Northern Ireland: A Divided Community, 1921–1972: Cabinet Papers of the Stormont Administration

This archive presents the Cabinet Conclusion files that document all the debates and transactions for the duration of the Stormont administration, the devolved government of Northern Ireland, 1921–1972. These documents are key to any study of the turbulent history of Britain and Ireland during much of the 20th century and cover such topics as:

• Prevention of incitement to religious hatred
• Road spiking
• Dock strikes
• Routing of Orange Day parades
• Role of the Ulster Defence Force
• Policing
• Prisons
• Army occupation of factories

The documents in Northern Ireland: A Divided Community 1921-1972 are fully searchable and have been described as the best continuous record of government activity and decisionmaking in the world.

Summary: Northern Ireland: A Divided Community, 1921–1972 is a fully searchable collection of the complete Cabinet Conclusion files from the Stormont Administration in Belfast, from its start following the Government of Ireland Act of 1920 to the reintroduction of direct rule from Westminster by British Prime Minister Edward Heath in 1972.  The Cabinet Conclusion files document every debate and transaction for the entire period and have been described as the best continuous record of government activity and decisionmaking in the world. Separate files exist for each Cabinet Meeting and include minutes and memoranda.

The discussions and decisions reflect the wide range of problems and activities involved in making the new administration work. Topics debated and reported in just one sample year of the Troubles (1970) include:

• Policing
• Arms and explosives
• Social need
• Prevention of incitement to religious hatred
• Army occupation of factories
• Road spiking
• Routing of Orange Day parades
• Dock strikes
• Law and order
• Riots
• Roles of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)

An introductory essay to the material — written by Grace McGrath, Education, Learning and Outreach Officer, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland — and six specially commissioned essays written by the editors give helpful historical overview with direct links to the documents. Posters on the Northern Ireland conflict from The Linen Hall Library and a photographic gallery add visual interest.  Links to other Northern Ireland resources aid further research.

With access through browse indexes of people and places and full-text searching of the typed minutes of the Cabinet Conclusion files, Northern Ireland: A Divided Community, 1921–1972 will appeal to teachers and researchers in Irish and British history as well as students of politics, peace studies and conflict resolution.

Significance:  Northern Ireland: A Divided Community, 1921–1972 presents the complete and comprehensive record of the Northern Ireland Government in Belfast prior to the imposition of direct rule.  It shows how government actually worked and reveals political discussions and decisions at the highest level. It makes available to researchers the working details of every aspect of local administration in peace and war and covers the re-emergence of the civil strife that was to last for more than 30 years.

Northern Ireland: A Divided Community, 1921–1972 is important for all research and study of 20^th century Irish and British history and politics as well as the study of conflict, sectarianism, civil and religious wars and colonialism — all key themes of the history of the 20^th century.

Source: 
Northern Ireland: A Divided Community, 1921–1972 was created in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, the national archives for Northern Ireland located in Belfast.

For more information, download a Product Fact Sheet [pdf, 434 KB]