Welcome to the online reference guide for the Frank O'Day Archival Collection. The O'Day Archive is found in the Connecitcut Irish American Historical Society section of the Ethnic Heritage Center located on the campus of Southern Connecitcut State University, 270 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT.

This blog is meant to be a tool for researchers. Visitors will find selected information from the Frank O'Day Archival Research Aid and Finding Guide. All information was found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection or in cited websites.Websites have been offered to supply researchers with background material. The working condition, authenticity, and information found on the websites are not necessarily supported by the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society. All images are from the O'Day family and the CIAHS. If you have questions, find mistakes, discover dead links, or are an organization who wants to create a link to this page please email frankodayarchive@yahoo.com or ctiahs@gmail.com
Links to CIAHS webpages: http://ctiahs.com/ 
http://www.southernct.edu/ethnic_heritage_center/
Section I: IntroductionAbstract: The Frank O’Day Archival Collection contains twenty nine boxes of materials that are organized in folders. The collection contains objects, correspondence, newsletters, photographs, newspapers, magazines, and other materials. Review the Background Information, Category, and Keyword sections of the guide for content topics.   

Creator: Frank O’Day. Assistance provided by Connecticut Irish American Historical Society members, Carol O’Day, Patricia Heslin, and Robert Francis. 

Restrictions to Access: Open to public viewing.  

Irish American Information Service (IAIS) and Irish News:  A portion of the O’Day collection contains newsletters and updates from the IAIS and Irish News organizations. The IAIS has a search function on their website: http://www.iais.org/. This will include information not held in the O’Day Archive. The Categories and Keywords used in the O’Day Archive do not correspond to those of the IAIS website. The Irish News website requires a subscription to view content.  

Subject Headings: Library of Congress Subject Headings were not used in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. Use the Categories and Keywords in the finding guide to conduct searches and cross referencing.

Section II: Biography

Frank P. O’Day (1934-2006) was born of Irish parents in the Fair Haven section of New Haven, CT. His mother emigrated from Galway and his father’s family was from Clare. Frank graduated from James Hillhouse High School in New Haven before attending North Eastern College of Pharmacy (formally called New England School of Pharmacy). He served in the army from 1955 to 1957 as a medical specialist at Fort Dix, New Jersey and also served in France. Frank was married in 1963 to Carol Baxter of Boston, Massachusetts. They were blessed with seven children, four girls and three boys. After many years in retail pharmacy Frank opted to work in industry, and was hired by Miles Pharmaceutical Division in West Haven, CT. Miles Pharmaceutical later became known as Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Frank worked as a pharmaceutical technical foreman. It was after Frank retired that he and I met at the Ethnic Heritage Center in New Haven. I was working for the Jewish Historical Society, one of the five groups residing there. 

Frank and I developed a growing friendship after discovering we had many common interests. Our ancestors were from the same area in Ireland, and we both lived in Madison, CT. Unfortunately, in 2005 Frank was diagnosed with cancer, and his prognosis was not good. Following that, I believe more than ever he wanted to impart his knowledge to me so that his efforts to make people more informed about the truth of Northern Ireland would be told.  

The history of Northern Ireland is fraught with conflict and violence. It is common for sources of information about these conflicts to be biased. When the media reports on events in Northern Ireland there is often a simplified narrative focusing on the IRA. I believe that the real story of Northern Ireland is one of protest for peace and human rights. These were the issues Frank focused on. Equal to Frank’s passion for peace and justice in Northern Ireland was his drive to get the whole story out. I share Frank’s conviction that once one investigates the totality of events their assumptions about Northern Ireland will change.  

Researchers should understand who Frank O’Day was, and how he came to hold the views he did on Northern Ireland. Instead of writing about Frank, I will use a series of questions and answers Frank wrote before his death. The following is from a document Carol O’Day gave me to use as a source in the development of this research guide. These are direct quotes from that document. 

How and why did I get involved in: 

1) Irish History- I felt that in order to better understand current Ireland I needed to have a deeper understanding of all facts of its past. 

2) Irish Current Events- My interest (or passion as my family describes it) centers primarily on working for peace with justice in the occupied six counties of Northeast Ireland and to dispel the false image put forth by the media and our government that Americans opposed to British injustice are supporters of violence. 

3) Extent of my Interest- Former chairman Irish Northern Aid, State Director American Irish Political Education Committee, Third District Coordinator Irish American Unity Conference, Past Chairman Irish History Round Table, Member Irish American Cultural Institute. 

Comments: Future of the Six Counties 

The six counties will be reunited with Ireland. It’s all a matter of when-which is a function of educating more people to the British orchestrated tragedy erroneously called Northern Ireland. Individual Americans and groups have promulgated MacBride Principles legislation in major states and cities in the USA to insure that Americans do not become party to the discriminatory practices inherent in the British occupation by investing monies in American companies that do business in the six counties and do not adhere to the basic principles of fair play in the work place.  

Current Round of Talks 

I view the talks with healthy pessimism. As the British government did not enforce the Sunningdale Agreement of 1974 they lack credibility and their human rights violations directed at the minority has been well documented by Amnesty International, Helsinki and other human rights advocate organizations. The party that represents the recipients of this state endorsed terrorism are not represented by the talks. The main unionist party is represented by a man that was imprisoned for inciting to riot and hatred (Ian Paisley). All this does not bode well for the talks. Current reports suggesting that a large segment of the loyalist community would support a united Ireland if their rights were guaranteed is certainly a positive note. The time is ripe for change. The British colonial occupation cannot continue to stand up to international inquiry.

It is clear that Frank had strong views on Northern Ireland. Frank’s views were based on his knowledge and life experiences. The majority of information in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection is from the Irish republican point of view. Frank’s experiences and views concerning Northern Ireland are represented in his archive for others to utilize and form their own conclusions with.

I would like to thank the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society, Carol O’Day, and Patricia Heslin for giving me the time and assistance to complete this research tool as Frank had envisioned it.

Robert Francis

 Section III: Background Information on Northern Ireland

The following is a list of significant locations, terms, and events relating to the Northern Ireland Peace Process found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. This list is to be used as a reference for researchers. This is not a complete list of significant locations, terms, or events in either the Northern Ireland Peace Process or the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. All information was found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection or in cited websites. Websites have been offered to supply researchers with background material. The working condition, authenticity, and information found on the websites are not necessarily supported by the  Connecticut Irish American Historical Society.

1916 Easter Uprising: The 1916 Easter Uprising was an insurrection led by Irish republicans during the Easter week of 1916. The rebellion against British rule in Ireland was led by James Connolly, Patrick Pearse, and Eamon DeValera. Most of the armed rebellion occurred in Dublin, lasting from Monday 24^th April to Saturday the 29^th. The Easter Uprising was not a military success but it made heroes out of those who participated. The Easter Uprising was significant because it was the first major move toward Irish independence from Britain. The following is an excellent collection of information on the Easter Uprising to use for background information.  

BBC web address: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/ 

Summary from an Illinois Irish American Historical Society website: http://www.irishroots.org/aoh/rising.htm 

National Library of Ireland site: http://www.nli.ie/1916/ 

1937 Constitution of Ireland: The 1937 Constitution of Ireland was the second Constitution created after Irish independence from Britain.  Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution were the most controversial. The two Articles claimed that the whole of Ireland was one single national territory. This language was removed in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement declared that Northern Ireland could only be unified with the Republic of Ireland after a democratic vote by both countries on the issue.  

