What to Watch, Read, and Listen To After 'Once Upon A Time in Northern Ireland'
The outstanding documentary series about the Troubles, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland, aired on most local PBS stations at the end of August 2023, with all five episodes available on PBS Passport. Through the deeply personal reflections of the series’ interview subjects, viewers get to know the contours of the era. For those looking to learn more, there are plenty of options.
Unlike scripted series, where you might get hooked on an actor’s performance or have more seasons to watch, documentaries provide the opportunity to dive deeply into specific times and places and into the stories of people who lived through it. In the case of the Troubles, options include learning more about the grounding of the fight for civil rights for Roman Catholics in the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.; the near-imperative for even apolitical people to choose a side; the claustrophobia of living in a small country where trying to stay out of harm’s way grew increasingly difficult; and the necessity of joy and friendship, especially when living through a decades-long cycle of grievance, violence, and vengeance.
The era’s major events are still recent enough that many who survived the worst of the Troubles are alive today to continue sharing their experiences and shaping the future of Northern Ireland. Fortunately, much of that work is widely available. Here’s a handy guide to some of the scripted shows, documentaries, books, and feature films just waiting for you.
