WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) -- A blood-dimmed shadow hung over the usually joyous celebration of St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday. Only two weeks ago, five shocking killings in Northern Ireland raised the specter of civil war after a decade of peace.

BERLIN, March 10 (UPI) -- The shooting deaths of a police officer and two soldiers in just 48 hours have stirred up worries that sectarian violence could return to Northern Ireland.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, June 16 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush held Northern Ireland as a example for peace and business investment Monday during his visit to Belfast.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, June 6 (UPI) -- Ian Paisley, the divisive Protestant preacher who ended up in an alliance with his old enemies, stepped down Thursday as first minister of Northern Ireland.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, May 31 (UPI) -- The proposed dissolution of a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland is "ludicrous," Democratic Unionist Party head Peter Robinson said Saturday.

DUBLIN, Ireland, May 8 (UPI) -- New Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen sounded optimistic about his impending meeting Thursday with his British counterpart, Gordon Brown.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, April 30 (UPI) -- Iraqi leaders emerged from a three-day meeting in Finland asking Irish Deputy Premier Martin McGuinness to lead an international peace mission to Iraq.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, May 8 (UPI) -- Direct rule of Northern Ireland by London ended Tuesday as Protestant and Catholic parties signed a power-sharing agreement in Belfast.

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A British loyalist was charged in Belfast Saturday with attempting to kill Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.