1972 in Northern Ireland

Events

*January 30 - Bloody Sunday: Thirteen unarmed civilians are shot dead in Derry as British paratroopers open fire on a banned civil rights march. A fourteenth, John Johnston, was also to die some months later after having been shot by a paratrooper.
*February 9 - A day of disruption takes place in Northern Ireland as people take to the streets in protest.
*February 10 - The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) announces a ceasefire.
*February 12 - William Craig launches the Ulster Vanguard Movement in Lisburn.
*24 March - Stormont suspended as Prime Minister resigns. [http://www.larkspirit.com/history/chronology.html Larkspirit Irish History] ]
*19 April - a report into the Bloody Sunday shootings by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Widgery, exonerates the British troops of blame because the demonstration had been illegal. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/19/newsid_2491000/2491125.stm 'Bloody Sunday' report excuses Army] ]
*30 May - Official IRA declares a cease fire in Northern Ireland. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/30/newsid_2973000/2973759.stm Official IRA declares ceasefire] ]
*3 June - a Protestant demonstration in Derry against the creation of "no-go" areas in the city ends in violence. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/3/newsid_2496000/2496155.stm Protestant march ends in battle] ]
*13 June-14 June - Provisional IRA proposes ceasefire. The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), as intermediaries, make offer to British, who accept terms.
*9 July - End of British-IRA ceasefire.
*July 21 - Bloody Friday (1972): Nine people die and over one hundred are injured in a series of IRA explosions in Belfast city centre.
*July 31 - Claudy Bombing: Three car bombs kill six people immediately, with three later dying from their injuries. It is suspected as an IRA bomb.
*July 31 - Operation Motorman: British troops invade "no-go areas" in Belfast, Derry and Newry.

Arts and literature

port

Athletics

*Olympics:Mary Peters becomes the first Irish woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

Football

*Irish League::Winners: Glentoran

*Irish Cup::Winners: Coleraine 2 - 1 Portadown

*On 13 October 1972 Derry City withdrew from senior football in the Irish League due to security problems in the Brandywell Stadium area.

Motorcycling

*Ulster Grand Prix cancelled due to the political situation.

nooker

*Alex Higgins wins the World Professional Snooker Championship.

Births

*15 January - Derek Heasley, cricketer.
*24 January - Éamonn Burns, Gaelic footballer.
*12 February - Owen Nolan, ice hockey player.
*6 March - Terry Murphy, snooker player.
*21 June - Neil Doak, former cricketer and rugby player.
*9 July - Darren Corbett, boxer.
*1 November - Kevin Horlock, soccer player.
*1 November - Gillian Sewell, field hockey player in Canada.
*24 November - Iain Jenkins, soccer player.

Full date unknown

*Gary Arbuthnot, flautist.
*Bronagh Gallagher, singer and actress.
*Sinead Morrissey, poet.
*Stephen Paul McClelland, cyclist

Deaths

*22 February - Eva McGown, Official Hostess of Fairbanks and Honorary Hostess of Alaska (b.1883).
*15 April - Joe McCann, Official Irish Republican Army volunteer killed by British soldiers (b.1947).

References