Northern Ireland Riots | Taoiseach Jack Lynch Interview | This Week | 1969

In 1969 there were intense political and sectarian rioting took place in Northern Ireland. There had been sporadic violence throughout the year arising out of the civil rights campaign and a call for UN troops to patrol the province by Irish Taoiseach Jack Lynch. There were also calls for the disbanding of the controversial volunteer police force the B specials.
First shown: 21/08/1969
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Quote: VT101013

[@grahamwatts8836]

My father from wise English man, lived in Australia since 1948, in the early 1970’s suggested Ireland take over the problem/troubles sort it out, further deescalation with the UK/Army getting out of Ireland (he was so right) history shows instead military and political escalation occurred delaying the peace process for 30 years.

[@surbon514]

Thanks very much thames TV for yet another interesting clip! I really enjoy this channel

[@edwardogrady6587]

If only there were more John Humes at the political frontline back then, the man was able to see things way beyond his relatively young years

[@MindbodyMedic]

@Ivan Walker yep, though not the root cause of it all its clear now the provisionals deliberately radicalised many of our youth. One ex IRA man reported Adams went nuts when a few IRA men began shooting at police in the middle of some riot. why? cause Adams understood that the longer the rioting went on themore likely kids would get hurt. it was a way of blooding recruits for the cause. its depressing to look back and look at missed opportunities and wasted lives.

[@londoncalling151]

balls.

[@barrymcguire7124]

@@MindbodyMedic you are so wrong

[@eughrologh]

John Hume the only one describing what was about to happen and why. It's a pity the British Labour Government behaved so weakly. They were always more likely to be sympathic to the civil rights cause than a Tory government but they did not grab the bull by the horns and stand up for the forces of moderation.

[@04Redeemed]

This is gold, great video clip!

[@stephenholmes1036]

Jack Lynch was the last decent, honest and approachable Taoiseach we ever had in recent times. Garrett was honest but not approachable. The B specials were the ones that started this

[@grahamwatts8836]

The gentlemen suggested the Irish govt invade Northern Ireland, if I was the UK PM I would have said fine we will negotiate and workout a strategic withdrawal, and the Irish people can govern all of Ireland.

[@ononewheellad]

Who in the Republic in their right mind would want all the baggage that would come from a United Ireland. Unless you’re mad.

[@johnking5174]

They want a 32 county republic, freed from Britain 100%.

[@CatholicIrish11]

If only they listened to John Hume and gave civil rights. One man, one vote the right to housing and the right to a job were not too much to ask for. all the violence didn't need to happen. The unionists wouldn't give an inch

[@robertmac62]

i agree even though i was an orangeman and a b special

[@corkboy4523]

And that’s the very attitude that will end the union once and for all!

[@pauldunneska]

I'm sure the loyalists loved being called Irishmen!

[@pauldunneska]

@Evan Scollan Yes but they don't like it!

[@pauldunneska]

@Shield Liger If only the Loyalist/Unionist community would accept their Irishness.

[@pauldunneska]

@Shield Liger Well when we finally get the border referendum I'm sure the occupied stolen six counties of Ireland 🇮🇪 will vote in the majority for a United Ireland 🇮🇪. Hopefully those ones who think they're British will either leave or live peacefully in a United Ireland 🇮🇪. Tiocfaidh ár lá.

[@pauldunneska]

@Shield Liger Yes they also put British planters on the Falkland islands to keep the stolen territory just like they did in Ireland 🇮🇪 and to keep the stolen six counties of Ireland 🇮🇪. They also put British planters in Gibraltar to keep it British and it is in fact Spanish soil.

[@jonathanmcaleece9834]

Paul Dunne all u do it talk rubbish.

[@evelynmccabe3855]

Yes I remember that time very well even though I was only young and yes Mr Lynch did have the support of the vast majority of Irish people in the Republic had he sent in the Irish Army.. I feel myself the British Government should have agreed to allow a peace keeping army from the United Nations to be sent in to Northern Ireland rather than sending in the British Army which then became sadly part of the conflict..

[@RobertK1993]

Too humiliating to allow it this United Kingdom a world power a bit a declining one at the time.

[@thornbird6768]

Thames TV was brilliant documentaries 👍🏻

[@robertemmet6343]

The English narrator was a clueless fool it was not a religious war it is a war against of British/English imperialism.

