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Private Notes
Pop Goes Northern Ireland is a potted history of a year in Northern Ireland’s recent past using only archive, explanatory captions and hits each year. This episode is an introduction to the whole series.
1969: A bad moon arisin - from Civil Rights to the outbreak of the Troubles.
1974 - This town ain't big enough for both of us. From power sharing to power cuts.
Another key year in the history of Northern Ireland accompanied by the thumping chart hits of the time. 1981 - Whats-a-matter-you? DeLorean, the hunger strike and the Third Force.
1985 - We're on the road to nowhere. From the Anglo-Irish agreement to the Ulster Says No campaign.
1994 - Where did you come from? Where did you go? The year of the first IRA ceasefire.
This episode focuses on 1971. Events take a darker turn when the first British soldiers die in the Troubles, Brian Faulkner becomes prime minister of Northern Ireland, and the government introduces internment without trial.
This episode focuses on 1979: the year when Northern Irish politicians played a crucial role in bringing Margaret Thatcher to power, the year Lord Mountbatten was murdered and 18 soldiers were killed at Warrenpoint. It's also the year when the Pope made his first and only visit to Ireland.
This episode focuses on 1982: the year when Jim Prior's political initiative Rolling Devolution brings surprising electoral success for Sinn Fein, the last DeLorean car rolls of the production line as the company goes bankrupt, and the NI World Cup football team achieve everlasting glory when they beat the hosts Spain.
This episode focuses on 1998: the year when the peace process comes to fruition with the Good Friday Agreement but the DUP are set against it, Drumcree 4 brings Northern Ireland to the brink and the Omagh bomb shocks the world.
This episode focuses on 2002: the year when the fragile peace process is put under strain after a break in at Castlereagh police station and escalating sectarian violence, and aa police raid on the Sinn Fein offices at Stormont leads to the collapse of the power-sharing executive.
The third series of Pop Goes Northern Ireland begins with the year 1972, a tumultuous year with the watershed events of Bloody Sunday and the imposition of direct rule. The programme also charts the rise of the Loyalist movement, Vanguard, and the emergence of the UDA as a major paramilitary force. A brief moment of hope engendered by an IRA ceasefire evaporates in the carnage of Bloody Friday and Claudy. Through Operation Motorman, the army brings to an end the infamous "no-go" areas.
This episode focuses on 1977, a year which sees the government confront and defeat a Loyalist strike led by Ian Paisley and Ernest Baird, and backed by the UDA. Amidst tight security the Queen visits Northern Ireland as part of the silver jubilee celebrations. It's also the year in which the Peace People's Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams receive the Noble Peace Prize.
This episode goes back to 1988, a year which sees Anglo-Irish relations deteriorate in the wake of the Birmingham Six's failed appeal. The situation is exacerbated by the shooting of Catholic man Aidan McAnespie by a soldier at a border checkpoint. The killing of three IRA members in Gibraltar by the SAS leads to a grim sequence of events, among them being Michael Stone's attack on a funeral at Milltown Cemetery and the murder of "the two corporals." The violence continues with SAS operations against the IRA, and the IRA killing a number of soldiers in bomb attacks in Lisburn and Ballygawley.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode goes back to 1993, a year which sees John Hume and Gerry Adams involved in talks which could lead to an IRA ceasefire. Meanwhile, prime minister John Major and Taoiseach Albert Reynolds are involved in a series of intensive negotiations to create a framework for peace. Violence escalates with the IRA bombing of a fish shop on Shankill Road and the Loyalist-orchestrated Greysteel Massacre. However, by the end of the year there is the promise of an eventual peace with the publication of the Downing Street Declaration.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode goes back to 1997, a year which begins with the IRA still waging a campaign of violence. The general election brings Labour's Tony Blair to power, and new secretary of state Mo Mowlam forces the Drumcree Orange march down the disputed Garvaghy Road, causing serious disturbances. A few days later the IRA declare a ceasefire and Sinn Fein are admitted to political talks, leading the DUP to walk out in protest.
