This was done by means of Section 31 of the 1960 Broadcasting Act which prohibited the broadcasting of any sort of material seen as promoting or inciting crime. On 19 October 1988 Douglas Hurd, then British Home Secretary, announced restrictions under terms of the 1981 Broadcasting Act. These prevented broadcasters from using direct statements by members of specific proscribed organisations and also applied to individuals who were canvassing support for the named organisations. To try to get around these measures broadcasters began to dub an actor's voice to speak the words of paramilitary representatives whilst showing appropriate film footage. In the wake of developments in the 'Peace Process' in the early 1990s both governments moved to lift their respective bans. The first to act was Dublin with Section 31 being repealed at midnight on 19 January 1994 and London lifted its restrictions on 16 September 1994. Burntollet Bridge On Saturday 4 January 1969 the People's Democracy (PD) march from Belfast to Derry was ambushed by militant Protestant counter-demonstrators, including off-duty members of the 'B' Specials, at Burntollet Bridge not far from Derry City. The attack produced strong reaction among the Nationalist community in Northern Ireland. See: Key Event entry. Directory: academic academic -> Annual InStructional unit plan academic -> Annual InStructional unit plan academic -> Unit: Automotive and Auto Body academic -> The Devil in the Deep Blue Sea academic -> Hurricanes and Global Warming An Alternative Point of View by academic -> Davis case study paper: to nourish or not to nourish our florida beaches? academic -> 1Compiled by John Dunne-Brady academic -> Table of Contents Economic Policy Causes and Consequences of the Subprime Crisis Brendan Dowling 11 academic -> United states history and geography academic -> Annotated Bibliography Grades 1-41 Download 299.07 Kb. Share with your friends:
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