[@clavichord]

@@robertemmet6343 It is a war against British imperislism in Ireland, drawn along a religious divide due to historic/political reasons from many centuries ago... when there was no seperation between religion and politics

[@robertemmet6343]

A Koster It's about British divide ruling Catholics and Protestant conflict sectariaism is now but in 1798 Catholic and Protestant united as United Irishmen it's not really a religious war.

[@freeeire564]

A Koster Only loyalists claim it a religious war, many republican hero’s have been protestant for fucks sake how could it be a religious war when Wolfe Tone himself was a Protestant. Loyalists like to say we hate them for their religion as a diversion tactic as the real reason of them being planters who occupy our country doesn’t give them much validity.

[@clavichord]

@@freeeire564 ..... and quite a few Irish Catholics fought for British Imperialism, and are regarded as traitors by others in the Irish Republican movement... that doesn't take away that the conflict is generally along religious background lines because it is a very old conflict when your religion reflected your politics. Some Loyalists are probably more inclined to call the conflict a religious war, if they are very (ultra) conservative and religious minded, while most on the nationalist side have generally evolved into supporting (very) left wing secular ideology and are not religious, but cultural Catholics.

[@yampk1]

When British commercial TV made serious documentaries

[@amandaorourke3036]

@ Paul Dunne..I think you might well be surprised at the response to that question...

[@jamesdolan4042]

The British Commentator from Thames TV is definitely showing guiltless moral superiority here.

[@oxhorn2906]

I wonder how the English would feel if London was taken?

[@oryctolaguscuniculus]

That's a queer "Belfast" accent on your woman there at 2:45. Belfast by way of Wicklow by the sounds of it.

[@subscriberswithnoVideos-yx3jf]

beastatlay Belfast women my fucking arse !!!!!! IRA propaganda as usual !!!!!

[@thatcherschild]

beastatlay I thought that too. Had to laugh at the queer accent not heard that saying for years. My Dads Irish and used to say the queer fella 😂

[@thomasweldon8333]

100,000 subscribers with no Videos I moved to Belfast from Dublin when I was 15 . I’m now 40 with still a Dublin accent. 25 years living in Belfast. They said people from Belfast came to dublin. Not were they were born

[@josephmccullough6685]

The IRA in 1969 in were very poorly armed, certainly didn't have a propaganda machine. I lived through the "so called troubles" it was a war. Burnt out of our home by protestant neighbour's. We demand protection from the RUC but refused. There was cries for protection from the IRA but they had little or no weapons, shotguns and old pistols. Most of the IRA then were old men left over from the 50's campaign. I can say if you had lived in the 6 county's as a 2nd class Catholic citizen you have no idea what it was like.

[@robertemmet6343]

You trying to be sectarian.

[@monkeybubblessupperdude1016]

Strange looking back at it to see British troops in open top and soft skinned vechiles in early 1969

[@malachytully2796]

Lies they were fully armoured unless you lived in a Protestant area! I have pictures and my Mother was shot while Pregnant with me! Tank's on the Falls Rd in West Belfast!

[@GottliebGoltz]

Damn the politics.! It never ends.!

[@thetruthsetsyoufree1492]

Socrates was right about social gadfly in politics. He lived few thousands years ago.

[@chrisroger8774]

ITS history dam IT

[@mpwmu9041]

"Orgy of self destruction?" Sounds like my ex wife.

[@ReckerFidelWOLF]

Bruh im 18 and still virgin chilllll 😂

[@johnmcentegart007]

My dad told me about this matter. I remember everything. I Love IRELAND.

[@billybhoy32]

Those last words

[@scottleft3672]

11:00 n.b.

[@leonaanita719]

They claimed no responsibility for spiritual destruction.....

[@jasoncarswell7458]

1969: "It's not the soldiers that are killing us up there, it's the B-Specials and the Paisleyites!" That comment did not age well...

[@JohnDoe-vz7bn]

Jason Carswell aye it did the udr and Protestant paramilitaries killed far more catholics than the British army

[@robertmac62]

i was a b special and you assholes create your own agenda. i or my mates never once attacked catholics or invaded homes.

