Assume Nothing

Episode 9: That Speech


Listen Later

Writer Glenn Patterson finds out how, in May 1974, a tiny band of loyalists and unionists over fourteen days stages a strike that paralyses Northern Ireland, and slides it into anarchy.

Then twelve years old, Glenn lived through these events, taking place in the context of a 'Troubles' during which 1000 have already died.
50 years on, he digs into what really happened, because these events cast a long shadow. The Ulster Workers' Council stoppage culminated in the overthrow of Northern Ireland's democratically elected devolved government - then just five months old, and the first power-sharing administration ever in the country's history. Its formation, which involved controversial formal links to the Irish government, sparks the stoppage.
Decades pass before the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement of 1998 brings another such attempt at power sharing. Now, exploring the legacy of the strike, he tries to uncover what it might mean for us today.
CREDITS
Access to material relating to the Don Anderson interviews was kindly provided by Don Anderson and the Linen Hall Library, Belfast. Series contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Photo: Belfast Telegraph.
Writer/ Presenter: Glenn Patterson.
Producer: Ophelia Byrne
Studio Engineers: Gary Bawden, Michael Davidson, Bill Maul.
Series Actors: Ian Beattie, Richard Clements, Jo Dow, Patrick FitzSymons, Jonathan Harden, Paddy Jenkins, Rhodri Lewis, Patrick McBrearty, Aoibhéann McCann, Charlotte McCurry, Marty Maguire, Seamus O'Hara.
Executive Editor: Andy Martin

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Assume NothingBy BBC Radio Ulster

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

18 ratings


More shows like Assume Nothing

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,409 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,853 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,829 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,788 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,071 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,044 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,060 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,891 Listeners

The Brothel | Storycast by Sky News

The Brothel | Storycast

101 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

770 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,041 Listeners

The Troubles Podcast by Oisin Feeney

The Troubles Podcast

466 Listeners

Cover by BBC Radio 5 Live

Cover

281 Listeners

Crime World by Sunday World

Crime World

242 Listeners

Gangster by BBC Radio 5 Live

Gangster

135 Listeners

British Scandal by Wondery

British Scandal

2,425 Listeners

The Indo Daily by Irish Independent

The Indo Daily

118 Listeners

Tortoise Investigates by Tortoise Media

Tortoise Investigates

3,355 Listeners

Shattered Lives by Reach Ireland Podcasts

Shattered Lives

46 Listeners

The BelTel by Belfast Telegraph

The BelTel

42 Listeners

Ireland Crimes and Mysteries by Nules, The Radcast Network

Ireland Crimes and Mysteries

66 Listeners

Crime World Presents: Evil Eye by Sunday World

Crime World Presents: Evil Eye

38 Listeners

Wrongly Accused: The Annette Hewins Story by BBC Radio Wales

Wrongly Accused: The Annette Hewins Story

21 Listeners

Intrigue by BBC Radio 4

Intrigue

161 Listeners

Crime Next Door by BBC Sounds

Crime Next Door

59 Listeners