1970 - the "honeymoon period" the army enjoyed with the Catholic community begins to sour as sectarian tensions rise
This episode of Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1973. Northern Ireland is suffering unrelenting violence and the UDA becomes increasingly involved in sectarian murder. The UDA is also convulsed by internal feuds which result in the murder of one its most prominent spokesmen, Tommy Herron. Meanwhile, having held a border poll - boycotted by nationalists - the government's White Paper proposes elections to an Assembly, the creation of a power-sharing executive and the establishment of North-South institutions. The Unionist party splits on whether to support the White Paper, but its leader Brain Faulkner, despite eroding support, agrees to a power-sharing executive and to a North-South Council of Ireland at Sunningdale. The year ends with the swearing in of the new power-sharing government for Northern Ireland.
This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1976. This is one of the worst years of violence during the Troubles, and the year starts with a litany of sectarian assassinations, most notably the Kingsmill Massacre. In a final effort to seek agreement on a government for Northern Ireland the government recalls the Constitutional Convention, but it fails to reach any agreement. The government moves toward a policy of 'Ulsterisation', putting the RUC and the UDR increasingly in the frontline and reducing the role of the army. In August, one incident involving the killing of the three Maguire children sparks mass protests against violence and the creation of the peace people. However, the initial euphoria that the movement will bring peace to Northern Ireland soon evaporates.
This episode focuses on 1984. The violence continues across Northern Ireland and March sees the attempted murder of Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who is shot by the UDA. May brings the publication of the New Ireland Forum report, which advocates a United Ireland but also suggests a federal Ireland, or joint authority, over Northern Ireland by the Irish and British governments. Sean Downes is killed in August by a plastic bullet when the RUC try to arrest Noraid leader Martin Galvin in west Belfast, while September sees the Marita Ann, a boat carrying seven tonnes of arms for the IRA, intercepted by the Irish navy. In October, an IRA bomb at the Grand Hotel, Brighton, kills five people, and the year comes to a close with the prime minister bluntly rejecting all the recommendations of the New Ireland Forum report.
This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1987. Unionists continue their campaign against the Anglo-Irish Agreement, launching a petition demanding a NI referendum. A feud breaks out between the INLA and breakaway faction the IPLO, which costs the lives of 13 people. The funerals of IRA men are marked by confrontation between mourners and the RUC, who are trying to prevent paramilitary displays. Lord Justice Gibson is the victim of an IRA bomb attack and eight IRA men are killed by the SAS during an attack on Loughgall RUC station. In November, the French authorities seize 150 tonnes of Libyan weapons bound for the IRA and an IRA bomb explodes at the Cenotaph during the annual Remembrance Day ceremony, killing 11 people. In December, UDA leader John McMichael is killed by an IRA car bomb - it is believed that some members of the UDA assisted the IRA.
This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on 1990. The year starts with secretary of state for NI Peter Brooke calling for all-party talks. The Stevens Inquiry's offices are destroyed by fire and the Stevens team continues with its work uncovering collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. The Supreme Court in Dublin refuses to extradite a number of prominent republicans and the violence continues, with four UDR officers killed in one attack. Ian Gow, a Conservative MP and friend of Margaret Thatcher, is also killed by the IRA. September sees two joyriders shot dead by an army patrol and Private Lee Clegg is charged with murder. Autumn sees a upsurge in violence culminating in the murder of six soldiers and one civilian caused by two IRA "human bombs". Mary Robinson becomes the first woman to be elected president of Ireland and on the same day Peter Broke declares that the government has "no selfish strategic or economic interest" in Northern Ireland and Margaret Thatcher resigns as prime minister, to be replaced by John Major.
This episode focuses on 1992. The year starts badly when an IRA bomb kills seven protestant builders at Teebane crossroads. In the following month an off-duty RUC officer shoots three people dead at a Sinn Fein office before killing himself. Two days later the UDA kill five people at a betting office on the Ormeau Road. In the general election, the Conservatives are re-elected to government, while in the same election Gerry Adams loses his west Belfast seat to the SDLP. An IRA bomb at the Baltic Exchange kills three people and causes massive financial damage to the City of London. In August, the UDA is banned by the government, while the all-party (Brooke-Mayhew) talks end without any breakthrough. December sees the new secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Sir Patrick Mayhew, state that Sinn Fein could join talks if there was a permanent IRA ceasefire.
