Ardoyne (from Irish: Ard Eoin meaning "Eoin's height") is an Irish nationalist, working class and mainly Catholic district in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It gained notoriety due to the large number of incidents during "The Troubles". It is home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants. Ardoyne is also famed as the birth-place of the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese née Lenaghan.
Republican paramilitary organisations have had a major influence in the area from the start of The Troubles in 1969. The rise in popularity of the Provisional Irish Republican Army led to more police raids in the area, usually supported by the Army. Internment (imprisonment without trial) affected many in Ardoyne. Over the years after 1969, Provisional IRA membership in the area grew, so much so that it became one of the "no-go" areas listed by the RUC and Army, due to rising security risks and casualties suffered by the armed forces upon entering the district.
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Violence often occurs on the Crumlin Road during the Orange Order's marching season. The road is an "interface area", where nationalist and unionist communities meet. The local nationalist community oppose what they see as a triumphalist parade through their area, while marchers state their right to "walk the Queen's highway", along their traditional route.
The Parades Commission usually allows the march to take place. One particular cause of conflict is that, in the past, marchers have carried flags depicting Ulster Volunteer Force and Ulster Defence Association (paramilitary terrorist organisations) banners and played loyalist songs. Another issue has been the presence and role of aggressive supporters following the march. The 2006 march agreement however determined that 'supporters' would not be allowed to march.
Since there are only two exits from the estate, residents on the opposite side of the Crumlin Road (Mountainview) are barricaded into their street by the police and Army for several hours throughout the day: in the morning when the march goes by; and in the evening when it returns. Local residents believe this to be a breach of their human rights. The Police Ombudsman concurs with this assessment but is of the opinion that the barriers are necessary for security reasons.[2]
Unionists have highlighted the part republican organizations have played in protests including prominent convicted IRA men such as Sean Kelly who was arrested after violent protests during a parade.
Despite the local community group, the Ardoyne Parades Dialogue Group, and representatives of the march, the North and West Belfast Parades Forum, reaching an accommodation which imposed conditions on the march, golf balls and stones were thrown by protesters being kept back by stewards.[3]
In 2001, increased incidents of violence were experienced when Loyalists used violence to prevent children attending Holy Cross Girls' School access to one of the two entrances to their school which was located in the Protestant area at the top of the Ardoyne Road (Glenbryn). Some of the children were as young as four years of age.
Belfast is filled with areas depicting many murals of various topics, most often about the historic events of the past which include persecution by the British. Ardoyne mainly has murals to depict history, Irish traditions and important dates in Irish history, such as the 1916 Easter Rising and the Irish famine. Paramilitary banners often depict the 1981 Irish hunger strike, when ten Republican prisoners died from starvation during a protest to demand political status.
Football is a widely played and followed sport in the area. Ardoyne is close to the home ground of Irish Football League club Cliftonville, and as such the club enjoys a wide following in the area. Ardoyne itself is home to Crumlin Star, a minor club that currently plays in Northern Amateur Football League Division 1B.[4][5] Crumlin Star's social club is also a Celtic supporters club[6], with the Glasgow club enjoying strong popularity in the area and amongst the nationalist community in general.
The Gaelic Athletic Association is also represented in the area through local club Ardoyne Kickhams, who are affiliated to the Antrim GAA.[7]
The area is home to the annual "Ard Eoin Fleadh Cheoil" (Ardoyne Music Festival). The festival attracts some of the most famous Irish musical acts, including the Wolfe Tones. The offices for the event are based in Herbert Street in the area.[8]
Ardoyne is the setting in which Anna Burns' novel No Bones takes place. In this novel she describes a girl growing up in Ardoyne during the Troubles.[9]