Watched the first two episodes of this documentary about "The Troubles" (as euphimistic a name for "Civil War" as it is possible to dream up).
Jeez, it's a tough watch.
Really interesting though, loads of interviews with reformed fighters from both sides.
Episode two explores the punk scene, Good Vibrations, The Harp Bar etc.
Ireland has a complicated history, going back many, many centuries.
This is a dark insight into some of the more contemporary elements thereof.
Mentioned in passing in the Feargal Sharkey 'Leading' podcast. It makes for an excellent listen - thoroughly recommend it.
Watched the 5th and final episode last week. One of the most compelling documentary series I've seen in donkeys.
To think the clownish f*cks masquerading as our government risked reigniting this.
Very grim times indeed, now watched all 5 episodes, My elder brother was on the phone last night and I told him about the series, he served two tours of Ireland back in the day and never told his mother and only told us after she had died that he himself was mm`s away from death, a bullet went right through his helmet, missing his head, I think he is going to start watching the series, do not know if he will watch the whole 5 episoes though....and yes thatcher was a real evil piece of work on all fronts.
Episode 2 at the weekend……jeez.
Sarah didn’t last 5 minutes - grim doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Some very damaged people on there, victims and perpetrators.
Watched episodes 3 and 4, man some tough times during the 80s over there.
There's no doubt that Irish history is a complex beast, there's no doubt that some of the deeds undertaken during the "troubles"/civil war were horrendous in the extreme.
But there is not a shred of doubt in my mind that Thatcher, as she did with The Falklands, manipulated the situation to her own, political ends.
That woman was contemptible beyond words and I hope she is currently reaping as she sowed.
Saw the first and fully intend to watch the remainder. Very tough watch and I’d kinda forgotten just how appalling it was night after night on the news, despite not being directly affected beyond a bit of verbal and a few punches as a teen. Alarming when I think back how it was almost normalised - just ‘how it is’.
Bad enough across the water, thank God it didn’t cross over - the potential was there, hopefully no longer.
I intend to steel myself for this one.
I listened to a very good interview with Gerry Adams on The Rest is Politics podcast (which I am slightly addicted to) and realise how little I understand about Irish history.