Belfast

The RMS Titanic, which was constructed in Belfast at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, sank on her maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg. The Titanic was the largest ship of its time and was considered unsinkable. Its sinking led to the deaths of more than 1,500 passengers and crew. The tragedy had a profound impact on maritime laws and safety regulations.

During the period of the Irish War of Independence, Belfast experienced significant sectarian violence. On July 1, 1920, a severe outbreak of violence occurred known as Bloody Sunday. Sectarian riots resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, highlighting the deep divisions between the Catholic and Protestant communities in the city at that time.

The Troubles in Northern Ireland escalated following the Battle of the Bogside in Derry. This event in August 1969 led to widespread sectarian violence in Belfast, prompting the deployment of British troops to the streets of Northern Ireland in an attempt to restore peace and order. The period marked the beginning of decades of conflict.

On December 4, 1971, a loyalist bombing at McGurk's Bar in Belfast killed 15 people, including two children, and injured several others. The attack was one of the worst incidents of the Troubles in terms of civilian casualties. It was carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and targeted the Catholic community.

Bloody Friday refers to a series of coordinated bombings by the Provisional IRA on July 21, 1972, in Belfast. The bombings resulted in nine deaths and left approximately 130 people injured. The attacks targeted infrastructure and were timed to be detonated over a period of one hour, causing widespread panic and destruction.

The Anglo-Irish Agreement was signed by the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1985. This agreement aimed to improve relations between the two countries and laid the groundwork for de-escalating the sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. The Agreement was a critical step towards the peace process that would culminate in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, was signed on April 10, 1998. It was a major political development that aimed to bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The agreement was reached following multi-party negotiations and included provisions for a devolved government and constitutional changes.

On July 28, 2005, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) announced that it had ended its armed campaign in Northern Ireland. The announcement marked a significant moment in the Northern Ireland peace process, as the IRA committed to pursuing its goals through exclusively peaceful and democratic means.

Queen Elizabeth II made a historic visit to Belfast in June 2012, marking a moment of reconciliation and progress in Northern Ireland. The visit included the Queen shaking hands with Martin McGuinness, a former IRA leader, which was seen as a symbolic gesture for peace and unity. This visit was part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

In 2013, protests erupted in Belfast following the decision by the City Council to limit the number of days the Union Flag would fly over Belfast City Hall. The protests, which began in December 2012, led to months of unrest and clashes. The decision and its aftermath highlighted ongoing divisions in Belfast's communities.