A Turning Point in Irish History | International Women’s Day | War of Aggression in the Gulf

Léargas: A Podcast by Gerry Adams · Mar 5, 2026 · 16m

A Turning Point in Irish History

50 years ago on Sunday past I was in Cage 11 in Long Kesh prison camp. It was a Monday. It was also 1 March 1976, the date on which the British Labour government’s decision to end political status took effect.

Political status had been introduced in June 1972 after a hunger strike by republican prisoners and as part of the context for negotiations that were to take place between republicans and the British.

In March 1974 a Labour government, led by Harold Wilson, came to power and embarked on a new strategy to defeat Irish republicans. Ending political status…