Stormont Election 1969
Following a year that had ended in civil unrest and world-media spotlight,
1969 would be no easier for Prime Minister Captain Terence O'Neill than 1968 had been.
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 pary.
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 oppostion 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 own 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. 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 Shankhill Road. | 
Look & Listen...
