From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Féin

The Spectaculars

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Episode notes

Two IRA men – John Crawley and Martin Ferris – are caught with seven tons of ammunition on their boat, just off the coast of Kerry. They are sentenced to 10 years in prison. 

Meanwhile, the IRA take their fight to the British mainland with renewed vigour. Bombs explode in Brighton, Hyde Park, and Manchester, killing thousands of innocent civilians and… nearly, Margaret Thatcher. 

But, behind closed doors, Sinn Féin politicians and their British counterparts take the first, faltering steps towards peace. 

A decade after his arrest, Martin Ferris is released from prison to a changed political landscape. He decides the time for armed struggle is over, and becomes a prominent Sinn Féin political activist. 

All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot are available now.

Host: John Lee

Producers: Artemis Irvine and Bella Soames

Assistant Producer: Sally McLennan

Sound Design: John Scott

Podcast Artwork: Lindsay Fagan

Script Consultant: Liam Thompson

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