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Northern Ireland Politics Trivia Quiz

Recent political developments will hopefully ensure a sustained peace in Northern Ireland. How much do you know about the progress the politicians are creating?

A multiple-choice quiz by btpriest. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
btpriest

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
88,845

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
3 / 10

Plays
698

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On what date in April 1998 was the Good Friday Agreement singed?

Answer: (number between 1 and 24)

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Question 2 of 10

2. Whom did David Trimble succeed as MP for Upper Bann in a by-election? Hint

Harold McCusker

James Molyneaux

Mervyn Carrick

Enoch Powell

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Question 3 of 10

3. Between the introduction of direct rule in 1972 and devolution at the end of 1999, how many Secretaries of State of Northern Ireland have held office? (Include both Whitelaw and Mandelson.)

Answer: (number between 5 and 20)

4. In January 1986, Unionist MPs (Members of Parliament) resigned their seats in order to force by-elections which would be viewed as a referendum on the Anglo-Irish Agreement. A number of consistencies were not being contested by other parties, so a 'dummy' candidate, Peter Barry (then Irish Foreign Minister), was nominated for election. In how many constituencies did Peter Barry stand?

Answer: (number between 1 and 15)

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the 1998-2003 Assembly, John Hume of the SDLP resigned his Foyle seat in order to concentrate on Westminster and European affairs. Who replaced him in the Assembly? Hint

Annie Courtney

Arthur Doherty

Sue Ramsey

Sharon Haughey

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Question 6 of 10

6. In which year was Rev Ian Paisley first elected as a Westminster MP? Hint

1970

1972

1968

1974

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Question 7 of 10

7. Between 1982 and 1986, Northern Ireland experimented with an Assembly as a forum. How many seats were available? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. Devolved government, as established by the Good Friday Agreement, first came into effect on what date towards the end of the last millennium? Hint

15 November 1999

2 November 1999

15 December 1999

2 December 1999

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Question 9 of 10

9. Of the five members elected to the Assembly in 1998 as representatives of Robert McCartney's United Kingdom Unionist Party, four broke away to set up a new party. What is name of this party? Hint

New Ulster Unionist Party

Great Britain and Ulster Party

Northern Ireland Unionist Party

Federal United Kingdom Party

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Question 10 of 10

10. Northern Ireland Assembly members are referred to as MLAs (Member of the Legislative Assembly). This term was originally used in which Commonwealth country? Hint

Canada

New Zealand

Australia

South Africa

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On what date in April 1998 was the Good Friday Agreement singed?

Answer: 10

10 April 1998 was Good Friday! The Agreement was ratified by referenda on both sides of the Irish border on 22 May 1998.

2. Whom did David Trimble succeed as MP for Upper Bann in a by-election?

Answer: Harold McCusker

Mr McCusker died of cancer in 1990. Mr Trimble succeeded Mr Molynaeux as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party following his retirement in 1995. Mr Powell was a former Conservative MP and member of the British Cabinet; he served as Ulster Unionist MP for South Down 1974-87. Mr Carrick was elected to the Assembly in 1998, representing the Democratic Unionist Party in Upper Bann.

3. Between the introduction of direct rule in 1972 and devolution at the end of 1999, how many Secretaries of State of Northern Ireland have held office? (Include both Whitelaw and Mandelson.)

Answer: 12

William Whitelaw (Conversative); Frances Pym (C); Merlyn Rees (Labour); Roy Mason (L); Sir Humphrey Atkins (C); James Prior (C); Douglas Hurd (C); Tom King (C); Peter Brooke (C); Sir Patrick Mayhew (C); Mo Mowlam (L); Peter Mandelson (L)

Answer: 4

Peter Barry stood in East Londonderry, North Antrim, South Antrim and Strangford. He received a total of 6,777 votes (5.3%).

5. In the 1998-2003 Assembly, John Hume of the SDLP resigned his Foyle seat in order to concentrate on Westminster and European affairs. Who replaced him in the Assembly?

Answer: Annie Courtney

Ms Courtney had been an election agent for Mr Hume. Ms Ramsey is a Sinn F�in MLA. Mr Doherty vacated his seat in the Assembly on health grounds. Ms Haughey is a prominent member of the SDLP's youth wing and member of Northern Ireland Civic Forum.

6. In which year was Rev Ian Paisley first elected as a Westminster MP?

Answer: 1970

The year that he founded the Democratic Unionist Party. Dr Paisley has retained the North Antrim seat in every election he has contested since.

7. Between 1982 and 1986, Northern Ireland experimented with an Assembly as a forum. How many seats were available?

Answer: 78

Though winning 19 of the 78 seats, the SDLP and Sinn F�in boycotted this assembly.

8. Devolved government, as established by the Good Friday Agreement, first came into effect on what date towards the end of the last millennium?

Answer: 2 December 1999

The Ulster Unionist Party agreed to enter in to devolved government Saturday November 27; the executive was elected Monday 29; and came into operation Thursday December 2.

9. Of the five members elected to the Assembly in 1998 as representatives of Robert McCartney's United Kingdom Unionist Party, four broke away to set up a new party. What is name of this party?

Answer: Northern Ireland Unionist Party

Cedric Wilson, Norman Boyd, Patrick Roche and Roger Hutchinson were the four founding MLAs of the NIUP. Mr Hutchinson subsequently transferred to the DUP.

10. Northern Ireland Assembly members are referred to as MLAs (Member of the Legislative Assembly). This term was originally used in which Commonwealth country?

Answer: Canada

A members of the Welsh Assembly is known as an AM (Assembly Member) and the counterpart in Holyrood, Edinburgh is referred to as MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament).

Source: Author btpriest

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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