CAIN Resources for Researchers, Students and Pupils

CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet)

Overview
Since 1996, CAIN has been building and maintaining a digital archive of information and source materials about the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland (NI). The archive is freely available via the CAIN website. The CAIN Archive is highly regarded by a wide range of users, both academic and non-academic, who view CAIN as a robust, independent and trusted source of information.
The diverse and extensive range of materials within CAIN allows for multiple narratives of the Troubles to be examined. As such the resources it contains offers an opportunity to enrich the learning experience of those studying key events and developments in Northern Ireland during the past fifty years. For instance:

• To help foster effective and independent learning through the use of a variety of resources that offer different perspectives
• To aid the examination of current and historical issues in a coherent and critical fashion
• To allow the opportunity to gain a greater knowledge and understanding of Northern Ireland’s troubled past
• To provide a basis to allow for the examination the contemporary problems facing a society emerging out of a long and bitter conflict
• To assist the development of skills that allow for effective communication by way of arguing a case, making judgements and allowing for conclusions to be reached in a manner which can be substantiated

Course Specific Guides
CAIN is considering producing specific guides to resources for courses of study which teach the Northern Ireland conflict and politics. See example of a brief guide (2010):
Leaving Certificate History Topic 5 - Guide to Relevant Materials on CAIN

Links to Relevant Sections on CAIN
For those seeking assistance form CAIN in terms of researching, teaching or studying aspects of the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ it is recommended that they begin their search by going to the following sections on the website:

Background Information ( https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/othelem/index.html )
Provides an introductory guide which provides amongst other things material relating to Acronyms; Glossary of Terms; NI Society; Chronologies; People; Organisations; CAIN Bibliography; Other Bibliographies; Research; Photographs; Symbols; Murals; Posters; Maps; Internet.

Key Events ( https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/events/index.html )
Here people will find information, source material and links to five key turning points in the recent history of the Northern Ireland: Civil Rights Campaign (1964 to 1972); Internment (1971 to 1975); Ulster Workers' Council Strike (1974); Hunger Strike (1981); Peace Process (1993 to the present).

The basic structure for each of the Key Events is the same. Those consulting a particular event will find: a set of main web pages, a selected reading list, a summary, a chronology, background information, and a list of source material. Users can also find details of organisations and individuals who were prominent during the particular events by clicking on the background to the conflict.

In addition further material is also provided on a number of other important events: Derry March (5 October 1968); People's Democracy March (1 January 1969 to 4 January 1969); Deployment of British Troops (14 August 1969);'Bloody Sunday' (30 January 1972); Introduction of Direct Rule (30 March 1972); 'Bloody Friday' (21 July 1972); Sunningdale Agreement (6 December 1973 to 9 December 1973); Dublin and Monaghan bombs (17 May 1974); IRA Truce (9 February 1975 to 23 January 1976); Constitutional Convention (8 May 1975 to 5 March 1976); United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (3 May 1977 to 13 May 1977); Northern Ireland Assembly (November 1982 - June 1986); Anglo-Irish Agreement (15 November 1985); Brooke / Mayhew Talks (April 1991 to November 1992); Omagh Bomb (15 August 1998).

Key Issues (https://cain.ulster.ac.uk/issues/index.html)
In contrast to the section on Key Events, people here can examine some of the issues that have been at the heart of the Northern Ireland 'Troubles' over a long period of time. The basic structure for each of the issues will be the same. Those consulting a particular issue will find: a set of main web pages, a selected reading list, a summary, a time-line, background information, outline of the main themes during the past 30 years, main areas of contention, official statistics, and a list of source material.

The issues covered here include: Children; Education; Education; Employment; Housing; Law _Order; Media; Parades; Policing; Policy Initatives; Politics/Political Parties/Elections; Segregation; Violence; Victims_Survivors_Commemoration; Women.
Further information can also be found under the following headings: Abstentionism; Collusion between Security Forces and Paramilitaries; Commemoration in Northern Ireland; Community Relations in Northern Ireland; Cross-Community_Marriage; European Union; Minority Languages in Northern Ireland; Population; Reconciliation; Sport and Leisure; Victims of the Northern Ireland Conflict.