This episode focuses on 1995. The IRA and Loyalist ceasefires are still in place but the 'peace process' is stalled over the issue of decommissioning. The government insists that the IRA must begin decommissioning its weapons before Sinn Fein can take part in all-party talks. Meanwhile, Orange parades have become a source of tension and violent confrontation on the Lower Ormeau Road and most spectacularly at Drumcree. July sees a stand-off between the police and Orange Order defused when Nationalist residents agree to allow the march to go down the Garvaghy Road, subject to restrictions. The Irish and British governments agree a policy to progress the peace process, and President Clinton arrives in Belfast to give his support to the deal. The IRA start to shoot alleged drug dealers using the cover name Direct Action Against Drugs, leaving the ceasefire in the balance.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland focuses on the years 1963-1968. When Terence O'Neill becomes the new prime minister of Northern Ireland, there is hope that sectarian tensions will reduce as he reaches out to the Catholic community and seeks to improve the Stormont government's relations with the Republic of Ireland. However, O'Neill faces growing dissent within the Unionist party over his approach. Ian Paisley emerges from the loyalist fringes as a strident critic of O'Neill and as a political force to be reckoned with. At the same time, the nationalist community becomes increasingly restive at the failure of O'Neill to carry out concrete reforms addressing issues such as discrimination in housing, employment and local democracy. In 1968 the civil rights movement takes to the streets demanding reform. When a peaceful march in Duke Street is banned and then attacked by the police, the British Labour government begins to take an active interest in the affairs of Northern Ireland. All over Northern Ireland civil rights marches are confronted by loyalist counter demonstrations and the RUC find it increasingly difficult to maintain order. In December 1968 O'Neill appeals for Northern Ireland to pull back from the brink - Ulster stands at the crossroads.
This episode focuses on 1975. In January the IRA declare an 'indefinite ceasefire’ and secret talks take place between the government and Sinn Fein. Unionists and loyalists are fearful that the government is planning a withdrawal from Northern Ireland and loyalist paramilitary violence intensifies. On the political front there are elections to a constitutional convention. There is a brief hope that William Craig's compromise of 'voluntary power-sharing' will form the basis of a solution for Northern Ireland. However, the idea is swiftly rejected by most unionists and leads to the destruction of William Craig as a political force. Meanwhile, the IRA ceasefire disintegrates as hardliners within the organisation believe that their leadership have been duped by the government.
This episode focuses on 1978. The IRA are feeling the squeeze as secretary of state Roy Mason continues with a 'military solution' to the conflict. However, although the IRA are a diminished force they still carry out terrorist atrocities. Their increasing using of incendiary devices results in the deaths of 12 people in the La Mon hotel in February. Amnesty International reports concerns about the abuse of suspects in police custody. The government continues to refuse to treat republican prisoners differently than 'ordinary' criminals. This leads to conflict in the prisons and the start of the 'Dirty Protest' by republican prisoners demanding the restoration of 'special category status’.
This week Pop Goes Northern Ireland focusses on 1980. The government holds a constitutional conference in the hope of making progress on a political solution to Northern Ireland. The project is fatally undermined by the refusal of the Ulster Unionist Party to take part. The conference is wound up by March without any significant agreement on a way forward. Meanwhile the violence continues. There is heightened tension in the Maze prison over the demand for ‘Special Category Status’. The issue comes to the boil when Republican prisoners end their ‘Dirty Protest’ and commence a hunger strike. The strike is called off in confusing circumstance after a last minute ‘deal’ between Republicans and the government. However the government and Republican versions of what has been agreed significantly differ. It is soon apparent that this dispute has not been settled...