[@user-ys5yv2nz6w]

@@robertmac62 And? Do you speak for everyone who was ever a B Special?

[@robertmac62]

@streetmuggedbypolice i was out there to stop murderers killing police etc i had no hatred for catholics and even asked ayoung man from ardoyne to be my best man but the priest from bondi said no. he wadsnt allowed to take part in a prod wedding

[@robertmac62]

@@JohnDoe-vz7bn and less than the ira killers

[@MindbodyMedic]

fella speaking at 3:48 looks and sounds like a younger james nesbitt! he was right that the irish army should've been sent in THEN apply to the UN. it would've resolved the mess, the Provos would not have been allowed to prey on vulnerable pissed off catholics

[@gremlinuk1968]

I born 23rd May 1968, grew up as a prod, but my family are from both sides,! And want to stay in the UK,!!

[@stephenwright8824]

Good for you. Two-colour Irish-American, born 5 months after you, almost to the day. Keep NI British for as long as the people there want. (You probably won't hear this from any other "Plastic Paddy.")

[@afroliciouspresents3603]

Eire invading what was a part of the United Kingdom and taking on the British Army would have been an enormous error of judgment. They would have been beaten, decisively, and risked a return to all of Ireland becoming a British protectorate. The scenes of Belfast would have been replicated all over the island and Eire, now, would be an impoverished, second or third world region, with another wave of mass emigration.

[@johnking5174]

A British protectorate would never have happened. Remember in 1969, the Republic of Ireland was an independent republic, and not a member of the British commonwealth. That ended in 1949, when the 26 counties became a fully independent country. For Britain to try and take over the 26 counties would be suicide for Britain on the international stage. Any incursion of the republic into the six counties would have been bad PR.

[@RobertK1993]

Yeah Jack Lynch was thinking of invading NI

[@johnking5174]

@@RobertK1993 Thinking is different from actual work. He knew the consequences if he did. His cabinet were stupid to recommend it. Ireland would have been castigated by international countries, and the situation in Derry etc would have been totally ignored.

[@ChuckChuckWood]

@@RobertK1993 He wasn't "thinking of invading" - he simply said "we cannot stand idly by" this was interpreted as a threat to cross the border because the Irish public across the island were calling for action in the face of extra-judicial killing and opporession on the part of the RUC and B-Specials.

[@liamg1706]

A UN force would of been a solution , could of saved years of bloodshed.

[@micoolkidfilms3270]

The UN forces would be just as terrible at preserving peace as the brits, except they don’t shoot back

[@anthonycarney907]

the future is in the past

[@endacurtin8282]

That clergyman at 11:00 has some cheek to be talking about civil rights when the Catholic church in the South deemed it fit to ignore them in the South for so many years!

[@ropaul8006]

Ah be quiet

[@acidsunrise]

Jack Lynch.Most underrated Irish leader of all time.

[@amandaorourke3036]

And that is true ...I DO recall that people in Cork used to refer to Jack Lynch as "the ReaL Taoiseach ". i.e " The Real Prime Minister "...

[@ropaul8006]

He was the start of the rot

[@mosheridan7016]

Lynch weak as

[@wolfthequarrelsome504]

Thomas Francis Meagher had the right idea when the said the only thing the British understand is the SWORD!

[@stihl3826]

Cock

[@RobertK1993]

Guns actually.

[@peterchessell28]

Plenty have tried.

[@williamwallace2278]

How bad the apartheid state of N. Ireland was

[@robertemmet6343]

In some areas Catholics were a majority discrimination was other way to if you look it up British just divde and rule whinge when IRA bomb them.

[@malachytully2796]

It still is!

[@robertemmet6343]

Malachy Tully ?

[@malachytully2796]

@@robertemmet6343 Bombing never happened till later on but the British Army was making Bombs for the UVF and now they can't make Bombs because they never made them ever except for Pipe Bombs! I live here and I don't know what you are on about!

[@malachytully2796]

@@robertemmet6343 you do not know what was happening but I was stuck in the middle off it and we had British Tank's on our streets!

[@raleighburner1589]

, keeping Irish men from killing Irish men ,

[@yupisaid]

Classic moronic BBC again. The Protestants of the North are not Irish and do not identify as such.