The following is a link to the document: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Ireland_(original_text) 

1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement:  The 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed by the governments of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. This agreement laid the foundation for power sharing in Northern Ireland.
Web address to a summary, selected readings, chronology, and other links: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/aia/index.html 

A License to Murder: BBC documentary featuring reporter John Ware who investigated collusion between British intelligence services and loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. 

 Web address to the BBC site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/3122902.stm 

Ballymurphy Massacre: The Ballymurphy Massacre occurred between August 9^th and 11^th, 1971. Eleven innocent citizens of Ballymurphy were murdered by British soldiers. 
Background information is available at the Irish American Unity Conference website: http://www.iauc.org/ballymurphy 

Web address for Time for Our Truth site: http://ballymurphymassacre.com/ 

Bank heist, Northern Bank in Belfast: The largest bank heist in Ireland’s history occurred in 2005 just as peace talks were beginning to show progress. Unionists quickly implicated the IRA and accused Sinn Fein of having involvement. Sinn Fein denied any involvement in the modern Provisional IRA or the robbery. Police Constable Hugh Orde also claimed the IRA was responsible for the bank robbery. This event stopped the peace process and led unionist politicians to try to ban Sinn Fein from future involvement. Evidence later emerged showing Ian Paisley and other unionists pressured Hugh Orde into making statements about the IRA. A large sum of this money was found in a Police Services of Northern Ireland “reformed RUC” club locker. This caused many republicans to claim a cover up had occurred in order to scape goat Sinn Fein and undermine the peace process.

Belfast Declaration: Set of principals created by The International Association of Youth and Family Judges and Magistrates in 2006. The document focuses on the rights of children. Topics include child pornography, the selling of children, and other human rights issues.

The Belfast Declaration text is available through a Microsoft word download on the UNICEF.org site. This can be downloaded directly from a search engine results page. 

Black and Tans: The Black and Tans were a ruthless Special Forces unit placed in Ireland during the Irish War for Independence that began in 1920. The official mission of the Black and Tans was to defeat the IRA. The Black and Tans were known to attack innocent civilians and abuse their power. 

A brief synopsis of the Black and Tans legacy from the Irelands OWN website: http://irelandsown.net/blacktans.html 

BBC web address to a history of the Black and Tans: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/easterrising/aftermath/af05.shtml 

Bloody Sunday: Bloody Sunday occurred on January 30^th, 1972. Protestors gathered for an anti-interment rally in Derry. Violence erupted when British soldiers shot twenty six protesters. Fourteen of the twenty six who were shot died from their wounds. A cover up by the British government and military started immediately. After years of protest for an independent inquiry into the events, Prime Minister Tony Blair supported the Saville Inquiry. The Saville Inquiry began in 2005 and ended in 2010. The findings show British military personnel lost control and shot innocent bystanders who posed no threat. Independent inquiries by individuals and groups have charged collusion with loyalist paramilitaries, hit lists, and shoot to kill orders. The impact of Bloody Sunday on Irish/British relations cannot be understated. When the British military initially entered Northern Ireland, Catholics welcomed them as a protective force against sectarian violence. After Bloody Sunday the British were seen as working in collusion with the loyalist/sectarian groups that targeted Catholics.                                                                                 

Website address for the Derry based organization Bloody Sunday Trust: http://bloodysundaytrust.org/index-02.html

CAIN website address with summary, chronology, and links: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/bsunday/bs.htm 

Boston Three: The Boston Three were Christina Reid, Richard Johnston and Martin Quigley. The Boston Three were arrested and convicted for conspiracy to develop technology to be used by terrorists in Northern Ireland.  

Website address to the text of the Federal Court findings on the Boston Three appeal case: http://vlex.com/vid/clark-quigley-christina-leigh-reid-38450345. 

Castlereagh Raid: The Castlereagh raid involved theft of highly sensitive information from the Castlereagh Special Forces headquarters. Phone numbers, residential addresses, undercover codenames, and spy information were stolen. At first officials claimed that the theft must have been an inside job due to the level of knowledge the perpetrators needed to have about the building. The verdict quickly changed to the IRA who were conducting a ceasefire at the time. The IRA denied any involvement in the activities. Unionists used the event to stall peace talks.  

An Pholacht news article: http://republican-news.org/archive/2002/March21/21fron.html 

Collection of Guardian articles on the Castlereagh raid: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2002/jun/09ni.htm 

Ciaran Ferry legal case: A deportation case involving Irish republican Ciaran Ferry. Ferry was released from prison in Northern Ireland as part of the Good Friday Agreement. Ferry fled to the United States after he learned his name was on a hit list. In order to gain entrance to the U.S. Ferry lied about his criminal past.  Ferry had been living peacefully with his family until immigration officials arrested him on January 30, 2003. Irish American supporters argued that Ferry should either not be considered a criminal since the Good Friday Agreement negotiated the release of political prisoners, or should be accepted under political asylum due to threats against his life in Northern Ireland.

Web address to an interview with Ciaran Ferry: http://www.pittsburghirish.org/echoesoferin/interviews/ciaran0305.htm

Collusion: The term collusion is used to describe instances when the British military, Northern Ireland police forces, and loyalist paramilitaries have worked together to target Catholics in Northern Ireland.

Colombia Three: The Colombia Three are Niall Connolly, James Monaghan, and Martin McCauley. The three Irish citizens were arrested on August 11, 2001 in Colombia. The Colombian government said the men were arrested for training the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels. Organizations formed to support the Colombia Three. The most influential organization was called the Bring Them Home Campaign. The Colombian trial was mismanaged and eventually boycotted by the three men. The judge found the three men guilty of a lesser charge, but innocent of training FARC members. On the prosecutions appeal the men were convicted of FARC related charges. During this period of time the three men fled Colombia and returned to Ireland. There have since been no plans by the Irish government to return the men to Colombia.
Summary of the Bring Them Home Campaign from the Sinn Fein website:  http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/3664 

Committee, The:  “The Committee” is a novel written by Sean McPhilemy. It is a study of collusion between unionist paramilitaries, the RUC, and British Special Forces. The major source of information for the book was Jim Sands. Sands was a secretary for the Ulster Independence Committee. John Weir later gave an affidavit in support of Sean McPhilemy.  Weir was a former member of the RUC who also gave information about collision between the RUC and unionist paramilitaries.  

A copy of “The Committee” can be found in the CIAHS library. 

Decommissioning: The term decommissioning refers to the elimination of weapons owned by paramilitary organizations in Northern Ireland. Weapons decommissioning had long been a topic unionist politicians used as a precondition to peace negotiations. The PIRA was the first paramilitary group to decommission through the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. Loyalist paramilitaries and other republican groups have since decommissioned under the same organization.  The Independent International Commission on Decommissioning officially ended decommissioning activities in 2010. For more information see Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD). 

Devolution: Devolution refers to the reinstitution of the Northern Ireland Assembly after periods of direct rule form Britain. 

Diplock Courts: Diplock courts were established by Lord Diplock in 1973. These courts continued to exist until 2007. Diplock courts have no jury and consist of only one judge. These courts were said to have been established because of jury intimidation and violence. These courts actually denied political prisoner status and had no juries.  

Summary by The Guardian newspaper describing abuses by Diplock Courts:  http://www.humanrights.ie/index.php/2010/10/11/police-brutality-torture-and-the-diplock-courts-in-northern-ireland-the-guardian-investigates/ 

Document download of the replacement arrangements authored by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission:  http://www.nihrc.org/dms/data/NIHRC/attachments/dd/files/73/Replacement_Arrangements_for_the_Diplock_Court_System.doc

Direct Rule: Direct Rule refers to periods in time when Northern Ireland was ruled by Britain,
and democratically elected representative institutions were suspended. Direct rule was implemented throughout the late 1990s and 2000s.  

