Northern Ireland during The Troubles, and the relative safety and tranquility of the Republic?

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Misty Blue

Define relative safety.I often shopped in the North during the Troubles and only a few times encountered anything 'troublesome'.On the other hand even Dublin seen it's share.

You knew that?Not exactly rocket science working that one out if you don't mind me saying.

Orla:I was in Belfast recently in my ROI reg car and was deep in the heart of loyalist Belfast and stopped to ask directions twice.On both occasions folk were more than helpful.

As for someone with Norn Irn plates drivng in the Republic there wouldn't have been a problem at any time as registration never denoted affiliation.

Mike F

I grew up on the border at this time,
The border areas in particular were very active at that time and there were British Army border checkpoints at every point. There was a fair amount of republican activity in the neighbouring southern countys aswell such as Monaghan and Louth, but the trouble itself was confined in the North with the exeption of a few bombs in Dublin and Monaghan by the Loyalists.

It seemed to me that the border areas were much more dodgy for the security forces than anywhere else, but they (British forces) werent permitted to patrol in the South, (in theory!)

janus

Once you were over the Border you were Free from Trouble. A lot of People would come to the South when The Marching Season got under way to avoid the Trouble and some of these were even Unionists People.

Of course we were never totally free from Outrages by the IRA. They Robbed our Banks and Killed some People including some Members of the Gardai the Irish Police Force. The Dutch Industrialist Tiede Herrema that was Kidnapped and threatened with Death if Money was not Forthcoming. The Dentist that was Kidnapped and had his Finger Lopped off by the IRA.

Of course there was the Various different Bombings like the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings in 1974 with over Thirty Odd People who were Killed including my Aunt in Parnell Street and Her Husband who was Blown up as well but got over his Wounds but Died two Years after that. He went Crazy after awhile and then Died so he was a Victim as well. It is said that the Loyalist Faction must have had Help from the British Security Services or EX Members in Preparing the Bombs as they had not the Skill as the IRA at making Bombs. No Person was ever Charged for the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings.

There was various other Incidents down through the Years as well,so we did not entirely Escape.But in saying that we were very Peaceful in the South. We had an awful lot of IRA Hiding down here and when they were caught the Irish Government made up Excuses so that they would not have to Extradite them to the North or else to Britain. So of course there was a big Leaning towards the IRA by the Dublin Government unfortunately in spite of all the Atrocities Committed by them. Various Towns on the Border were very PRO Irish Republican like Dundalk.

n.barrett93

There were a few bombings/murders in Dublin by loyalists but they were very uncommon.

Generally once you crossed the border you were safe from any danger.

However in the 1980s a loyalist mob literally invaded a tiny border town (the town was in the Republic by about a mile) in Monaghan called Clontibret. They burned down a Garda station but one man at the back of the mob was arrested - it was Peter Robinson, 2nd to Paisley in the DUP. He spent a short time in jail but pretty much got off scot free.

IsmiseEirneach

em all parts of the republic were relatively safe during the troubles even those on the border. Some parts of northern ireland were safe too although would have been classified as risky areas "just in case" there was a threat to terrorism. but yes the republic was safe

dixie

Well,in 1979 i was in Dublin for my/our honeymoon, and the first thing that caught my eye was all the graffiti, Brits out etc, the other personal experience i had was, in the late 80's i, and a few friends had been down ( for weekend)to the Wicklow Mt's climbing. I was driving. and on the way home, going through Dublin, I got lost and through my panic- getting lost, I made a minor traffic offence, it was that minor, i forget what it was for! The Gardai pulled me in, and I started to explain( in my most politeness manner) the predicament i was in, and apologised for my mistake. The answer i got from the two policemen was " the first mistake you made was crossing the border/Dublin". they then got the four of us out of the car and made us all empty our rucksacks on the road, and informed me " i was very lucky they didn't impound the car and take me to Mountjoy (prison) for the night.

That's the the relative safety and tranquillity of the Republic I encountered !

greenorlagh

About a yard to be honest.

Orla C

A few years ago I had reason to travel into Northern Ireland, and I didn't encounter any problems. I was driving a car with a Republic of Ireland registration.

It's not the IRA you would need to worry about if you were driving a Republic of Ireland registered car, dear. It's the other crowd, the hardliner extremist Loyalist crowd who think that we're all out to get them. When we aren't.

You 'know that a lot of IRA members are actually from within the Republic'? They are? This is news to me.

First of all, the crowd of troublemakers out there now call themselves either the Real IRA - which is a huge insult to the freedom fighters and civil rights activists of the early 20th century and the late 1960s, as the 'Real' IRA are no more than a bunch of pimps, drug dealers, bankrobbers, tiger kidnappers, and murderers. I'm not even sure if they are the same crowd as the 'Continuity' IRA, and while I've seen graffiti painted on buildings in the Republic, much of that is likely to have been kids let loose with paint.

I think that if you're driving a ROI reg car, you might be best steering clear of areas that are flying the Union Jack.

Meathgirl!

Well I live in meath, meaths on d east of ire. Never had any trouble at all. In all counties in d Republic, there was never any trouble, only in the north.

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