Ulster Says No

In November 1985, the British and Irish governments signed an agreement for closer cooperation on the issue of Northern Ireland and the setting up of formal inter-governmental bodies. The Agreement was rejected both by Sinn Fein and the main Unionist parties. However, it was the opposition from Unionism which pitched Northern Ireland into a year of turmoil.

In a huge rally at the Belfast City Hall, Ian Paisley made his famous “Never! Never! Never!” speech and the die was cast for a period of unrest and disorder which threatened to pitch the country into open civil war.

Created entirely from archive footage, Ulster Says No follows the tumultuous events as seen through the contemporary lens of the Ulster Television news teams.

From the iconic poster campaign, strikes, protests and Stormont takeovers, to the ill-fated “invasion” of the Republic of Ireland, which saw Peter Robinson arrested, the situation quickly deteriorated with increasing violence. Finally, red berets were donned and a new organisation called Ulster Resistance was promoted by politicians which openly threatened armed opposition to the government.

This is the story of how Northern Ireland almost tipped into the abyss.

Director – Evan Marshall

Editor – Paul McClintock

Northern Ireland Screen for the UTV Archive Partnership

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