[@milanpetrovic3178]

@@yupisaid That's kind of up for debate. They were indeed descendants of settlers from Scotland and England, although they identified themselves as Irish for hundreds of years, even up until the 1920's, when the Irish Free state was founded. That changed after the foundation of the Irish Free State, as most Ulster Protestants did not want to be associated with it. But even after that, approximately 1/5 of the Ulster Protestant population identified as Irish in 1965. That, once again, changed during the Troubles.

[@robertemmet6343]

@@yupisaid They are bigoted fools and clueless of the United Irishmen such as bold Robert Emmet Henry Joy Mc Craken Wolfe Tone William Dreanan.

[@robertemmet6343]

@@milanpetrovic3178 Irish Catholics have never indented themselves as British and never will thanks to intolerant British Protestants murdering them.

[@aussieaussie8313]

I think this is more a reflection of how the British actually see Northern Ireland and her people

[@robertemmet6343]

Narrator is typical of English peoples ignorance of the situation it is not religious war it is a war of occupation and only bigoted Ulster Unionists/Loyalists and some Irish Republicans see it as a religious war. Robert Emmet was an Irish patriot Irish Republican and Irish Nationalists he was most certainly a Protestant Church of Ireland of English planter stock is he no less an Irishman than Irish Catholic I say.

[@malachytully2796]

It was a Religious War from the 1600's to now and after the United Irishmen England could not risk that happening again!

[@chrisroger8774]

Well Times have Move on Since Then

[@malachytully2796]

@@chrisroger8774 then why have the English/German Royal Family not moved on as it is stil illegall for a Catholic to be King or Queen and we are not part of Britian! Loyalists still running about with Bombs and Guns and taking Millions of the English Government for Decommissioning when they still all their Weapon's they got from the DUP when they were in South Africa as Willie Frazier was giving to all the Loyalists Terror Gang's? Where the Hell do you live on the Moon?

[@chrisroger8774]

@@malachytully2796 Even IF RC monk Martin Luther was in the Catholic Church in 1600various issues with RCchurch IF DNT happened U Think mankind Would Find something Else2kill for I AM Atheist prody lol I Got my Mind Not brainwashing

[@chrisroger8774]

@@malachytully2796 ira from weapons FROM Libyan thugs and black market From Irish Americans Who never set foot IN Ireland AT ALL OH DNT ask Native Americans IF DNT mind living in their homeland

[@tevyedelara]

Not a matter of left-wing v. right-wing, a matter of justice. A united Ireland.

[@nick-her9275]

So do I ,a conservative loyalist, not have a say in this.

[@RobertK1993]

@@nick-her9275 Yeah be happy when it happens you have nothing to fear you be treated fairly.

[@darylcheshire1618]

took another 30 years… When I was a kid in Australia, I didn’t understand why and wondered if the North Irish could settle in Palestine and the Palistinians go to North Ireland.

[@jimreily7538]

Too cold for one, too hot for the other

[@muchaelmaxwell1903]

Ur a fool.

[@darylcheshire1618]

@@muchaelmaxwell1903 true

[@muchaelmaxwell1903]

No daryl u r the fool. We are british we are going no where. Ive been thru the troubles iam 59 now from belfast shankill road

[@Oldsoho]

23:50 the catholic church has no interest in political process. BOLLOCKS.

[@malachytully2796]

Look at how many Loyalists got early release from jail saying that they found God in jail and then they go back to Murdering the Irish!

[@jonathanmcaleece9834]

Malachy Tully shut up

[@donnamcdonald6310]

Somebody alway have to died to break away from the Queen and Uk ? it away some kind of a war we American had our too.

[@robertemmet6343]

Ulster Loyalists feeble little cretins

[@aidy6000]

Fuck me I lost brain cells trying to read that.

[@peterchessell28]

School not your strong point eh.?

[@donnamcdonald6310]

@@peterchessell28 It look like the apple didn't fall to far from the tree that the best you can come up with ?.

[@LibraryAstro]

Religion...

[@AlJalandhari]

Has very little to do with the. It was about Irish people resisting British rule

[@jmcci2069]

STILL! Not an Inch Lynch.🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@anniegrath1417]

Democracy will prevail now, no loyalist majority anymore. ☘️🇮🇪

[@BonnieMagpie]

It's just a fact. The differences between Protestants and Catholics is strong. The Protestants have The Queen and The Catholics have The Pope. If The British came to support The Protestants you would think The Catholics would get some help from Rome.

