For God and Ulster

Season 1Episode 258 minApr. 3, 2023
For God and Ulster

Ian Paisley was renowned for denouncing anything he believed inconsistent with God's plan. In the late 70s, the gay rights movement felt Paisley's wrath during their fight to decriminalise consensual gay sex in Northern Ireland. His protest to 'Save Ulster from Sodomy' failed, but it grounded his position as the representative of so-called traditional values.

The DUP, Paisley's political party, espoused these same values, combined with a hardline unionist stance. This attracted new young talent, the most ambitious being young estate agent Peter Robinson. Robinson's election in 1979 was vindication for Paisley: he was no longer a one-man band, but the leader of a movement.

Amidst the bloodiest years of the Troubles, Paisley became a Unionist figurehead, attracting the largest crowds Northern Ireland had ever seen for his impassioned ‘Never, Never, Never' speech. Emboldened, he provided political cover to a new paramilitary-styled group, Ulster Resistance.

Ian Paisley's hope was that some of his five children would play a part in his dynasty. Daughter Rhonda was involved in the church and was an elected councillor, while twin sons, Kyle and Ian Jr, showed promise in the worlds of preaching and politics. With wife Eileen as his constant guide, the future was looking bright for the House of Paisley.

But the 90s witnessed a shift in the political landscape, heralded by both the IRA and Loyalist paramilitary ceasefires. Paisley loudly denounced the 1998 peace talks but found himself out of step with a NI majority, who seemed weary of violence. Ian Paisley and the DUP were struggling for significance in the world of more progressive politics. The man who had moved from the outside to the forefront of Unionism found himself cut adrift.

For God and Ulster has aired on Apr. 3, 2023 at 22:40
Previous EpisodeNext Episode

Trailer

We do not have any trailers for this episode

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
True Detective
Running

True Detective

Touch darkness and darkness touches you back. True Detective centers on troubled cops and the investigations that drive them to the edge. Each season features a new cast and a new case.

True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. 

S.W.A.T.
Running

S.W.A.T.

Shemar Moore stars as a locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant newly tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson has everything it takes to be an excellent leader and bridge the divide between his two worlds.

The Equalizer
Running

The Equalizer

A reimagining of the classic series, The Equalizer centers on enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn.

Shōgun
Running

Shōgun

Shōgun, set in feudal Japan, charts the collision of two ambitious men from different worlds and a mysterious female samurai: John Blackthorne, a risk-taking English sailor who ends up shipwrecked in Japan, a land whose unfamiliar culture will ultimately redefine him; Lord Toranaga, a shrewd, powerful daimyo, at odds with his own dangerous, political rivals; and Lady Mariko, a woman with invaluable skills but dishonorable family ties, who must prove her value and allegiance.

The Boys
Running

The Boys

In a world where superheroes embrace the darker side of their massive celebrity and fame, The Boys centres on a group of vigilantes known informally as "The Boys," who set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty.