1961 To 1970
1961 IRL: RTE begins broadcasting.
World: John F Kennedy sworn in as President of the USA (Jan 20th). US breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba (Jan 3rd).1,200 US-sponsored anti-Castro exiles invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs (April 17th). The attackers are all killed or captured by Cuban forces. East Germany erects the Berlin Wall between East and West Berlin to halt flood of refugees (Aug13th). USSR detonates 50-megaton hydrogen bomb in the largest man-made explosion in history (Oct 29th). Background: nuclear weapons. There are 2,000 US military advisers in South Vietnam. OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is formally constituted.
1962 World: France transfers sovereignty to new republic of Algeria (July 3rd).
Cuban Missile Crisis: USSR to build missile bases in Cuba; President Kennedy of the USA, orders a blockade of Cuba which is lifted after Russia backs down (Aug -Nov). Pope John XXIII opens Second Vatican Council (Oct. 11). Cuba releases 1,113 prisoners of 1961 invasion attempt (Dec 24).Burundi, Jamaica, Western Samoa, Uganda, and Trinidad and Tobago become independent.
1963 - 64 IRL: Following a series of visits to Christian Communities of Reconciliation in Italy (Agape) and Scotland (The Iona Community), a group is formed to explore the idea of a new Christian Community in Northern Ireland. The group searches for suitable premises and comes to be known as “The Corrymeela Community”.
1963 IRL: Resignation of Viscount Brookeborough as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. He is succeeded by Captain Terence O’Neill. Campaign for Social Justice formed in Dungannon concentrating on discrimination in council supervised public housing and employment. This is the fore-runner of the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland.
World: France and West Germany sign a treaty of cooperation ending four centuries of conflict (Jan 22nd). Pope John XXIII dies (June 3rd), and is succeeded on June 21 by Cardinal Montini, who becomes Paul VI. British Secretary of War John Profumo resigns in the wake of an affair with Christine Keeler, a teenage showgirl who was also involved with the Soviet naval attaché (June). Washington-to-Moscow "hot line" communications link opens, designed to reduce risk of accidental war (Aug 30rd). Kenya achieves independence. There are 15,000 US military advisers in South Vietnam. 32 independent African nations establish the Organization for African Unity. Lyndon BainesJohnston takes over as President of the USA on Nov 23rd, following the killing of President JF Kennedy.
1964 World: Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment in South Africa (June 11th). US Congress approves Gulf of Tonkin Resolution after North Vietnamese torpedo boats allegedly attack US destroyers (Aug 7th). In USSR Khrushchev is deposed; Kosygin becomes premier and Brezhnev becomes first secretary of the Communist Party (Oct). China detonates its first atomic bomb.
1965 City: King’s Hall Conference Centre is built.
IRL: A group of church members purchase a holiday guest house called 'Corrymeela'. Corrymeela, meaning 'The Hill of Harmony', is adopted as the name of the new Community (Feb). Volunteer work camps repair and renovate the building. In October The Corrymeela Centre is opened officially by Pastor Tullio Vinay founder of the Agape Community. The Reverend Ray Davey is elected as part time leader.
World: The first US combat troops arrive in Vietnam and by the end of the year, 190,000 American soldiers are in Vietnam. US marines land in the Dominican Republic as fighting persists between rebels and Dominican army (April 28th). France withdraws its Atlantic fleet from NATO. Rhodesia unilaterally declares its independence from Britain (Nov. 11th)
1966 City: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge opened. First Republican Club set up in Belfast.
IRL: Fiftieth anniversary of the Easter Rising. Ian Paisley leads protests against “Romanising Tendencies” at Presbyterian General Assembly. His followers jeer at the Queen’s representative in Northern Ireland, Lord Erskine. A three months ban is placed on non-traditional parades. There is a revival of Ulster Volunteer Force's name. It declares war on IRA. The UVF is proscribed (declared illegal) following the murders of 3 Roman Catholics (June 26). Corrymeela marks the fiftieth Anniversary of the Republican Easter Rising in Dublin by holding a conference entitled 'Community 1966, a joint Protestant and Roman Catholic Conference'. Such a joint venture is unique at this time. The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Captain Terence O’Neill uses the opportunity to make a plea for reconciliation between Catholics and Protestants. A number of other significant conferences are held at Corrymeela which contribute to the development of voluntary movements and organisations such as the Northern Ireland Housing Association, The Northern Ireland Hospice Movement, The Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association and Integrated Education.
World: France withdraws its forces from NATO. President De Gaulle visits the USSR (June 20th). Sukarno leaves office in Indonesia; Suharto assumes power.
Botswana, Lesotho, and Guyana become independent states within the British Commonwealth. India suffers the worst famine in 20 years; President Lyndon Johnson of USA asks for $1 billion in aid to the country.
1967 IRL: Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) formed in Belfast. NICRA was in part inspired by the US Civil Rights Movement that fought for equality for black Americans. NICRA wanted to see equality for Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland in local council voting, in public housing allocations by local councils and in employment.
World: Biafra secedes from Nigeria (May). Israeli and Arab forces battle; Six-Day War ends with Israel occupying Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and West Bank (June 5th). Right-wing military coup deposes King Constantine II of Greece. Communist China announces explosion of its first hydrogen bomb (June 17th). The US and USSR propose a nuclear nonproliferation treaty.
1968 IRL: The first Civil Rights protest march takes place in March. The second takes place in Derry (Oct 5th), despite it being banned by the Minister for Home Affairs, William Craig, who claims that the movement is a front for the IRA. The Royal Ulster Constabulary is sent in to break up the march. They use what is deemed to be excessive force. The occurence is televised and broadcast worldwide. The tactics of the RUC leaves Roman Catholics fearful and untrusting of them. Following a student demonstration in Belfast, the People's Democracy (PD) a radical, left-wing student group, is formed (Oct 9th).The Taoiseach, Jack Lynch calls for an end to partition to resolve the unrest (Oct 30th). The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Terence O'Neill, says there will be no transfer of the North to the Republic without the consent of the NI parliament (Nov 4th).
The British government can no longer take a back seat and insists that the Government of Northern Ireland pass reforms. O’Neill gets Unionist Parliamentary Party to accept a five point plan of reform which goes some way to easing the Catholic sense of grievance over matters including unfair housing allocation, council elections (Nov 22nd). However, the Civil Rights Movement says the changes are minimal and in no way meets its demands. Every reform is greeted by the response “Too little, too late”. Paisley leads an anti-O’Neill organisation and organises counter-demonstrations to those of Civil Rights. He is severely criticised by the Cameron Commission. O’Neill broadcasts on Dec 9th and states that “Ulster stands at the cross-roads”. William Craig, Minister of Home Affairs, dismissed from NI cabinet (Dec 11th). People's Democracy (PD) announce Belfast - Derry March (Dec 20th).
World: North Korea seizes US Navy ship Pueblo; holds 83 on board as spies (Jan. 23rd). North Vietnamese launch the Tet Offensive, a turning point in the Vietnam War (Jan-Feb). American soldiers massacre 347 civilians at My Lai (March 16th). Czechoslovakia is invaded by Russians and Warsaw Pact forces to crush liberal regime (Aug. 20th).Richard Nixon wins close contest for Presidency of USA, (Nov 6th).
1969 The foundation stone of the transcepts is set by Lord Brookeborough and blessed by Archbishop James McCann of Armagh on June 1st.
IRL: People’s Democracy, a student civil rights group, organises a four day march from Belfast to Londonderry (Jan 4th). Along the way there are counter-protests. They are attacked at Burntollet, near Londonderry, by a Unionist mob. There is serious rioting in Newry on Jan11th. Brian Faulkner resigns from the NI government over the Cameron Commission. O’Neill calls an election for Feb 24th. None of Paisley’s candidates are elected. There is serious rioting in Londonderry on April 19th. Explosions at water and electricity installations are traced to Unionist extremists trying to topple O’Neill who resigns on April 28th. He is succeeded by James Chichester-Clarke on a one vote majority over Brian Faulkner (May 1st).
The IRA splits into two wings - the Marxist-oriented Official IRA and the more hard-line Provisionals. The first deaths of ‘the troubles’ occur in July. NICRA and the wider Roman Catholic community feel their demands are no nearer being met and with the approach of the two main marches (the march of the Orangemen on July 12th and the march on Aug 12th to commemorate the siege of Derry in 1689 when apprentice boys closed the gates on King James) tensions between Nationalists and Unionists are high. On August 12th. as the Apprentice Boys march past the Roman Catholic Bogside area in Londonderry, there are clashes which force the intervention of the RUC. However, the rioting escalates and the police are stoned and petrol-bombed.
NICRA calls on Nationalists to take the pressure off the Bogside by mounting demonstrations in Belfast. Consequently there is rioting in Belfast as well during which four Roman Catholics are shot by the RUC. One Protestant is shot by a Roman Catholic rioter. The RUC does not have the resources to cope with the scale of the disorder. Some 500 houses were burned to the ground, 1,500 people forced from their homes, and 9 people murdered. The Northern Ireland Government has no choice but to call for British troops to be sent in to put down the riots. The first British troops arrive on Aug 15th. Generally they are welcomed by the Roman Catholic population. However, in the Bogside area of Londonderry barricades are put up and neither the RUC nor British troops are permitted access to the Nationalist area. In order to avoid further bloodshed the British troops allow the 'no go' areas to stand. On the Aug 17th the IRA attacks Crossmaglen RUC station. In December a split between members of IRA produces the Provisional IRA and the Official Marxist IRA. The Provos take over “the armed struggle” with Joe Cahill as the “Belfast commander”.
World: President Nixon of USA begins "Vietnamization" in Southeast Asia. The United States, USSR, and about 100 other countries sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty (NPT). Russian and Chinese troops clash along the Ussuri River. A 27 year old colonel, Muammar al-Qaddafi deposes King Idris of Libya and establishes a pro-Arabic, anti-Western, Islamic republic.
1970 Samuel B Crooks is appointed dean.
IRL: During this year there are more than 150 explosions throughout Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin delegates walk out of a Dublin meeting and form Provisional Sinn Féin (Jan 11th). The Ulster Defence Regiment is established by the Westminster parliament (April 1st.) as a replacement to the Ulster Special Constabulary. The disbandment of the USC had been a civil right’s movement demand. Ian Paisley is elected to Stormont, defeating Terence O’Neill (April 17th). The Alliance Party is formed (April 21st). Edward Heath (Conservative) becomes Prime Minister of England (June 18th). A curfew is introduced on the Falls Road, Belfast (July 3 - 5). The Social Democratic Labour Party is formed by Hume, Fitt, P. Devlin, Currie, Cooper and O'Hanlon (Aug 21st). In Dublin a trial is held involving a former government minister and a former officer in the Eire army on charges of arms smuggling for the IRA .
World: Biafra surrenders after 32-month fight for independence from Nigeria (Jan. 12th). Rhodesia severs last tie with British Crown and declares itself a racially segregated republic (March 1st). US troops invade Cambodia (May 1st). A Palestinian revolt erupts in Jordan. Forces loyal to King Hussein suppress the revolt and expel the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) from the country. An earthquake kills more than 50,000 in Peru (May 31st). President Nasser of Egypt dies and is replaced by Anwar el-Sadat. Tonga (June 4th) and Fiji (Oct 10th) gain independence from Britain.
