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CAIN Web Service

Introduction to the CAIN Web Site


[CAIN_HOME]
[Key_Events] Key_Issues] [Conflict_Background]
HOME: [Help] [Recent_Additions] [Associated_Sites] [Contributors] [Contributions]
[Commendations] [Citations] [Access_Stats] [Funding] [Copyright]
Page Compiled: Martin Melaugh

Introduction

CAIN Logo CAIN (Conflict Archive on the INternet - cain.ulster.ac.uk) is an Web site which provides a wide range of information and source material on the Northern Ireland conflict and politics in the region from 1968 to the present. The site also contains some general information on Northern Ireland society. The CAIN Project began in 1996 and the Web site was first made available on-line in March 1997.

Location
CAIN is located in Aberfoyle House on the Magee Campus of the University of Ulster (www.ulster.ac.uk).


Institutional Relationships
image of the INCORE logo CAIN is based within INCORE (International Conflict Research Institute - www.incore.ulster.ac.uk), which is part of the Faculty of Social Science in the University of Ulster.
INCORE is a joint project of the United Nations University and the University of Ulster. Combining research, education and comparative analysis, INCORE addresses the causes and consequences of conflict in Northern Ireland and internationally and promotes conflict resolution management strategies.


image of the ARK logoCAIN is also a constituent part of ARK (Access Research Knowledge - www.ark.ac.uk) which is a joint resource between the University of Ulster and Queens University Belfast.
ARK provides access to social and political material on Northern Ireland that informs social and political debate in the region and raises the profile of social science research.

 

Background on the CAIN Project

CAIN - Conflict Archive on the INternet
CAIN is the acronym given to the Web site and the Project which is developing the site.

Development of an Internet site on 'the Troubles' and politics
The main 'product' of the CAIN Project is the CAIN Web site.

Target audience - Higher Education sector
The target audience was initially the Higher Education sector in the United Kingdom (UK). However the site is available free to anyone with Internet access and currently over two thirds of users are from outside the UK.

Background information on the conflict
It is hoped that those who are new to the subject of the Northern Ireland conflict will find a range of information that will provide a useful introduction to the topic.

Guidance and information for researchers
It is also hoped that those who are carrying out academic research on the subject of 'the Troubles' will find the CAIN site a useful starting point.

 

Funding

image of the ESRC logo CAIN, as part of ARK, was successful in securing funding from the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council). This funding began on 1 October 2006 and will end on 30 September 2011.

AHRC logo In June 2006 the University of Ulster was notified that a bid to the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for research funding to support work on the CAIN site had been successful. The period of the funding was 1 October 2006 to 30 March 2009. The Project produced a digital Archive on: 'Remembering': Victims, Survivors and Commemoration in Post-Conflict Northern Ireland.

Following the completion of this project the AHRC announced additional capital funding and called for proposals to the Digital Equipment and Database Enhancement for Impact (DEDEFI) Scheme. CAIN submitted a proposal in November 2009 to carry out a one-year project and was made an award in January 2010. Funding for this Project will end on 28 February 2011. For additional information see the note on the new Project.

In 2002 the CAIN project received funding from the University of Ulster,
and, as part of ARK, CAIN received funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies

During 1998 the CAIN project received funding from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland (DENI), and the Central Community Relations Unit (CCRU).

The CAIN project was first funded, during 1996 and 1997 by:
the Electronic Libraries Programme (eLib) of the Higher Education Funding Councils.

 

 

Original Partners on CAIN Project

Original Partner Institutions:
The development of the CAIN service was initially undertaken (1996-1997) by three partner institutions:
the University of Ulster,
the Queen's University of Belfast , and
the Linen Hall Library.

Other groups and individuals:
A number of other groups and individuals have provided support to the Project. For example, within the University of Ulster the following groups had an input into the Project:
Centre for the Study of Conflict (1977-2000) ;
Educational Services; and
INCORE (International Conflict Research Institute).

Objectives

The CAIN Project has a number of objectives:
  • Establish and promote a resource of use to researchers, teachers, students and librarians
  • Encourage those who hold relevant information to contribute to the service
  • Collaborate with and link to other initiatives
  • Explore content, design and technical issues

    • Key Benefits

    The main benefits of CAIN are:
  • Improve access to information and source materials
  • Assist in preparation of learning materials
  • Encourage active learning
  • Promote the awareness, value and use of networked information
  • Reduce pressure on library resources

    • Trends in the topic area

    There is a growing interest in:
  • Conflict and peace studies
  • Political studies, and
  • Irish Studies

    Further Information
    More particular information on the early development of the CAIN Project (details of staff, list of papers, access statistics, promotional activities, etc.) can be found on the Project Background page.


    Navigation / Finding Information

    The following information on the layout and content of CAIN site is intended for first-time users or anyone who is having problems finding information.

