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== Early Years ==

== Early Years ==

Northern Ireland was created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 and its existence effectively confirmed by the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, which formally concluded the Irish War of Independence. It was governed from Parliament Buildings at [[Stormont]] in [[Belfast]]; Northern ireland also elected Members of Parliament to serve at the UK Parliament in [[London]]. However, a minority on both sides of the Irish border refused to accept the partition of Ireland and continued to fight the British, largely with terrorist activities.   

Northern Ireland was created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920 and its existence effectively confirmed by the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1922, which formally concluded the Irish War of Independence. The country comprises 6 out of the 9 counties in the province of [[Ulster]] - the 6 which contained majority Protestant populations in 1920. The three counties of Ulster with Catholic majorities became part of the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland was governed from Parliament Buildings at [[Stormont]] in [[Belfast]]; Northern Ireland also elected Members of Parliament to serve at the UK Parliament in [[London]]. However, a minority on both sides of the Irish border refused to accept the partition of Ireland and continued to fight the British, largely with terrorist activities.   

The most important group in this regard has been the [[terrorist]] [[Irish Republican Army]], commonly known as the [[IRA]]. The IRA was originally formed to fight the British during the War of Independence.  Many IRA members refused to accept the Anglo-Irish treaty's partition of the island into two separate countries, leading to the bloody Irish Civil War of 1922-23, in which pro-treaty forces were victorious.  However, the anti-treaty forces continued to refer to themselves as the IRA after the civil war concluded, and to consider themselves the legitimate government of Ireland.   

The most important group in this regard has been the [[terrorist]] [[Irish Republican Army]], commonly known as the [[IRA]]. The IRA was originally formed to fight the British during the War of Independence.  Many IRA members refused to accept the Anglo-Irish treaty's partition of the island into two separate countries, leading to the bloody Irish Civil War of 1922-23, in which pro-treaty forces were victorious.  However, the anti-treaty forces continued to refer to themselves as the IRA after the civil war concluded, and to consider themselves the legitimate government of Ireland.