Ten young men starve themselves to death in a prison outside Belfast. One of them – Bobby Sands – is an elected MP. Their deaths bring widespread sympathy to the Republican cause and the Provisional IRA’s little-known political wing, Sinn Féin, is bolstered by increasing electoral success. Two years later – at the height of the hottest summer on record – Gerry Adams, widely believed to be a former leader in the IRA (something he denies), is elected to Westminster. Militant Irish nationalism has gone political.

All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot are available now.

Host: John Lee

Producers: Artemis Irvine and Bella Soames

Assistant Producer: Sally McLennan

Sound Design: John Scott

Podcast Artwork: Lindsay Fagan

Script Consultant: Liam Thompson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices