The Troubles were a time of conflict in Ireland with an unfortunately appropriate name.
After the Irish Civil War ended in 1923, the British still controlled Northern Ireland, with the surviving remnants of the IRA continually fighting against them. Later, protests throughout the 1960s and the Sunday massacre of 1972 in Belfast meant a renewed presence of British troops, who remained armed and dangerous in the country all the way through to 1998, when the Good Friday agreement finally brought peace.
Here are the people of Northern Ireland living their normal lives, but with a constant sense of chaos right around the corner.
1
The first British troops are deployed in Northern Ireland
August 1969
2
Kids prepare molotov cocktails
Belfast, 1981, by Ian Berry
3
A wall falls after being set on fire
Belfast, 1970s, via Magnum Photos
4
Boy observing British soldiers
Northern Ireland, 1972 via Magnum Photos
5
Kids playing at war
Londonderry, 1970s, via Magnum Photos
6
Teenagers held for an identity check
Belfast, 1978, by Chris Steele-Perkins
7
A woman mowing her lawn with a British soldier nearby
Belfast, 1973, by Philip Jones Griffiths
8
Women grocery shopping, British soldier in the background
Belfast, 1972, by Philip Jones Griffiths
9
A funeral procession next to a fire
Belfast, 1972, by Philip Jones Griffiths
10
Child with a pistol and a British soldier
Belfast, 1972, by Philip Jones Griffiths
11
Kids spraying soldiers
Belfast, 1972, by Philip Jones Griffiths
12
Boy in front of burning tires
Belfast, 1978, by Chris Steele-Perkins
13
Hunger strike riots
Belfast, 1981
14
Children by the barricades
Belfast, 1972
15
Lieutenant Colonel John Mottram of the British Army being interviewed
Belfast, 1972
16
Bomb disposal robot
Belfast, 1972
17
Beginning of a riot
Derry, 1979, by Chris Steele-Perkins
18
Suspects on Sunday, lined up against a block of flats in Rossville Street
Bogside area of Derry, January, 1972
19
British soldiers tea
Belfast, 1972
20
Protest march through Belfast to the City Hall
October 1968
21
Soldier aims as a hijacked vehicle burns in the background
Belfast, 1978, by Chris Steele-Perkins
