Following a year that had ended in civil unrest and the world media spotlight, 1969 would be no easier for Prime Minister Captain Terence O'Neill. Civil rights protests were increasingly ending in violent clashes and he was under pressure from the British government to introduce reforms quickly. However, the Northern Ireland Premier was being met with opposition from within his own party.
In January 1968, a People's Democracy march from Belfast to Derry had resulted in violence at Burntollet. Civil rights marches at Newry and Armagh had also ended violently. The Reverend Ian Paisley was jailed for his part in events at Armagh. But within the Unionist Party, there was opposition to ideas of reform. When O'Neill established the Cameron Commission to investigate the civil unrest since 5 October, it was denounced by members of his party and sparked the resignation of two government ministers.In late January 1969, when 12 Unionist backbenchers met and demanded that Captain O'Neill be removed from party and government leadership, O'Neill responded by dissolving parliament and calling a general election.
As well as highlighting the split in Unionism, the election saw the emergence of a new generation of politicians. Presented here is some of RTÉ's coverage of the events leading up to the election, the campaign trail and the winners and losers. 'A Divided House' also presents the views of both sides of a divided community as represented by residents of the Falls Road and the Shankill Road.
The accompanying image shows Stormont, the Parliament Building for Northern Ireland. The photograph was taken for use in RTÉ News bulletins.
The resignation of Brian Faulkner, Minister for Commerce, from the Northern Ireland government put pressure on Terence O'Neill and highlighted the division within the Unionist Party.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
John Howard (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
"The Country is Far More Important than Any One Man"
Minister for Health William Morgan also quit in the wake of Faulkner's resignation, putting further pressure on Captain O'Neill.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
O'Neill Calls for Respect and Unity
Prime Minister Terence O'Neill gives a speech following the resignation of two government ministers.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
"There is a Massive Split Now on the Question of Leadership"
William Craig talks about the motivations of 12 members of the Unionist Party in writing an open letter to Terence O'Neill calling for a change of leadership to end disunity within the party.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Rodney Rice (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Paisley Looks to Morgan for Leadership
Reverend Ian Paisley says why he thinks that former minister William Morgan is a good candidate to be Prime Minister.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Unionist Party Members Call for O'Neill to Resign
Following a meeting at a Portadown hotel, 12 Unionist MPs call on Captain O'Neill to resign. William Craig explains why.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Faulkner Sees No Reason for General Election
Brian Faulkner sees no reason for a general election as the differences within the Unionist Party are about leadership not policies.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Kevin O'Kelly (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Ian Paisley Outlines His Election Policy
Ian Paisley says, "My campaign policy is progressive Protestantism, civil and religious liberty, justice for all. Hard-working MPs who will do the job and will do it well."
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Ronnie Turner (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
"I Have Always Regarded These Two Particular Gentlemen as Two Eejits"
When asked for his opinion on Bunting and Paisley, Fitt replies, "I have always regarded these two particular men as two eejits" and doesn't think they should be taken seriously at all.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
O'Neill Denies He Was Afraid to Hand In Nomination Papers
Captain O'Neill explains why he called Ian Paisley a dinosaur and rejects Paisley's accusation that he was afraid to hand in his nomination papers.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Party Manifestos for Election
Barry Linnane reports on the launch of the Unionist Party manifesto and on press conferences held by Terence O'Neill, Sam Napier of the Northern Ireland Labour Party and Ian Paisley.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Appeal to "All Religions and None, to Come and Join the Unionist Party".