Downing Street: Downing Street is the political center of England. The Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street in walking distance to the British Parliament and Buckingham Palace.  

UK government website: http://www.number10.gov.uk/ 

Drumcree: Drumcree Church is the destination for loyalist parades during the July Twelfth celebrations. During the 1990s Orange Order Parades that occurred in the town of Portadown resulted in sectarian violence. This became known as the Drumcree conflict. Garvaghy Road was a specific area of intense violence. Since the 1990s the level of violence has diminished as parades have been rerouted.   

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: The Dublin and Monaghan Bombings occurred on May 17, 1974. Thirty three people were killed in the bombings for which the loyalist paramilitary group UVF later claimed responsibility. The following web address is to the organization Justice for the Forgotten. The organization was founded by relatives of those who died in the bomb attacks. http://www.dublinmonaghanbombings.org/index2.html 

Duffy’s Cut: Duffy’s Cut is an archaeological site in Pennsylvania where fifty seven Irish immigrants were found buried.  The group of Irish immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania to work for Philip Duffy building a railroad. All fifty seven men died within six weeks. It is not clear whether disease or violence was the main cause of death.
Web address to The Duffy’s Cut Project: http://duffyscut.immaculata.edu/ 

Economics: Economics generally refers to the inequality in Northern Ireland between Irish Catholics and Protestants. See MacBride Principles. 

Equality Commission: The Equality Commission was established to promote equal opportunities on the grounds of religion, race, and gender. 

Web address to a downloadable pdf report created by the NIEC: http://www.equalityni.org/archive/pdf/Keyinequalities(F)1107.pdf 

Extradition/Visa: Extradition and visa issues became prominent after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Under provisions in the Agreement individuals who were convicted for paramilitary activities could be released from prison. Many republican prisoners fled Northern Ireland due to threats against themselves and their families. Some of these individuals faced immigration problems due to their criminal history. Those who support these individuals have argued that they should be granted political asylum. This issue gained significance after new laws were created in reaction to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

Finucane, Patrick: Patrick Finucane was a human rights lawyer who worked in Northern Ireland. Finucane was shot dead in front of his wife and children on February 12, 1989 by pro-British UDA members.
Stevens Report- Sir John Stevens led a total of three inquiries into the murder of Patrick Finucane.
The process lasted more than a decade. Stevens initially held the belief that collusion was not institutionalized or widespread between unionist paramilitaries and British soldiers. Stevens changed his mind by the end of his investigations. By Stevens' third inquiry William Stobie had been arrested for the murder of Pat Finucane, and Ed Moloney was threatened with legal action for withholding evidence. Stobie was a UDA member and RUC informer that claimed there was collusion between British Special Forces officers and unionist paramilitaries. Maloney was a journalist who refused to hand over to the courts information he had gathered while authoring a story about the Finucane murder. The Stevens inquiry ended in the conclusion that Pat Finucane had been targeted for murder, and that there had been a history of institutionalized collusion between British soldiers and unionist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. The report ended in 2005. See also Stevens Report. 

Judge Corey – Canadian Judge who, on review of the cases of Pat Finucane, Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill, and Billy Wright in 2004 found enough evidence to justify public inquiries into each case. 

The European Court of Human Rights - Found the investigations into the death of Patrick Finucane failed and offered a monetary reward to the plaintiffs in 2003. 

For a full list of all inquiries, statements from NGO’s and family information see the following website: http://www.patfinucanecentre.org/pf/pfindex.html 

Flag issue: The issue of flags became a sticking point in peace negotiations. Unionists argued that the Irish tri-color flag should not be flown over any official building in Northern Ireland since Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and not the Republic of Ireland. This debate became a tool for unionist politicians to slow down and block efforts toward peace in Northern Ireland. 

Garvaghy Road: Garvaghy Road was a point of conflict during Orange Order parades in Portadown, Northern Ireland. The major incidents of violence occurred during the 1990s. See The Orange Order in Sectarian Political Organizations. Also see Portadown, Drumcree, and Twelfth.  

Gibraltar Three: The Gibraltar Three were Daniel McCann, Sean Savage, and Mairead Farrell. All three individuals were members of the IRA. British intelligence believed that the three had planned to detonate a bomb during a parade in Gibraltar. Officials were incorrectly informed that the three had already set up the bomb. When the three were identified they were all shot dead by British Special Air Service members. No weapons or explosives were found. The shootings sparked retribution shootings by both the UDA and IRA. The European Court of Human Rights ultimately found that the three were terrorists and so rightful action had been taken. The Gibraltar Three incident touched on larger themes such as an institutionalized practice of shoot to kill connected to abuse of plastic bullets and the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

Website for “Murder on the Rock” an investigation into the Gibraltar Three: http://www.rcgfrfi.easynet.co.uk/larkin_pubs/older/motr/motr_all.htm 

Good Friday Agreement: also known as the Belfast Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement was a major political event in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. The Good Friday Agreement was created in 1998 between the British and Irish governments with American assistance. Senator George Mitchell was President Clinton’s special envoy to the region. Mitchell authored a report containing suggestions for the peace process. There were many provisions in the Good Friday Agreement including a devolved legislature and executive, reform in policing, decommissioning of paramilitary groups, fair hiring practices, and the establishment of a human rights commission. Some unionist political parties such as the DUP disagreed with the Agreement and became known as “anti-agreement".
Good Friday Agreement found at The Avalon Project at Yale University: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/good_friday.asp 

The Good Friday Agreement described by Sinn Fein:                                            http://www.sinnfein.ie/good-friday-agreement 

Guildford 4: The Guildford Four were Gerry Conlon, Paul Hill, Paddy Armstrong, and Carole Richardson. The four were wrongfully arrested and imprisoned after being accused of involvement in a bomb explosion at a Guildford pub. The prosecution used false confessions that were later retracted during the trial.  Under a new anti-terror law the four were allowed to be held without evidence. Conlon and Hill later said that they were tortured until they gave confessions. No formal evidence was presented in the court case to prove any of the four were involved with the IRA.  Seven of their relatives and friends, called the “Maguire Seven” were also arrested and sentenced to prison.  Gerry Conlon’s father, Patrick "Giuseppe" Conlon died in prison. A major Hollywood movie titled “In the Name of the Father” was made based on Conlon’s autobiography “Proved Innocent: The Story of Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four”. 

BBC article about release: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/19/newsid_2490000/2490039.stm 

Synopsis of events: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/guildford-four-are-cleared 

IMDb synopsis for the movie “In the Name of the Father”: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107207/

H-Block: H-Blocks are a number of infamous British prison buildings located in Northern Ireland. The official name of the entire prison is Her Majesty’s Prison Maze. The formal name is usually shortened to the Maze. H-Blocks get their name due to the shape of the buildings where prisoners were held. H-Blocks became known around the world after Irish hunger strikers died while being held in them. For more information about H-Blocks see Hunger Strikers and the Maze prison. 

Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD): The IICD was responsible for overseeing the decommissioning of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. The organization successfully worked with republican and loyalist paramilitary groups.
The following is a link to the Department of Justice and Law Reform that funded the commission. http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Independent_International_Commission_on_Decommissioning

Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC): An organization established by Irish/British governments in 2004 to assist with the normalization of security forces in Northern Ireland.

