Episode 26: Drogheda local is a key character in Disney drama series ‘Say Nothing’- interview wit...

‘Say Nothing’, a troubles era colloquialism in the North, is the title of a 9 part drama series following the lives of young people growing up in Belfast in the early years of the troubles. In particular, there is focus on Dolours and Marian Price, Brendan Hughes and Gerry Adams.
The series is an adaptation of the 2018 book of same name by Patrick Radden Keefe. Keefe began researching and writing the book on learning of the death of Dolours Price. Among those he came into contact with was Anthony McIntyre.
I spoke with Anthony and my first questions were about his feelings for the programme. I asked his reflection on the drama series on Disney, of which he says he is pleased that: ‘The manner in which IRA volunteers such as Dolours Price and Brendan Hughes have been recast in more favourable light’.
He said he found it absorbing but not enjoyable. I did not enjoy it. I don’t want to attach enjoyment to something so harrowing, particularly for the families of the disappeared.
Pictured: Anthony McIntyre, former IRA and later lead researcher for Boston College Belfast Project
Pictured: Actor Seamus O’ Hara, who plays Anthony Mc Intyre in ‘Say Nothing’
Anthony features in the drama series, played by actor Seamus O’ Hara, as the interviewer of those giving testimony to create an oral history of the troubles. He became lead researcher in the Boston College Belfast Project, which involved recorded interviews with numerous key participants in both republican and loyalist groups. It was understood that the interviews would not be used until after the participants had died.
However, the project was jeopardised when the PSNI sought to obtain the tapes held by Boston College because of their testimonials of former participants as to their role in paramilitary violence from various sides.
As to why the troubles emerged in such a violent manner, Anthony says: “The violence was not necessarily the result of the presence of the British in Ireland, but the behaviour of the British in Ireland. Had unionists not been so violent towards civil rights protesters, things might have been different, for Dolours and Marian Price, they certainly would have been different”.
‘Geeky Gerry Adams’
We discussed how early in the programme, how Dolours and Marian Price initially came across Gerry Adams on a soap box with a loud hailer giving orders at a barricade. They wondered ‘how did geeky Gerry Adams get in there’. I asked did Gerry Adams really refer to peers as ‘child’, even if he was only a year older, and the answer is yes and it was condescending to them.
He interviewed Dolours Price, who features as the central character in the drama series. Dolores Price was the Operational IRA commander for the London bombings of the Old Bailey Courthouse, which saw over 200 injured. She spoke to Anthony as part of the Boston College Testimonial tapes project he was involved in with journalist Ed Moloney.
Old Bailey bombings to protest border poll
The Old Bailey bombings were seen as a protest against the border poll in Northern Ireland, due on the same day. The border poll was a referendum in Northern Ireland to determine, whether to stay in the United Kingdom or not. Ironically, Sinn Fein today see a border poll as their primary target in the medium term future .
ChoiceVotes% (en.wikipedia.o...) Do you want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom?591,82098.90Do you want Northern Ireland to be joined with the Republic of Ireland outside the United Kingdom?6,4231.10Valid votes598,28399.01Invalid or blank votes5,9730.99Total votes604,256100.00Registered voters/turnout1,030,08458.66
Unknowns and Disappeared
In her testimonial, Dolours Price also spoke of her involvement in a group call the ‘Unknowns’, set up allegedly by Gerry Adams, to carry out special projects. The ‘Unknowns’ operated outside the IRA command structure and was suspected involved in the disappearance of widow of ten Jean Mc Conville as well as Joe Lynskey.
The murder of Jean McConville is perhaps one of the most heartbreaking incidents of the troubles. Not only was she a young widow of ten children, her children never knew what happened to her. She was one of the ‘disappeared’. The drama series ‘Say Nothing’ has in fact attracted criticism from her son Michael, who described it as ‘horrendous, cruel and another telling of the story of our mother, our family have to endure’.
Former Belfast Officer in Command of the IRA Brendan Hughes alleged in his interview with Anthony Mc Intyre for the Boston College tapes said that former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was involved in overseeing the ‘Unknowns’ group. Gerry Adams has said this is a lie and denied being involved in the IRA.
While the cases of the ‘disappeared’ were heartbreaking for their loved ones, Anthony Mc Intryre adds that the nature of such acti...