    Near the top of each web page on the CAIN site is a 'navigation' or 'status' bar which will help you to move between the main sections and also act as a reminder of your position in the site. An example of a status bar is as follows:

    [CAIN_Home]
    [Key_Events] Key_Issues] [Conflict_Background]
    HOME: [Help] [Recent_Additions] [Associated_Sites] [Contributors] [Contributions]
    [Commendations] [Citations] [Access_Stats] [Funding] [Copyright]

    This particular status bar shows that the user is looking the [Introduction] page which is one of the pages associated with the HOME page [CAIN_HOME].

    At the bottom of each page are a series of 'buttons' which provide links to: CAIN home page; information about CAIN; the site index; the site map; answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs); the search page; and contact details:

    • CAIN contains information and source material on the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland.
    CAIN is based within the University of Ulster.
    go to the top of this page
    CAIN Home Page About CAIN Web Site Index of Contents Site Map Frequently Asked Questions Search CAIN Site Contact Details
    		go to the top of this page
    ARK logo
    Last modified :
    © 1996-2010 CAIN

    If you are unsure about the location of particular information you should consult the 'help' page which contains links to the main index page and a site map. If you are still having problems you should try the full-text search facilities, which allow you to search for particualar words or phrases across the whole site. As a last resort you could contact the CAIN Director.

    Outline of the CAIN Internet Site

    The remainder of this web page provides an outline of the CAIN Internet site. You should use the 'BACK' button on your browser to return to this page.

    Main Sections of the CAIN Internet Site

  • Background information on the conflict
  • Key Events
  • Key Issues

    Material contained in the above sections comes from 3 main sources:

  • material which was initially published in paper format; example
  • text written by members of the Project Team; example
  • text written specially for the CAIN site; example

    Background Information

    The 'Background Information' on the conflict contains a number of sections:

    Introductions
    Brief introductions to the Northern Ireland Conflict
    Background on Northern Ireland society
    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Guides
    Guide to carrying out research on Northern Ireland
    Guide to Internet web sites containing information on the conflict and politics
    List of acronyms
    Glossary of terms related to the conflict and politics

    Other Background Information
    Bibliography of the conflict
    Other bibliographies, databases, and electronic services
    Chronology of main events
    Abstracts on prominent organisations
    Biographies of people prominent during 'the Troubles'
    Database of those killed
    Political initiatives
    Policy initiatives
    Political 'solutions'
    Election results
    Government Reports, and Acts of Parliament
    The media and the conflict
    Personal accounts of the conflict
    The arts and the conflict:
      Political Wall Murals in Northern Ireland
      Examples of Political Posters, 1968-1999
      Symbols used in Northern Ireland
      Photographs

    Key Events

    The CAIN site will provide information on five major events:
  • Civil Rights Campaign (1964 to 1972)
  • Internment (1971 to 1975)
  • Ulster Workers' Council Strike (1974)
  • The Hunger Strikes (1980 to 1981)
  • Peace Process (1994 to the present)

    And thirteen other events

  • Derry March (5 October 1968)
  • People's Democracy March (1 January 1969 to 4 January 1969);
  • Deployment of British Troops (14 August 1969)
  • 'Bloody Sunday' (30 January 1972)
  • Introduction of Direct Rule (30 March 1972)
  • 'Bloody Friday' (21 July 1972)
  • Sunningdale Agreement (6 December 1973 to 9 December 1973)
  • Dublin and Monaghan bombs (17 May 1974)
  • IRA Truce (9 February 1975 to 23 January 1976)
  • United Unionist Action Council (UUAC) Strike (3 May 1977 to 13 May 1977)
  • Anglo-Irish Agreement (15 November 1985)
  • Brooke / Mayhew Talks (April 1991 to November 1992)
  • Omagh Bomb (15 August 1998)

    Key Issues

    The CAIN site will also provide information on a number of major issues:
  • Children and Young People
  • Discrimination
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Housing
  • Administration of Justice
  • Policing
  • Violence
  • The Media and the conflict
  • Parades and Marches
  • Policy initiatives
  • Politics, political parties and the electoral system
  • Women and the conflict

    • Other Issues:

    Collusion between Security Forces and Paramilitaries
    Commemoration in Northern Ireland
    Community Work Practice in Northern Ireland
    Minority Languages in Northern Ireland

    Use Made of the CAIN Internet Site

    Access Statistics
  • over 50,000 unique visitors per month who generate over 300,000 page views each month
  • one third of users are from Britain and Ireland; one third from the USA; and one third from Europe and the rest of the world
    (The access statistics exclude the use made of the site by the Project Team and the major search engines, and also exclude the 'hits' on image files.)

     

    • CAIN contains information and source material on the conflict and politics in Northern Ireland.
    CAIN is based within the University of Ulster.
    go to the top of this page go to the top of this page
    ARK logo
    Last modified :