IMC website: http://www.independentmonitoringcommission.org/ 

School Violence: During the 1990s and early 2000s loyalists targeted Catholic schools as part of an intimidation campaign in Northern Ireland. The most famous incident was a drawn out protest at The Holy Cross Primary School. Loyalists who lived in Ardoyne, Belfast began protesting along the route to Holy Cross in 2001. What began as a protest turned into sectarian slurs and anti-Catholic rhetoric as Catholic school children were walking to school. Protesters successfully blocked the school entrance for an entire semester. Death threats from loyalist paramilitary groups were sent to employees of Holy Cross. These death threats were followed by a pipe bomb that was defused on the school’s front steps. Other Catholic schools were targeted by loyalists as well such as Our Lady of Mercy Girls' Secondary School, St Joseph's Primary School, St Mary's School, and St Patrick's College. 

A synopsis of events from the Guardian news organization: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/sep/04/qanda.schools 

Images from a photography website: http://www.belfastexposed.org/archive/image.php?parentid=17&catid=62&imgid=1470&page=2 

Hunger Strikers: The term “hunger strikers” refers to men who were imprisoned in the H-Blocks of the Maze prison who went on hunger strikes from 1980-1981. The hunger strikers were protesting their lack of political prisoner/ prisoner of war status. Protests in the Maze prison had been escalating since the mid-1970s when the blanket protest began. The blanket protest was followed by the dirty protest. The first hunger strike that occurred in the Maze prison took place in 1980 and lasted fifty three days. The men stopped the protest because they believed they had been awarded a special prisoner status. The second hunger strike occurred in 1981. One of the hunger strikers named Bobby Sands gained notoriety after being elected as MP for South Tyrone in Northern Ireland as the Anti-H-Block/Armagh Political Prisoner candidate. Ten hunger strikers eventually died in protest. Hard line tactics used by the British backfired as sympathy grew for protesters in Northern Ireland. 

Website that provides information on the hunger strike, biographies, and the aftermath: http://irishhungerstrike.com/background.htm 

A collection of links about the Hunger Strike: http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/aia/exhibits/0501_hunger/other_res01.htm 

Bobby Sands Trust: http://www.bobbysandstrust.com/ 

Kennedy-McCain Bill: Officially named the “Immigration Reform Act of 2007”. The immigration bill was supported by many Irish American organizations because of provisions offering avenues toward citizenship for undocumented people already in the U.S. 

A description of why Irish American organizations supported the bill: http://www.irishlobbyusa.org/kennedymccainbill.php 

Loyalist: Refers to individuals who are loyal to Britain. Loyalists seek to keep Northern Ireland a part of the United Kingdom and oppose reunification with Ireland. The terms loyalist/unionist often refers to paramilitary groups or political groups in Northern Ireland. 

Maze: The Maze was used to hold prisoners arrested during and after special anti-terror military operations conducted by Britain in Northern Ireland. The prison’s official name is Her Majesty’s Prison Maze. The special operations were developed to arrest IRA members, but the majority of those arrested were innocent civilians. The Maze gained international notoriety after republicans who had been refused political prisoner status or prisoner of war status began what was called the “dirty campaign”. The dirty campaign became a hunger strike in 1980. By the end of the hunger strikes ten prisoners had died. The Maze prison remained in operation until 2000. See also Hunger Strikers, H-Blocks, and information pertaining to Bobby Sands. 

A complete history of the maze found on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/northern_ireland/2000/maze_prison/default.stm 

UK website: http://www.british-prisons.co.uk/prisons/Northern%20Ireland/3.htm 

MacBride Principles: The MacBride Principles are a set of fair employment laws for Northern Ireland that were lobbied for by many American Irish organizations. The nine principles were authored by Sean MacBride. MacBride was an Irish politician who had been involved in early IRA activities and later with Amnesty International. The MacBride Principles were supported by 18 U.S. states including Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and California.

An explanation of the MacBride Principles by the Irish National Caucus: http://www.irishnationalcaucus.org/pages/MacBride/MacBride%20Principles%20The%20Essence.htm

MacBride Principles Compliance Pledge by the Connecticut Office of State Treasurer: http://www.state.ct.us/ott/aboutmacbride.htm

Mitchell Report: The Mitchell Report was a framework toward peace talks and paramilitary weapons decommissioning in Northern Ireland that was authored by George Mitchell. George Mitchell is a retired Senator from Maine who had been appointed as Special Advisor to Northern Ireland by President Bill Clinton. Mitchell worked with an international body to investigate problems in Northern Ireland. This process was called the Mitchell Review. The Mitchell Report was published in 1996. The Report gave suggestions, frameworks, and a general set of principles to use in order to move the peace process forward. When researching the Mitchell Report outside of the O’Day Archives also use the terms “Mitchell Principles” and “Mitchell Review” as Mitchell Report may also refer to George Mitchell’s investigation into steroid use in major league baseball. In the O’Day Archives also use the terms decommissioning, and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD).

A synopsis of the Mitchell Report by the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives: http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/mitchell/faid/7/

A full description of the Mitchell Report in context by Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN) website: http://www.cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/peace/talks.htm

Monaghan Bombing: See Dublin and Monaghan Bombings

Nationalist: The term nationalist refers to individuals in Northern Ireland who oppose rule by Britain. Sometimes the term nationalist is used in reference to Catholic minority populations. The term nationalist is also used to describe politically active republican people and organizations. The term nationalist took root after the partition of Ireland in 1921 to describe those in Northern Ireland who opposed a union with Britain. 

New Lodge Six: The New Lodge Six were Jim Sloan, Jim McCann, John Loughran, Brendan Maguire, Tony Campbell and Ambrose Hardy. The six men were shot dead on New Lodge Road in Northern Belfast by British soldiers in 1973. The British government never investigated the deaths and no soldier was reprimanded.

A synopsis of events concerning the New Lodge Six:  http://www.troopsoutmovement.com/newlodgesix.htm

News Article from An Phoblacht Remembering the New Lodge: Six:
http://www.anphoblacht.com/news/detail/13088

Omagh Bombing: The Omagh bombing was a car bomb attack perpetrated by the Real IRA in 1998. The attack was in defiance of the Good Friday Agreement. The car bomb exploded in Omagh, Northern Ireland killing 29 people. The attack created a universal backlash from republican and unionist communities.

Web address for a self-help group geared toward the victim’s families and human rights issues. http://www.omaghbomb.co.uk/latest_news.html

BBC in depth timeline of events: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/northern_ireland/2000/the_omagh_bomb/default.stm

Patten Report: The Patten Report was developed by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland. The Commission was established in 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement. The Commission was headed by a British politician named Christopher Patten. The Patten Report outlined measures to reform the Royal Ulster Constabulary “RUC” police force. The Catholic population in Northern Ireland lost faith in the RUC after repeated anti-Catholic activities and evidence of collusion with loyalist paramilitaries. Some of the major provisions in the Patten Report included a 50% Catholic 50% Protestant hiring ratio, creation of a complaints tribunal, renaming the police force, and training from police forces outside of Northern Ireland.  The major headings in the document include human rights, accountability, policing with the community, policing in a peaceful society, public order policing, management and personnel, information technology, structure of the police service, size of the police service, and composition/ recruitment of the police service. The Patten Report reforms were implemented in 2007. 

Full report by the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/police/patten/patten99.pdf 

Police Bill: The Police Bill actually refers to a number of police reform acts that implemented aspects of the Patten Report. The two major acts were passed in 2000 and 2002. Some unionist politicians did not support police reform. The major provisions in the police reform acts can be found in the Patten Report. 

