IT'S time the tale were told about The Smiths’ November 1984 tour of Ireland.

One that involves paramilitaries, politics, emigration, unemployment and the soundtrack to a generation as the iconic Mancunian-Irish band pitched up for nine gigs in ten chaotic days at the height of the Troubles.

On October 12, 1984, the IRA blew up a section of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, narrowly missing British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Amidst widespread condemnation, Morrissey, lead singer of The Smiths, praised the bombers and turned the band’s upcoming Irish tour into a political storm.

Formed in Manchester in the early 80s, The Smiths are regarded as one of most influential bands of all time.

The four members: Guitarist Johnny Marr, lead singer Morrissey, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce all had Irish backgrounds and the nationwide November ’84 tour was very much a homecoming.

But it was less than 10 years since the UVF had killed members of the Miami Showband and tensions increased as the band reached the border counties.

But why did one of the biggest bands of the 1980s go from headlining Glastonbury to playing a community centre in Donegal?

And what happened when The Smiths found themselves in the middle of one of the biggest political flashpoints of The Troubles

Narrated by David Coughlan

Produced by David Coughlan & Donal O'Herlihy

First broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, 2PM, Saturday 19th August 2023

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries