Scannal deliver again with an excellent documentary surrounding the events of 18 July 1981 when a 15,000 strong crowd of hunger sriker supporters clashed with 1,500 Gardaí in Ballsbridge. The day’s events saw over 200 people injured, 1 million pounds worth of damage caused and dozens of arrests.
The broadcast has interviews with Peter Murtagh of the Irish Times, Garret Fitzgerald, Bernadette McAliskey, Aengus Ó Snodaigh and local residents. It also includes great archive footage (that I’ve never seen before) of a H Block related evening riot on O’Connell Street in May 1981.
The programme is available to watch here until February 22nd.
Masked Protester. (c) Irish Times
The Battle of Merrion Road. (c) Irish Times
Injured man. (c) Irish Times
Click on the book for more.
Click on the book for more.
Donal
Ciarán
Sam
Come Here To Me! 
Is that an anarchist flag (black&white) at 13:02?
No, I’m pretty sure it’s a white flag with a round black image of barbed wire on it. A very common H-Block symbol. I’m trying to find a similar image online now.
was there as a 15 year old who was on holiday in Waterford and travelled up to Dublin to support the hunger strikers, ended up getting my head smashed in by the guards after being trapped in a garden, made my way to Sinn Fein shop were I got some treatment and bandaged up, travelled home to Scotland next day covered in blood, I will never forget that day, guards went for blood
Would love to see this programme.But its not on RTE player.Given that this is the 40th anniversary of Hunger Strikes wonder will itbe repeated.Can I get it anywhere?
Should that not read ‘Merrion Road’?
you’re correct! Only took 11 years for someone to notice that. Thanks for the comment