Summary
Overview
This episode covers the escalation of violence in Northern Ireland from mid-1970 to late 1971, following the deployment of British troops. Ted Heath's Conservative government inherits the crisis and makes a series of catastrophic decisions, including allowing Orange Order marches and introducing internment without trial. The Provisional IRA emerges as a major force, while sectarian violence spirals between Catholic and Protestant communities. The Falls Road curfew, torture allegations, and devastating pub bombings mark the descent into what some compared to Britain's Vietnam.
Ted Heath Takes Power and the Falls Road Curfew
Ted Heath became Prime Minister in June 1970 with no knowledge or interest in Northern Ireland, focusing instead on economic modernization and joining the Common Market. His first major miscalculation was allowing Orange Order marches to proceed, triggering massive street fighting. Days later, British forces imposed a curfew on the Catholic Falls area, conducting aggressive house-to-house searches that destroyed the previously positive relationship between the army and Catholic communities.
- Heath had absolutely no knowledge of Northern Ireland and no interest in it whatsoever when he became Prime Minister
- Cabinet Secretary Sir Burke Trend warned Heath of two scenarios: stabilization trembling on edge of disaster, or complete breakdown into civil war
- Heath's decision to allow Orange Order marches in June 1970 led to massive street fighting, with Provisionals defending Short Strand church
- The Falls Road curfew involved helicopters with loudspeakers, thousands of troops searching houses, over 300 arrests, but destroyed army-Catholic relations
" Ulster teeters on the brink of a civil war that threatens to engulf all of Ireland. Ulster is becoming Britain's Vietnam. "
" For God's sake, bring me a large Scotch. What a bloody awful country. "
The Provisional IRA Emerges
Following criticism that the IRA had abandoned its role during 1969's violence, disaffected IRA veterans and young militants split from the Marxist leadership in December 1969 to form the Provisional IRA. Unlike the civil rights movement, the Provisionals openly embraced violence as their means to achieve a united Ireland. They secured weapons from sympathizers in the Irish government and Irish-American groups like NORAID, making their dramatic entrance during street battles in Belfast's Short Strand area in June 1970.
- Graffiti in Belfast read 'IRA equals I Ran Away' after the movement's inaction in 1969, embarrassing older IRA veterans
- In December 1969, disaffected IRA members held a secret meeting in Belfast and formed the Provisional IRA, echoing the 1916 Easter Rising proclamation
- The Provisionals received weapons from Irish government ministers who diverted relief funds, and from Irish-American groups who smuggled Armalites from California
- The Provisionals made their entrance during June 1970 street battles at Short Strand, establishing their credibility as defenders of Catholic areas
" The Irish people should realize that British imperialists do not respect, fear, or pay much attention to people who beg, grovel, or crawl for favors or concessions. "
" We waded through blood, we descended into hell, we basically sold our immortal souls for this. "
📚 4 more sections below
Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes
Get this summary + all future The Rest Is History episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new The Rest Is History episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.