TODAY, tomorrow and on Saturday The Irish Timesexamines cabinet papers for 1980, released in Dublin, London and Belfast, traditionally kept secret for 30 years. Some papers released cover previous years, and some have been withheld.
CONTRIBUTORS
John Bowman:Dr John Bowman is a broadcaster and historian. He is author of De Valera and The Ulster Question: 1917-1973. He is currently writing a history of RTE television. He is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College Dublin.
Éamon Phoenix:Dr Éamon Phoenix is principal lecturer in history at Stranmillis University College (QUB). He is co-editor with Alan Parkinson of a new book, Conflicts in the North of Ireland 1900-2000, published by Four Courts Press.
Jonathan Bardon:Dr Jonathan Bardon is author of A History of Ulster(Blackstaff Press), A History of Ireland in 250 Episodes(Gill &Macmillan), and, forthcoming, The Plantation of Ulster(Gill & Macmillan).
John Bew:Dr John Bew is a lecturer in war studies and director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence at King's College London. His most recent book is Talking to Terrorists: Making Peace in Northern Ireland and the Basque Country(Hurst and Co)
Deaglán de Bréadún:Deaglán de Bréadún is political correspondent with The Irish Timesand author of The Far Side of Revenge, published by The Collins Press.
Genevieve Carbery and Alison Healy:Alison Healy and Genevieve Carbery are Irish Timesreporters.
Editor:coverage of the 1980 State Papers is edited by Kieran Fagan and Patrick Logue.
SOURCES
National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 8, Ireland (www.nationalarchives.ie). Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast. Office now closed pending move (www.proni.gov.uk). National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, England, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk