It airs on Tuesday night.
After last week’s terrific documentary on the remarkable work that John Hume did to bring peace to Northern Ireland, RTÉ will be marking the 50th anniversary of the civil rights protests.
1968: The Long March is a special one-off documentary presented by Miriam O’Callaghan and it will be broadcast on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.
The programme, framed over a year, traces events between the spring of 1968 and the summer of 1969.
It revolves around three crucial marches: in August, from Coalisland to Dungannon, in October in Derry, before culminating in 1969 with the Martin Luther-inspired ‘Long March’, which began when a group of 40 men and women walked the 75 miles from Belfast to Derry to demand rights for Catholics.
The march aimed to show the world the blatant religious discrimination and oppression that was the norm in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) called for wide-ranging reforms which included:
- Equal voting rights in local government elections
- A fairer system for the allocation of public housing
- An end to ‘gerrymandering’
- An end to discrimination in employment
- The disbandment of the ‘B-Specials’
- The repeal of the Special Powers Act (which allowed for internment of suspects without trial).
Ultimately, this ended in scenes that shocked and horrified the world.
Here’s a look at what’s in store when 1968: The Long March airs on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.
Activist Eamonn McCann tells @MiriamOCal about a caravan road block in Derry in 1968 in protest at poor housing conditions.#1968LongMarch pic.twitter.com/eQWjbra1Ww
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 13, 2018
The civil rights movement, which formed in Belfast in January 1967, drew inspiration from the campaign for equal rights in the United States led by Martin Luther King.
As you can see below, the documentary will pay tribute to its origins.
Robert Kennedy's daughter @KerryKennedyRFK on her father's legacy, 50 years after his death.
1968: The Long March, Tuesday at 9.35pm #1968LongMarch pic.twitter.com/1DcP1kz8md
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 10, 2018
"I've slept in jails at peace rather than sleep at home in torment"
The @TheRevAl talks to @MiriamOCal in '1968: The Long March' Tuesday at 9:35pm. #1968LongMarch pic.twitter.com/Ci2r5zG6Oj
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) August 12, 2018
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