Brian Faulkner hopes to benefit from Catholic votes and says that they would be welcome in the Unionist Party.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Ronnie Turner (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Canvassing in Cullybackey
In Cullybackey, Captain Terence O'Neill and his wife go door to door looking for votes.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Lord Brookeborough Gives His Views
Former Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Basil Brooke is critical of Captain O'Neill for his meetings with Taoiseach Jack Lynch and his predecessor Seán Lemass.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Ronnie Turner (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Nationalist Party View
Chief Whip Roddy O'Connor outlines the Nationalist Party position at the launch of their election manifesto.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Ronnie Turner (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Fitt Critical of Nationalist Party
Gerry Fitt, Republican Labour Party MP, is critical of the Nationalist Party attitude to partition.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Ronnie Turner (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Currie Calls for Nationalists to Unite
Austin Currie MP seeks to unite those opposed to Unionism.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Ronnie Turner (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Paisley Accuses Unionist Party of Crawling to the Catholic Church
Ian Paisley accuses Captain O'Neill and the Unionist Party of looking for Catholic votes.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Taylor Critical of Civil Rights Movement
John Taylor, an anti-O'Neill official Unionist candidate in South Tyrone, is critical of the civil rights campaign for having "many out-and-out republicans and anti-partitionists" within the movement.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
"In The Legal Fiction Which Exists in the South, Northern Ireland Doesn't Exist"
At a press conference, Captain Terence O'Neill is asked if he now regrets having met with an Taoiseach Seán Lemass in 1965.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
"This Is The Most Democratic Election Which Has Ever Taken Place In Northern Ireland's History"
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Captain Terence O'Neill, hopes the range of election candidates will revitalise democracy.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Hostile Reception For O'Neill
Captain Terence O'Neill is greeted with jeers while canvassing in Derry.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Tough On The Campaign Trail
Bernadette Devlin campaigns in Tobermore, Co. Derry, where opponents throw coins and jeer while on a Belfast street, pro and anti-O'Neill campaigners meet.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Eve of the General Election
RTÉ News follows a number of candidates on the eve of the General Election.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
"I Hope the South Won't Interfere in Our Election"
Captain O'Neill is asked for a comment on southern Minister for Agriculture Mr Blaney's claim that the "Irish people of the six counties" should withhold their votes from candidates who stood for union with Britain.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Donal Kelly (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
"The Visitor Can't Tell One Grimy Neighbourhood From Another Except for the Slogans on the Walls"
Kevin O'Kelly sets the scene in Northern Ireland prior to the general election in February 1969.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Kevin O'Kelly (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
"These Higher-Up Men Don't Understand The Common People"
Kevin O'Kelly speaks to Alex Scott, his family and friends, all of whom live on the Shankill Road. They give their views on the Pope, Catholics, civil rights, the Northern Ireland government and keeping their own religion.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Kevin O'Kelly (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
"I Don't Give a Hoot if He Is A Muslim. He Can Work Away With Me, I Am Quite Happy to Know Him and Be Friends With Him"
Over on the Falls Road, Catholics Peter Fusco, Martin Blake and their families speak to Kevin O'Kelly.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Kevin O'Kelly
STORMONT ELECTION
William Craig Returned In Larne
On his re-election in Larne, Co. Antrim, former Minister for Home Affairs William Craig tells reporter John Ross that Captain Terence O'Neill must now be replaced as party leader and prime minister.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
John Ross (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
Ivan Cooper Elected in Mid-Derry
Ivan Cooper talks about his victory in Mid-Derry, where he stood as an independent candidate and defeated Nationalist Party candidate Patrick Gormley.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
O'Neill Gives Press Conference on Election Results
Captain O'Neill answers questions about the People's Democracy, Ian Paisley, Eddie McAteer, the Catholic vote and north-south relations.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
"We Have Shown We Are Not a Small Group of Educated Hooligans"
Bernadette Devlin stood as a candidate for the People's Democracy in South Derry, a Unionist constituency.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Leader of Nationalist Party Loses Seat
Eddie McAteer, leader of the Nationalist Party, speaks after losing his seat to John Hume.
Production Year
1969
STORMONT ELECTION
Pressure on Leader as New Cabinet Meets
Ministers leaving the cabinet meeting were evasive about the future leadership of the Unionist Party.
Production Year
1969
Contributor
Barry Linnane (Reporter)
STORMONT ELECTION
O'Neill Wins Unionist Parliamentary Vote
Roy Bradford announces the results of the Unionist Parliamentary Party vote reaffirming Captain O'Neill's leadership as Prime Minister.
