1986
This episode focuses on 1986, with archive and musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland.
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.
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