[@thetruthsetsyoufree1492]

Take it seriously. I do not agree what you wrote in the end. The Irish Catholic suffered a lot during the British rule in Ireland, especially wars, Cromwell and Great Famine 1845-47. The British government didn’t give anything to the hungry Irish Catholic. The Vatican City encourages Catholic people around the world to volunteer or support non-Catholic people in need. They have a plenty of charity activities around the world. I heard the UK has some Protestant charity organisations. Yes, the Catholic and Protestant faiths are different to each other in many ways. However, it is difficult for Jesus Christ to see this. Personally, I believe the Catholic Church remains the true Church to defend the Faith in many ways, despite the scandals which the climate is not conducive now. Yes, the Catholic and Protestant beliefs are strongly different to each other but that’s a part of it happened through the divine will of human history. Being true Catholic is to sacrifice for the will and love of God for individual and community life, but hope and grace will be there in the end to redeem life’s problems. Recently I read somewhere from an article about the flawed translations in the beautiful King James Bible. I think William Tyndale was responsible of what this happened. Also, it may have affected the English Protestant faith. The Catholic Church called him a heretic.

[@bonniemagpie1552]

@@thetruthsetsyoufree1492 ; During times of Irish famine, nobody came to their aid, Protestants and Catholics received no help from The British OR Rome. You make no sense bringing Cromwell into this, he was a Puritan and didn't want any Biblical religion. Apart from the original scripts, The 1611 King James Bible is the only true Bible. 'Take seriously ' well there are other perceptions around you than only yours.

[@bonniemagpie1552]

@@thetruthsetsyoufree1492 ........so you think things are difficult for Jesus Christ to see do you ? It was God Himself who divided the people " Go to, let us go down , and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech ".Genesis 11:7. " So The Lord scattered them throughout the earth: and they left off to build the city. Genesis 11:8.

[@felixrenard1200]

People that time were a way more emotional than they are now. And society was more volatile.

[@malachytully2796]

Catholics were not allowed to Vote idiot!

[@gmcb1711]

B specials were orange men beating up on there Catholic neighbors

[@stephenwright8824]

With the blessing of the PM, whether Tory *_or_* Socialist.

[@RobertK1993]

Ulster Presbyterians couldn't beat thier women

[@jeffprentice8562]

God save the queen!!! No surrender to the papists!!!!!

[@markofsaltburn]

It’s over, mate. You’ve already lost.

[@stephenwright8824]

You're a hundred plus years out of date, Jeff. Care to invest in a time machine? 😄

[@stephenwright8824]

@@markofsaltburn Hear hear.

[@corkboy4523]

Come into the 21st century Jeff. Leave the 1600s behind. 😉

[@anniegrath1417]

You’ve already been surrendered to Brexit and Boris threw you all under the big red bus, no loyalist majority anymore, democracy has arrived in NI at last so get over it.

[@andymcgall887]

3 cheers for the b specials

[@charliebridges3584]

Hip Hip!

[@kevinjackson292]

In Britain we know how controversial and notorious the B Specials were for many in Northern Ireland. History will show that The Irish PM Jack Lynch was proved correct in his judgement that the British Army could not solve the problems in Northern Ireland and that a United Nations force should have gone into the 6 Counties to restore order paving the way for a political solution which will one day lead to a democratic vote on the reunification of Ireland.

[@SeanONilbud]

@@andymcgall887 Quiet down serf Ireland is reunited thanks to brexit.

[@yupisaid]

Nice surname Mac Gall. Thick prick.

[@gerardnolan2556]

FUCKIN SCUM UP THE PIRA INLA RIRA FUCK THE QUEEN AND THE UDA UVF UFF FILT RIP REST IN PISS

[@johnquinn6351]

Jack lynch rip was a weak leader England bullies Destroys lives

[@richardloring7545]

I heard a Irishman n dunno which side had the top of his head blown off.... Said he had a confused look on his face ...Before he dropped....What a tragedy ...Always seemed a lovely race of people n i dunno if Catholic or Protestant....Shame but is it better now...Looks prosperous....Sure it will unite one day....Peacefully we all hope...21st century....