Portadown: Portadown is a city in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. When Portadown is mentioned it is usually in reference to sectarian parade violence during the 1990s and early 2000s. The flash point of violence during the 1990s was around the Catholic area of Garvaghy Road.  

History of parade violence from 1995-2000 at Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN):  http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/issues/parade/develop.htm 

BBC timeline of events: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2092771.stm 

Garvaghy Road Residents Organization website:
http://web.archive.org/web/20071211103946/

Northern Ireland Assembly: The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature in Northern Ireland. The assembly was created in 1998 as part of the Good Friday Agreement and is made up of elected officials that have legislative powers. The assembly was suspended numerous times the early 2000s. Without the assembly Northern Ireland was under direct rule from Britain. Irish republicans claim that during the peace process unionist politicians would purposefully obstruct progress in order to dismantle the assembly. The Northern Ireland Assembly was reestablished in 2007 and exists as of 2011. The assembly meets at Stormont in Belfast Northern Ireland.

Official Website: www.niassembly.gov.uk

Republic of Ireland Act of 1948: The Republic of Ireland Act of 1948 officially made Ireland an independent nation. The Act gave all executive powers to the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland Act of 1948 also amended controversial language in the 1937 Constitution that left Northern Ireland’s status vague. The 1948 Act declared that Northern Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, but that the legislature could vote on joining the Republic of Ireland. The language was officially withdrawn from the 1937 Constitution during the 1998 Good Friday Agreement negotiations.

Full version available by the Irish Statue Book of the Office of the Attorney General: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1948/en/act/pub/0022/index.html

Republican: Irish republicans are individuals who believe Northern Ireland should join the Republic of Ireland to create one nation. The Irish movement for independence has existed in different forms for centuries. When viewing materials referring to earlier periods in Irish history the term Fenian might also be used.

School integration: Integration of Protestant and Catholic school children was a major goal of the Northern Ireland peace process. Neighborhoods in Northern Ireland have traditionally been segregated. Sometimes areas have been blocked by physical barriers called peace lines. This segregation has led to homogenous schools. There have been attempts to integrate schools in Northern Ireland throughout the 2000s. See Holy Cross Primary School.

Sectarian violence: In Northern Ireland sectarian violence generally refers to violence between Protestants and Catholics. 

Shankill Road: The Shankill area has been a flashpoint of sectarian violence since the Troubles began in Northern Ireland. The loyalist paramilitary group Ulster Volunteer Force was formed in the Shankill area. The Shankill Butchers also committed acts of sectarian violence during the 1970s. During the Northern Ireland Peace Process sectarian violence in the area was coupled with infighting between loyalist paramilitaries like the Ulster Volunteer Force and Ulster Defense Association.   

Shoot to kill: Shoot to kill was a controversial policy adopted by the British military in Northern Ireland. There have been numerous shoot to kill inquiries in Northern Ireland such as the Stalker and Sampson Reports. These inquiries were focused on the 1982 deaths of Sean Burns, Eugene Toman, and Gervaise McKerr in County Armagh. The policy of shoot to kill was again questioned in the shooting deaths of the Gibraltar Three. The Saville Inquiry into circumstances surrounding the deaths of civil rights marchers on Bloody Sunday also investigated an official British shoot to kill policy. The Independent Commission led by Chris Patten investigated shoot to kill allegations made against the British military and Royal Ulster Constabulary. In 2005 relatives of victims who had been shot dead by British troops and the Royal Ulster Constabulary were awarded financial compensation after the European Court of Human Rights found that improper investigations surrounding 12 deaths had occurred. 

Stevens Report on Collusion: The three inquiries led by John Stevens were focused on allegations of collusion in the murder of civil rights lawyer Patrick Finucane. The investigation exposed collusion between official British forces and loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland. Brain Nelson was eventually arrested for the murder of Patrick Finucane. Nelson, who was a former British soldier, admitted under oath that he was also a UDA member. Nelson gathered information for the UDA on potential targets for murder including Patrick Finucane. William Stobie was the man actually charged with Finucane’s murder but witnesses in the case refused to testify. Stobie was shot to death shortly after the trial. John Stevens who headed three inquiries originally stated that he found no evidence of any official collusion between British forces, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and loyalist paramilitaries. By the third inquiry Stevens had found evidence that the murder of Patrick Finucane should have been prevented, that those who carried out the murder should have been arrested sooner, and that collusion did in fact exist. See also Finucane, Patrick. 

BBC timeline of events that led to the death of Patrick Finucane and the Stevens Report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3683206.stm 

BBC page with link to full Stevens Inquiry Report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/2956337.stm

Short Strand: A Catholic area in East Belfast. The area has been a flash

point of sectarian violence since the Troubles began. The short stand is fortified by fences, walls, and a gated entrance. These barriers are called peace lines and exist throughout Northern Ireland. Violence in the short strand has continued even after paramilitary decommissioning and political devolution. As recent as July, 2010 riots broke out involving fires, pipe bombs, and petrol explosives. 

The following is a site that containing images of the Short Strand. http://www.frankiequinn.com/reviews.html 

St. Andrew’s Agreement: The St. Andrew’s Agreement was a breakthrough in the Northern Ireland peace process that occurred in 2006. The St. Andrew’s Agreement restored the Northern Ireland Assembly, Executive, and implemented police reforms that changed the Royal Ulster Constabulary into the Police Services of Northern Ireland.  

Web address for the St. Andrew’s Agreement: http://www.nio.gov.uk/st_andrews_agreement.pdf 

Stormont: Stormont is the location of the current devolved Northern Ireland Parliament. Stormont Castle was the location of many peace negotiations during the modern Northern Ireland peace process.

The following is a UK government website for Stormont: http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/vtour/vtour_index.htm 

Stormontgate: Stormontgate was an event that occurred in 2002 involving an alleged IRA spy-ring that stole documents from the Stormont parliamentary building. Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan originally claimed the documents had been stolen by the IRA. Denis Donaldson, Ciarán Kearney, and William Mackessy were arrested. A raid on Sinn Fein offices by the Police Services of Northern Ireland followed the arrests. This event became known as Stormontgate, and resulted in a collapse in peace negotiations. The charges against the three men were later dropped due to lack of evidence. It was also revealed that Donaldson was in fact a MI5 British informer. Donaldson admitted that there was no IRA spy-ring and that the ordeal was contrived to collapse the peace process and save UUP leader David Trimble’s career. Shortly after this statement Donaldson was shot to death. The Real IRA claimed responsibility for the murder. 

The Irish American Information Services website and IAIS documents in the O’Day collection provide a good narrative of the events: http://www.iais.org/ 

Supergrass Trials: The term Supergrass means to inform. The term was used in Northern Ireland in the early 1980s to describe trials that involved dozens of defendants who were being accused of criminal activities by a single individual. The main informer in the Northern Ireland Supergrass trials was Christopher Black who had been granted immunity for testifying. Many of the convictions were later overturned and the system was discontinued in 1985.  