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive material and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode focuses on 1978. The NI Assembly continues to sit but remains without any powers due to a nationalist boycott. The year sees the beginning of the controversial 'supergrass trials.' Serious questions are raised when it turns out that many of these 'supergrasses' have been granted immunity from prosecution and given money to testify. Republican paramilitaries respond by kidnapping the close relatives of certain supergrasses with the aim of getting them to withdraw their evidence. The Republic of Ireland sets up the New Ireland Forum to make recommendations on new all-Ireland constitutional arrangements. In the general election, Gerry Adams wins the seat of Belfast West, underlining the political advance of Sinn Fein. September sees a mass escape of republican prisoners from the top-security Maze Prison. The violence continues throughout the year. In November three protestant church-goers are killed in what becomes known as the 'Darkley Massacre'. The year ends on a grim note when an IRA bomb explodes outside Harrods in London, killing seven people.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode focuses on 1986. Unionist opposition to the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 continues. In January, 15 by-elections in Northern Ireland, caused by Unionist MPs resigning their seats, sees all but one of them re-elected. In March a unionist 'Day of Action' turns sour when there is widespread intimidation and street violence. As the year progresses the homes of policemen and women are targeted by loyalists. In June the NI Assembly is dissolved and police are called in to remove Assemblymen who refuse to leave Stormont. In August Clontibret, a small town in County Monaghan, is taken over by 500 loyalists and Peter Robinson is arrested for his part in the incident. November sees a split in Sinn Fein when it votes to end its policy of abstentionism towards the Irish parliament. The same month sees the creation of a new loyalist paramilitary group, Ulster Resistance. Also in that month and a mass protest in Belfast, marking the anniversary of the Anglo Irish Agreement, descends into violence. By the end of the year, despite unionist opposition, the Anglo-Irish Agreement remains in place.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode focuses on 1989. The violence continues in Northern Ireland. February sees allegations of ‘state collusion’ in the killing of solicitor Pat Finucane. In March, two senior RUC officers are shot dead as they return from a meeting with the Garda, leading to allegations that an IRA mole is operating in the Irish police force. Claims of security force collusion appear to be confirmed when intelligence documents are found in the possession of loyalist paramilitaries. In September an IRA bomb kills eleven members of the Royal Marine band at their barracks in Deal. A few weeks later the ‘Guildford Four’ are released after serving 15 years in jail. The Appeal Court finds that their convictions were a miscarriage of justice. In November, secretary of state Peter Brooke infuriates unionists when he states that the IRA cannot be beaten militarily.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode focuses on 1991. The violence continues throughout the year. In February the IRA launch an attack on the cabinet when a mortar bomb explodes in the garden of 10 Downing Street. March sees the release of the ‘Birmingham Six’, who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned for the Birmingham pub bombings of 1974. There are talks between the constitutional parties on the future of Northern Ireland, however the talks end in July without any agreement. In the same month it is announced that the UDR will merge with the Royal Irish Rangers to become the Royal Irish Regiment. However, for a brief period in the summer, Belfast gets a touch of normality when the ‘Tall Ships’ sail into town and when the IRA declare a short Christmas ceasefire.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode focuses on 1996. The peace process is stalled over the issue of decommissioning. In January, Senator George Mitchell’s report recommends the beginning of talks, with the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons to start soon after. The report is ignored by the government, which decides to hold elections to a NI Forum that will determine the delegates to talks scheduled to start in June. In February the IRA ends its ceasefire when a bomb explodes in London’s Canary Wharf killing two people. Talks start in June, but Sinn Fein are excluded from them until the IRA resumes its ceasefire. However, the IRA continues its violent campaign in England with a major bomb attack on Manchester city centre. In July there is serious disorder in NI when the Orange Order is refused permission to march down the Garvaghy Road from Drumcree Church. Eventually the police relent and allow the march to go ahead, which leads to serious rioting in nationalist areas. Despite a number of initiatives, the IRA does not resume its ceasefire and the peace process remains stalled.
Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all. This episode focuses on 1999. The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is stalled over the issue of decommissioning. The Ulster Unionist Party insists there must be decommissioning of IRA weapons before a power-sharing executive can be set up. Despite the Good Friday Agreement there are a number of violent incidents, including the murder of former IRA man turned informer Eamon Collins and civil rights lawyer Rosemary Nelson. A number of deadlines set by the British and Irish governments for the establishment of the executive pass without success. However in November, thanks to Senator George Mitchell’s review of the agreement, the Ulster Unionists agree to enter government before any decommissioning takes place. A power-sharing executive is finally established and devolved government is returned to Northern Ireland.
