The Ulster Volunteer Force

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is a loyalist paramilitary organization in Northern Ireland, founded in 1966. It primarily aims to oppose Irish nationalism and Catholic influence, advocating for Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. The UVF has engaged in acts of violence, including bombings and shootings, during The Troubles—a period of conflict from the late 1960s to the 1990s. Although it officially declared a ceasefire in 1994, the UVF has been involved in ongoing paramilitary activity and criminal enterprise, maintaining a significant, contentious presence within Northern Irish society.