Troubles: The Troubles is a term used to describe sectarian violence and institutionalized prejudice against Catholics in Northern Ireland. The Troubles generally refers to a time frame beginning in 1960s. The main issue of contention was the Constitutional status of Northern Ireland. Irish republicans wanted Northern Ireland to be unified with the Republic of Ireland. Unionists who were mostly Protestant and self-identified as British wanted to secure a place in the United Kingdom. There is no specific beginning point for the Troubles. Some mark the  paramilitary fighting between the IRA and Loyalist groups such as the UVF and Shankill Butchers as the starting point. Another interpretation for the beginning of the Troubles was the introduction of British military to Northern Ireland in 1969. This intervention was originally welcomed by Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland as protection against sectarian attacks. Optimism quickly vanished as British military forces began acting in collusion with police services and loyalist paramilitaries against the Catholic minority. Civil right protesters were brutally beaten and riots against Catholics increased in the late 1960s. A major turning point in global perspectives of Northern Ireland occurred in 1972 when civil rights marchers were shot dead by British soldiers. This event is called Bloody Sunday. Another major incident occurred in the early 1980s when Irish republican prisoners went on a hunger strike while being detained in the Maze prison. Ten of the hunger strikers died. An end point for the Troubles is equally as ambiguous as the beginning. Some mark the Good Friday Agreement as the end while others see the St. Andrews Agreement as an end point. The Troubles is a general term used in different ways to simplify the complicated modern history of Northern Ireland.  

Website describing the origin of the Troubles: http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/faq/faq2.htm#when 

Twelfth: also known as The Glorious Twelfth. The Twelfth is a holiday for loyalists in Northern Ireland that celebrates the 1690 victory of William of Orange over James II at the Battle of the Boyne. During the Twelfth celebrations loyalist organizations such as the Orange Order hold parades to commemorate the victory. In the 1990’s these parades became violent. A flash point for violence was in Portadown, County Armagh near Garvaghy Road.  Residents who live near Garvaghy Road started an organization called the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition. A human rights lawyer for the group named Rosemary Nelson was murdered by a bomb planted under her vehicle. The loyalist paramilitary Red Hand Defenders claimed responsibility for the assassination. See also Orange Order/Parades under Sectarian Organizations, Portadown, Drumcree, and Garvaghy Road. 

Unionist/Loyalist Feuds: Loyalist paramilitary feuds had existed since the beginning of the Troubles but became more intense in the 1990s and the early 2000s. A major feud was instigated by Johnny Adair of the Ulster Defense Association. Some of the members followed Adair and a war within the organization broke out. Another feud erupted between the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Loyalist Volunteer Force.  The LVF was a violent loyalist group headed by Billy Wright who himself was murdered in the Maze prison. The LVF fought against any peace deal in Northern Ireland. The following web address is a synopsis of the different loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland and how they came to exist: 

http://www.cfr.org/publication/9274/northern_ireland_loyalist_paramilitaries_uk_extremists.html

Resource from the BBC. Under the “Themes” heading click “loyalist splinter threat”and go: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/northern_ireland/understanding/default.stm 

The following is a list of political parties/legal establishments from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This list is to be used as a reference for researchers. This is not a complete list of all political organizations/legal establishments in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, or the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. All information was found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection or in cited websites. Websites have been offered to supply researchers with background material. The working condition, authenticity, and information found on the websites are not necessarily supported by the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society.

Alliance Party: A moderate unionist political party in Northern Ireland. Official Website: http://www.allianceparty.org/

Belfast Assembly: The democratically elected parliament for Northern Ireland. See the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Dail Eireann: The lower house of the Oireachtas “Irish Parliament”.

Democratic Unionist Party: (DUP) The DUP is a unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP obstructed many goals in the Good Friday Agreement. The DUP voted against the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement. The Reverend Ian Paisley has been an outspoken leader for the organization. Many of Paisley’s speeches and publications contain anti-Catholic sentiment and promote sectarian violence. Official Website: www.dup.org.uk

Fianna Fail: Fianna Fail is a historic political party in the Republic of Ireland that was created in opposition to the 1921 Treaty with London. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was a member of Fianna Fail during much of the modern peace process “1997-2008”. Official Website: www.fiannafail.ie

Fine Gael: Fine Gael is a historic political party in the Republic of Ireland that was created in 1933 as a pro-treaty party. Fine Gael is the major opposition party in the Irish Parliament.
Official website: www.finegael.org

Gardai: Official police service for the Republic of Ireland. Official Website: www.garda.ie

MI5: The United Kingdom’s counter-intelligence and security agency.
Official Website: www.mi5.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Assembly: The devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. The assembly meets at Stormont in Belfast Northern Ireland. Official Website: www.niassembly.gov.uk
Northern Power Sharing Executive: Refers to the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly.

Police Service for Northern Ireland: Successor to the controversial Royal Ulster Constabulary. Restructuring the RUC was part of the Good Friday Agreement. An independent commission called the Patten Commission after Chris Patten reformed the RUC into the modern Police Services for Northern Ireland or PSNI.  The Patten Commission offered reforms including changing the name of the RUC and hiring more Catholics to the police force. Police Reform legislation was a sticking point between Sinn Fein and unionist political parties during the modern Northern Ireland Peace Process. Official website: www.psni.police.uk

Progressive Unionists Party: A small loyalist political party in Northern Ireland. David Ervine was an outspoken member of the political organization during the modern Northern Ireland Peace Process.  Ervine had previously been a member of the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force. The UVF had ties to the “PUP” which played a significant role in the peace process due to sectarian violence and infighting with the Ulster Defense Association. Official Website: www.pup-ni.org.uk

Royal Scots Dragoon Guards: A cavalry regiment of the British Army that served numerous tours in Northern Ireland during the 1970s. The Royal Scot Dragoon Guards are well known for their pipes and drums. The regiment toured the U.S. spurring protest by organizations and individuals due to their history in Northern Ireland. Official Website: www.scotsdg.co.uk

Royal Ulster Constabulary:  (RUC) The official police service of Northern Ireland from the 1920s to 1990s. The RUC was biased against Catholics living in Northern Ireland.  There have been numerous documentaries, books, and testimonies that prove the UDA and other loyalist paramilitaries acted in collusion with the RUC and British soldiers to carry out murders against Irish republicans. Well known murder cases involved lawyers Patrick Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. An independent investigation called the Steven’s Inquiry found many cases of collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries. The Good Friday Agreement singled out police reform as a major objective for the Northern Ireland peace process. This resulted in the Patten Inquiry/Report which paved the way for the modern PSNI. Police reform legislation was a major sticking point in the modern Northern Ireland Peace Process. Official Website: www.royalulsterconstabulary.org

Sinn Fein:  Sinn Fein is Irish for “ourselves” or “we ourselves”. Sinn Fein is one of the oldest political parties/movements in Ireland. Sinn Fein was founded in 1905, but took its modern form in the 1970’s. The organization has fought for national self -determination and home rule. Sinn Fein was a supporter of Good Friday Agreement and pushed for its full implementation during the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Sinn Fein also supported the Patten Report, Stevens Inquiry, and human rights issues in Northern Ireland. Throughout the modern Peace Process Sinn Fein won seats in Northern Ireland and is currently the second largest political party in the Northern Ireland Assembly. British and unionist politicians alleged that there were direct connections between Sinn Fein and the IRA. These accusations were denied by Sinn Fein officials.Well known members of Sinn Fein include Gerry Adams and Martin McGuiness. 
Official websites:
www.sinnfein.ie
www.sinnfein.org

Social Democratic and Labor Party:  The Social Democratic Labor Party (SDLP) formed in the 1970s.  There are still questions surrounding the original purpose of the SDLP. Some claim that the party was a nationalist organization that disagreed with the IRA. The SDLP was the largest nationalist political party in Northern Ireland until the 2000s when Sinn Fein passed them in elections. The SDLP were committed to the Good Friday Agreement and devolution. Well known members include Mark Durken and Nobel Peace Prize recipient John Hume. Official website:http://www.sdlp.ie/

Ulster Democratic Party: (UDP) A small loyalist political party in Northern Ireland. The political party was established by the UDA paramilitary group in 1981. The UDP maintained connections to the UDA throughout the modern Northern Ireland Peace Process. The UDP ceased to exist in 2001 when infighting over the Good Friday Agreement split the party.

