Bomb scares, security checks,
roadblocks and the army on the
streets marked the start of the
Troubles in 1969. But for a generation,
growing up during the 70s and 80s was
more memorable for questionable
hairstyles, holidays across the border
and a seemingly infinite choice of toys,
sweets and treats.
2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the
start of the Troubles in Northern Ireland
and for those born in 1969, this is the year
when they turn the big Four-0. In The
Trouble With 40, a Waddell Media
production for BBC Northern Ireland, a
host of familiar faces recall what it was like
growing up here during that time.
Contributors from the worlds of TV, sport,
journalism and politics share their views and
memories in the new 60-minute BBC One
Northern Ireland documentary on Monday,
August 10. The list of contributors include
former Northern Ireland football
international Norman Whiteside, singing
stars Brian Kennedy and Peter Corry, TV
medic Dr Mark Hamilton, comedians
Damon Quinn, Tim McGarry and Nuala
McKeever and politicians Ian Paisley Jr and
Michelle Gildernew.
Along with many more house-hold names
they recall the bizarre, humorous and
sometimes embarrassing memories of
growing up in Northern Ireland, where tragic
stories of bombs and bullets are mixed with
recollections of fashion disasters and
questionable tastes in music.They look back at how holidays meant going
across the border to Donegal where
everything seemed different to them.
The Trouble With 40 uses archive news
footage and the music from the 70s and 80s
to complement the contributors’ stories of
how they passed the time before computer
games replaced playground games.
The contributors also look back at the
darker days growing up. They recall how they
dealt with the security situation at the time
and how chaos and disorder seemed to be
the norm.
Looking back, they remember how
getting searched going into shops was very
much a rite of passage growing up and how
not letting bomb scares or other security
worries stopping them from going to school
was seen as a badge of honour.
Producer and director Jane Magowan of
Waddell Media said:
“It’s a significant landmark. 1969 is viewed
by many as the year when the Troubles began
in Northern Ireland and we wanted to hear
what some well-known people, who grew
up in the 70s and 80s around the start of
the Troubles, remember about it. For anyone
who was born around this time their stories
are sure to bring back memories of playing
at school, the sweet shop or some wardrobe
disaster they’ve tried to forget. But it’s also
a look at how this generation grew up with
the backdrop of the Troubles - they didn’t
know anything other than the Troubles. It
was as much a part of life for them as the
music and the holidays.
“The Trouble with 40 is unashamedly
nostalgic and funny weaving great archive and
personal testimony together. We have Ian
Paisley Jr talking about chopper bikes and
sweetie cigarettes, Brian Kennedy
remembering his home perm that went
wrong and Michelle Gildernew on the night
Denis Taylor won the World Snooker
Championship.”
The Trouble With 40 is on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday August 10 at 10.35pm