In 1981, ten young men starved to death in a prison outside Belfast.
They were all members of the Irish Republican Army and were protesting their right to be treated as political prisoners. Their deaths shocked the world.
The hunger strike martyred young republicans and was the culmination of three decades of conflict in Ireland, which ultimately claimed 3,500 lives and earned the euphemism ‘The Troubles’.
The strike also marked the moment when a little-known nationalist fringe group called Sinn Féin burst from obscurity into the mainstream.
Forty years later, Sinn Féin made history by winning the popular vote in the 2020 Irish general election and coming within reach of taking power on both sides of the Irish border.
Gerry Adams is a former president of Sinn Fein, elected in 1983.
As the IRA took the fight to mainland Britain, bombs exploded in Brighton, Hyde Park and Manchester, almost killing thousands of innocent civilians and…Margaret Thatcher.
The country is currently facing fresh elections, and Sinn Féin should be leading the polls. Rather, they are trapped in chaos and disorder.
The country has been criticized for failing to come up with a consistent policy on immigration and has been dogged by allegations of sexual abuse and cover-ups. Their electoral prospects look questionable at best.
Whatever you think of them, Sinn Féin remains one of the most influential political movements in recent history, and more than any other party its political destiny has been irrevocably shaped by its past. continues to take shape.
To understand Sinn Féin, we need to go back to their roots.
In this limited series, starting on November 22, political editor John Lee, who has covered Sinn Féin for 30 years, will explore where Sinn Féin came from and where it will come from. , explores the history of the conflict that became known as the Troubles. Please go.
He has spoken to key figures on both sides of the Irish border, including current and former politicians, peace activists, former Provisional IRA members and ordinary civilians.
And he asked them all… Who are Sinn Féin really?
Host: John Lee Producer: Artemis Irvin, Bella Soames Assistant Producer: Sally McLennan Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Sound Design: John Scott Script Consultant: Liam Thompson
Search for ‘From the Bomb to the Vote: A History of Sinn Féin’ wherever you get your podcasts. All episodes have been released.