Ulster Unionist Party: The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) is currently the second largest unionist political party in Northern Ireland. David Trimble and Reg Empey were the two main leaders of the UUP during the modern Northern Ireland Peace Process. David Trimble won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts during the peace process. Official Website: http://www.uup.org/

The following is a list of sectarian/paramilitary groups from Northern Ireland found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection.  This list is to be used as a reference guide for researchers. This is not a complete list of paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland or in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. All information was found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection or in cited websites. Websites have been offered to supply researchers with background material. The working condition, authenticity, and information found on the websites are not necessarily supported by the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society.

Apprentice Boys: The Apprentice Boys are officially a historical association based in Derry that was founded to celebrate the Siege of Derry in 1688-1689. Part of the organization’s activities include marching during loyalist parades. The Apprentice Boys have forced loyalist parades through nationalist areas seeking to cause sectarian violence. Their parades have sparked sectarian rioting from the 1960s to the 1990s. Official Website: www.apprenticeboys.co.uk

Combat 18: Combat 18 is a violent neo-Nazi organization based in the United Kingdom. Loyalist paramilitaries had connections to Combat 18 during the 1990s and 2000s. Members of the group desecrated graves of Irish hunger strikers and were involved in anti-Catholic sectarian violence.  Johnny Adair, who led the Ulster Freedom Fighters, has been associated with the Combat 18. Official Website: www.combat18.org

Continuity IRA:  A small splinter group that broke away from the PIRA in the mid-1980s.The PIRA wanted to move toward peaceful election based strategies. This move was supported by Sinn Fein. The Continuity IRA (CIRA) did not agree with peaceful negotiations. The CIRA has continued sporadic violence even after the decommissioning of the PIRA. There are many unofficial websites about the CIRA including YouTube videos produced by members.

Provisional Irish Republican Army: The Provisional IRA “PIRA” was a paramilitary group that formed in the late 1960s during a split in the IRA. The other major group to come out of this split was the Original IRA. The PIRA existed until the late 1990s when it declared a ceasefire and decommissioned.  The goal of the organization was to force an end to British control of Northern Ireland. The PIRA entered into weapon decommissioning talks in the 1990s through the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The PIRA was the first paramilitary organization to accept decommissioning and an end to armed conflict in favor of political negotiation. The PIRA officially decommissioned all weapons in 2005/06. There are many unofficial websites about the PIRA including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Official IRA: The Official IRA was a paramilitary group that formed after a split in the IRA during the late 1960s. The Official IRA declared a cease fire in the early 1970s. Since that time feuding between the Official IRA and Provisional IRA has occurred. The Official IRA finished decommissioning weapons in 2010 under the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. There are many unofficial websites about the Official IRA including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Irish National Liberation Army: The Irish National Liberation Army “INLA” was formed in the 1970s as a paramilitary wing to the Irish Republican Socialist Party. The group decommissioned its weapons in 2010 under the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The organization was created to protect members of the Irish republican Socialist Party. Members of the INLA murdered LVF leader Billy Wright in the Maze prison.  Official website for the organization: http://www.irishnationalliberationarmy.com/ 

Loyalist Volunteer Force: The Loyalist Volunteer Force “LVF” was a splinter paramilitary group that broke away from the Ulster Volunteer Force. The group was formed in the mid-1990s when Billy Wright became angered over a ceasefire the UVF had established. The LVF began a feud with the UVF that continued after the Provisional IRA had declared a ceasefire and disarmed. The Independent International Monitoring Commission on Decommissioning received some weapons from the LVF after the Ulster Volunteer Force disarmed. Much of the violence perpetrated by the LVF was against other rival loyalists and in criminal activities. There are many unofficial websites about the LVF including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Orange Order: The Orange Order is a loyalist anti-Catholic organization that was founded by the British State in 1795. The name for the organization came from William of Orange who led a successful military campaign against James II at the Battle of the Boyne. The organization has perpetrated sectarian violence against Irish Catholics since its creation. These attacks were blatant and organized during the 1800s. In modern times the organization is known for causing sectarian violence during parades. The majority of this occurs in marches held around July Twelfth in commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne. The focus of sectarian violence instigated by the Orange Order was in the town of Drumcree near Garvaghy Road.  Loyalist politicians and paramilitaries have been connected to the Orange Order. Residents who live near Garvaghy Road started an organization called the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition. Rosemary Nelson who was a lawyer for the GRRC was murdered by a bomb planted under her vehicle. The loyalist paramilitary Red Hand Defenders claimed responsibility for her assassination. There are many unofficial websites about the Orange Order including YouTube videos produced by former members. Official website: http://www.iloi.org/ 

Real IRA: The Real IRA “RIRA” is a splinter group that broke away from the PIRA in the late 1990s. The RIRA’s goal is to forcibly remove Britain from Northern Ireland. The group broke away from the PIRA during the PIRA’s movement toward political negotiation, the Good Friday Agreement, and ceasefire. The RIRA claimed responsibility for the Omagh bombing that killed 29 people. The PIRA condemned the tactics of the RIRA. In the 2000s the RIRA attacked targets in England including MI6 headquarters and the BBC headquarters. The RIRA did not fully decommission and continue to be active. There are many unofficial websites about the Real IRA including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Red Hand Commandos: The Red Hand Commandos were a loyalist paramilitary group that formed in the 1970s. Throughout the organizations history it has had close ties to the UVF. The Red Hand Commandos fully decommissioned under the Independent Monitoring Commission in 2009. There are many unofficial websites about the Red Hand Commandos including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Red Hand Defenders: A splinter loyalist group composed of former members from the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defense Association that formed while these groups were observing a cease fire in the late 1990s. There are many unofficial websites about the Red Hand Defenders including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Ulster Defense Association: The Ulster Defense Association “UDA” was a loyalist paramilitary organization in Northern Ireland. The UDA formed in the early 1970s and decommissioned in 2009 under the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. The UDA claimed it was formed to protect Protestant neighborhoods during The Troubles. In reality the majority of those murdered by the UDA were civilians and rival loyalists. In the 1990s the organization also became heavily involved with criminal activities. The UDA aligned itself with loyalist politicians to fight against the Good Friday Agreement. The UDA participated in Orange Order parades and other loyalist events. There have been numerous documentaries, books, and testimonies that prove the UDA and other loyalist paramilitaries acted in collusion with the RUC and British soldiers to carry out murders against Irish republicans. Well known murder cases involved lawyers Patrick Finucane and Rosemary Nelson. An independent investigation called the Steven’s Inquiry found many cases of collusion between the RUC and loyalist paramilitaries.  There are many unofficial websites about the Ulster Defense Association including YouTube videos produced by former members.

Ulster Volunteer Force: A loyalist paramilitary organization that formed in the mid-1960s best known for the Dublin and Monahan bombings of 1974. The Baron Inquiry found evidence of RUC collusion in the bombings. The Shankill Butchers were a unit of UVF members who were concentrated in the Shankill Road area of Belfast. They perpetrated many sectarian acts of violence and murder. During the modern Northern Ireland Peace Process the UVF was engaged in a feud with the LVF. The UVF decommissioned under the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in 2009. The UVF is not related to the original Ulster Volunteer Force of 1914. There are many unofficial websites about the Ulster Volunteer Force including YouTube videos produced by former members.  

