From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Féin

https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/683dae8e8833104629623fdb

51 Followers 8 Episodes Claim Ownership

In 1981, ten young men starved themselves to death in a prison on the outskirts of Belfast. They were all members of the Irish Republican Army, and had been protesting their right to be treated as political prisoners. Their deaths shocked the world. The Hunger Strikes made martyrs of the young republican men who died and were the apex of a thirty year conflict in Ireland that – by its conclusion – had claimed the lives of 3,500 people, and gained a euphemism: The Troubles. The strikes also marked the moment that a little-known nationalist fringe group named Sinn Féin was catapulted from obscurity into the mainstream. Four decades later, Sinn Féin made history when it won the popular vote in the Ireland’s 2020 General Election and came within touching distance of taking power on both sides of the Irish border. Now, with the country on the eve of another election, Sinn Féin should be riding high in the polls. Instead, they are bogged down in chaos and disorder. Criticised for failing to come up with a coherent policy on immigration, and dogged by allegations of sexual abuse and internal cover-ups. Their election prospects look dubious, at best. Whatever you think of them, Sinn Féin remain one of the most consequential political movements in recent history, and, more so than any other political party, their political fortunes remain irrevocably shaped by their past. To understand Sinn Féin, you have to go back to their roots. In this limited series launching on November 22, political editor John Lee, who has been covering Sinn Féin for three decades, explores the history of the conflict that came to be known as the Troubles to understand where Sinn Féin came from, and where it might be going. He has spoken to key players from both sides of the Irish border, including current and former politicians, peace activists, former Provisional IRA members and ordinary civilians. And he has asked them all... who are Sinn Féin, really? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode List

Introducing... From Bomb to Ballot

Nov 4th, 2024 11:59 AM

Sinn Féin, the party that emerged as the political wing of the Provisional IRA, made history when it won the popular vote in the Ireland’s 2020 General Election and came within touching distance of taking power on both sides of the Irish border.Whatever you think of them, Sinn Féin remain one of the most consequential political movements in recent history, and, more so than any other political party, their political fortunes remain irrevocably shaped by their past. To understand Sinn Féin, you have to go back to their roots.With Ireland on the eve of another General Election, there has never been a more timely moment to do so. In this limited series launching on November 22, political editor John Lee, who has been covering Sinn Féin for three decades, explores the history of the conflict that came to be known as the Troubles to understand where Sinn Féin came from, and where it might be going.He has spoken to key players from both sides of the Irish border, including current and former politicians, peace activists, former Provisional IRA members and ordinary civilians.And he has asked them all... who are Sinn Féin, really?All seven episodes will be available on Friday November 22, just follow From Bomb to Ballot wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: John Lee Producers: Artemis Irvine and Bella Soames Assistant Producer: Sally McLennan Sound Design: John ScottProduction Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Podcast Artwork: Lindsay Fagan Script Consultant: Liam Thompson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesHost: John LeeProducers: Artemis Irvine, Bella SoamesAssistant Producer: Sally McLennanProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniSound Design: John ScottScript Consultant: Liam ThompsonExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail podcast. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1: Power and Protest

Nov 22nd, 2024 4:00 AM

In 1969, violence explodes across Northern Ireland.Catholics, who were treated as second-class citizens by the Protestant majority, march in protest and are beaten back by the country’s sectarian police force. The British Army arrives to restore order, but the violence escalates further into guerrilla war, led by a revived Irish Republican Army. The Troubles have begun. All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot are available now.Host: John LeeProducers: Artemis Irvine, Bella SoamesAssistant Producer: Sally McLennanProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniSound Design: John ScottScript Consultant: Liam ThompsonExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail podcast. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2: Guerrilla War

Nov 22nd, 2024 4:10 AM

The Provisional IRA run a disciplined and efficient operation and prove capable of bringing bloody war to the British Army. A cat and mouse game on the streets of Belfast and Derry intensifies with each passing week, each side becoming further entrenched in a brutal cycle of violence that will define the 1970s. And, at a pub in Armagh, near the Irish border, a young British army officer called Robert Nairac disappears. He will never be seen again.All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot are available now.Host: John LeeProducers: Artemis Irvine, Bella SoamesAssistant Producer: Sally McLennanProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniSound Design: John ScottScript Consultant: Liam ThompsonExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail podcast. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

3: Coffins

Nov 22nd, 2024 4:20 AM

Ten young men starve themselves to death in a prison outside Belfast. One of them – Bobby Sands – is an elected MP. Their deaths bring widespread sympathy to the Republican cause and the Provisional IRA’s little-known political wing, Sinn Féin, is bolstered by increasing electoral success. Two years later – at the height of the hottest summer on record – Gerry Adams, widely believed to be a former leader in the IRA (something he denies), is elected to Westminster. Militant Irish nationalism has gone political.All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot are available now.Host: John LeeProducers: Artemis Irvine, Bella SoamesAssistant Producer: Sally McLennanProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniSound Design: John ScottScript Consultant: Liam ThompsonExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail podcast. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

4: The Spectaculars

Nov 22nd, 2024 4:30 AM

Two IRA men – John Crawley and Martin Ferris – are caught with seven tons of ammunition on their boat, just off the coast of Kerry. They are sentenced to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, the IRA take their fight to the British mainland with renewed vigour. Bombs explode in Brighton, Hyde Park, and Manchester, killing thousands of innocent civilians and… nearly, Margaret Thatcher. But, behind closed doors, Sinn Féin politicians and their British counterparts take the first, faltering steps towards peace. A decade after his arrest, Martin Ferris is released from prison to a changed political landscape. He decides the time for armed struggle is over, and becomes a prominent Sinn Féin political activist. All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot are available now.Host: John LeeProducers: Artemis Irvine, Bella SoamesAssistant Producer: Sally McLennanProduction Manager: Vittoria CecchiniSound Design: John ScottScript Consultant: Liam ThompsonExecutive Producer: Jamie EastA Daily Mail podcast. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More Episodes