A series on the troubles in northern Ireland in the 70’s and it’s excellent. Well worth watching and food for thought on terrorism…
I thought this was going to be a thread about them removing the transgender character from their new show.
I read the book. It was excellent.
Loved the book! I think it’s also on Hulu.
I was just in Ireland several weeks ago.
I was surprised how Sinn Fein is now mainstream, even in southern Ireland.
sinn fein was and is a political party and the incumbents FF and FG have failed to deliver again and again
I’m going to watch this over Christmas, i spent two years there with the Army in the 80’s on counter terrorism so it won’t be an easy watch I’m guessing.
a very good friends first posting as a para in mid 90’s was coalisland…para’s were not loved there
So true, I was in Londonderry and Fermanagh. They were despised there by the Catholic population following Bloody Sunday.
In 1992 I drove from Belfast through Derry on a Marching Day. This was one week before the first IRA truce so the tanks were still rolling on the streets of Belfast. I was headed to Raphoe in Co. Donegal and spent a number of days with the parents of an Irishman I had lived with in SF. His family was later part of a Morris Tribunal investigation. When I first met him (at an Irish pub in SF, go figure), one of his first questions was whether I was Catholic or Protestant. I said, “Methodist” and he was all confused and one of the other bartenders had to explain.
For a long time that was the traditional greeting in NI. You had to establish which community you were dealing with, “which foot do you kick with?” was a common question. I hope it’s changing now, such a beautiful country.
I’d like to go back and see what’s changed.
Agreed, my understanding is that organized crime is the new IRA but i wonder if it’s safe to travel through all areas now? I’d go for a walk City side in Derry to see the sights.
According to an acquaintance whose dad was in the RUC even in the worst of the Troubles an American could walk around in better safety than say NYC at the time.
i only spent a few days in Belfast during the Troubles - in 1990, but it was unforgettably different to any other city i have been to. Seeing soldiers on the streets, even getting on our coach; and the visible signs dividing what is a pretty small city set within this wonderful landscape of rolling hills a bit like lowland scotland. i think having the Belfast bombings and shootings in the news what feels like almost every day of your life enhances the tension of being there.
Americans were always welcome in most parts of the province. NORAID was bringing in good money for a while. I remember meeting members of the NY police band and they wouldn’t say anything or even look you in the eye.