The following is a list of historical war related materials found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. This is to be used as a reference guide for researches. This is not a complete list of all historical war references found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. All information was found in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection or in cited websites. Websites have been offered to supply researchers with background material. The working condition, authenticity, and information found on the websites are not necessarily supported by the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society.

69th: The 69^th, also called the “Fighting 69^th, formed during American Revolution and exists today as a part of the National Guard.  The regiment's Civil War Era battle cry was "Faugh A Ballagh;" which is Gaelic for "Clear the Way." Official Website: http://www.nyfighting69th.com/          

Irish Brigade Association: An Irish American military history association. Official Website: www.irishbrigade.com

St. Patrick’s Batallion (San Patrico Battalion): A unit composed of Irish and other immigrant groups that fought with the Mexican Army against America in the Mexican American War. Mexico offered high pay and free land to those who enlisted. Website: www.stpatricksbattalion.org

Powers, Kenneth H.: Kenneth H. Powers is a historian of the 69^th regiment. For his collection of the 69^th regiment see the following website:  http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/research/findingAids/findingAidsIndex.htm                                                                                                     

Section IV: Categories

The following is a list of categories to be used when conducting searches in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. These categories enable researchers to find specific box and folder locations for topics. 

Categories:

• Actions “boycotts, legal inquiries, labor strikes”
• Correspondence
• Education
• Entertainment “media, literature, sports, music”
• Irish Information Services
• Irish News
• Media “political/legal topics”
• Military
• Miscellaneous
• Objects
• Organization 

Section IV: Keywords

The following is a list of keywords to be used when conducting searches in the Frank O’Day Archival Collection. These keywords enable researches to find specific box and folder locations for topics.

Keywords:

• 1916 Easter Uprising
• Ad Hoc Committee for Irish Affairs
• American Irish Unity Committee
• American Protestants for Truth About Ireland
• Amnesty International
• Ancient Order of Hibernians
• Anti-Irish Propaganda
• Ballymurphy Seven
• Beechmount Five
• Belfast Agreement use “Good Friday Agreement”
• Between
• Birmingham Six
• Black and Tans
• Bloody Sunday
• Boston Three
• Boycott
• Bush, George W
• Canada
• Castlereigh Five
• Catalpa
• Censorship
• Civil War
• Clinton, Hillary
• Clinton, William
• Collusion
• Colombia Three
• Connecticut
• Connecticut Irish American Historical Society
• Correspondence
• Dail Eireann
• Demilitarization
• Deportation use “Visa and Extradition”
• DeValera, Eamonn
• Devolution
• Dublin and Monaghan Bombings
• Duffy’s Cut
• Economics
• Education
• Elections
• Ethnic Heritage Center
• Finucane, Patrick
• Flag issue use “Patten Report”
• Forum for Peace and Reconciliation
• Friends of Ireland United
• Friends of Irish Freedom
• Gaelic Society of New York
• Gibraltar Three
• Gilder Leherman Center
• Good Friday Agreement
• Grosse Ille
• Guildford Four
• Guinness Import Company
• Habitat for Humanity
• H-Blocks use “Maze”
• Hillhouse High School
• Hit List
• Human Rights
• Hunger Strikers
• Immigration
• Impasse
• Ireland’s Heritage Political Preservation Foundation
• Irish American Clubs USA/Canada
• Irish American Cultural Institute
• Irish American Heritage Museum
• Irish American Organizations
• Irish American Partnership
• Irish American Political Action Committee
• Irish American Unity Conference
• Irish Anti-Extradition Committee
• Irish Children’s Fund
• Irish Famine
• Irish History Round Table
• Irish National Caucus
• Irish National Congress
• Irish Northern Aid
• Irish Themes
• Judaism
• Knights of Columbus
• Knights of St. Patrick
• Labor Unions use “Economics”
• Literature
• Long Kesh Prison, use “Maze”
• Loyalist Paramilitary Feuds
• MacBride Principles
• McBride, Peter
• Magazines
• Maze
• McAliskey, Bernadette Devlin
• McPhilemy, Sean
• Media
• Media Bias
• Medical
• Mitchell Report
• Music
• National Association for Irish Freedom
• Nelson, Rosemary
• New Haven
• New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling Club
• Nice Treaty
• Northern Ireland Peace Process
• Omagh Bombing
• Parades
• Paramilitary Groups
• Patrick Finucane Inquiry use “Finucane, Patrick”
• Patten Report
• Photography
• Plastic Bullets
• Poetry
• Police Reform use “Patten Report”
• Political Prisoner use “Maze, Hunger Strikers, and individual cases”
• Quinnipiac University
• Racism: use “Human Rights”
• Reagan, Ronald
• Reynolds, James
• Royal Ulster Constabulary use “Collusion”
• School Integration
• Sectarian Violence
• Shoot to Kill
• Sports
• St. Patrick’s Battalion
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Stevens Inquiry use “Collusion”
• Stormontgate
• Supergrass Trials
• Tara Circle
• Thatcher, Margaret
• The Committee use “McPhilemy, Sean”
• United Irish Appeal
• United Irishmen
• United Nations for Ireland International
• Visa and Extradition
• Weapons Decommissioning
• Yale University

Section VI. Finding Guide

The following is a sample of the Frank O'Day Finding Guide. For inquiries about content please contact the Connecticut Irish American Historical Society at the Ethnic Heritage Center in New Haven, CT.

Title (General)	New Haven Gaelic Football and hurling Club, Irish American Community Center Correspondence 1977-2005
Location (Reference)	(01-2) DB 2 F 4
Keywords (Library)	New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling Club; Sports
Category (Library)	Organization
Synopsis	New Haven Gaelic Football and Hurling Club correspondence 1977-2005, event schedules; renamed Irish American Community Center (IACC).

Title (General)	Irish History Roundtable 1992-2001
Location (Reference)	(01-2) DB 3 F 2
Keywords (Library)	Irish History Roundtable
Category (Library)	Organization
Synopsis	A collection of Irish History Roundtable newsletters, meeting notes, event pamphlets, and general happening for 1992-2001.

1) Title	Irish American Information Services 1/04/00 – 5/02/00
2) Location (Reference)	(01-2) DB 13 F 2
3) Keywords (Library)	Education; Nelson, Rosemary; Sectarian Violence; Finucane, Patrick; Weapons Decommissioning; Bloody Sunday; Patten Report; Mitchell Report; Northern Ireland Peace Process
4) Category (Library)	Irish American Information Services
5) Synopsis:	Information released by the IAIS from 1/04/00 – 5/02/00. Includes the Mitchell Report, Patten Report, Patrick Finucane Trial, Weapons Decommissioning, the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, Collusion cases, and more. *In depth discussion on police reform.

1) Title	Irish News 1/2/01-2/28/01
2) Location (Reference)	(01-2) DB 21 F 3
3) Keywords (Library)	Northern Ireland Peace Process; Loyalist Paramilitary Feuds, Hunger Strikers, Sectarian Violence; Economics; Elections, MacBride Principles; Bloody Sunday; Patten Report; Nelson, Rosemary; Irish Famine; Collusion; Paramilitary Groups; Hit List; Medical; 1916 Easter Uprising
4) Category (Library)	Irish News
5) Synopsis:	Irish News for 1/2/01-2/28/01. Includes evidence Ireland planned an invasion of the North in 1970, RUC admits assaulting Sinn Fein spokesman, Loyalist paramilitaries continue feud, Hunger Strikers, UDA bomb factory discovered, Irish Famine, Foot and Mouth disease, Economy, and more.