If Lynch Had Invaded

1 x 90' - RTÉ ONE (2009)

At 9pm on the 13th August 1969 the Irish Taoiseach Jack Lynch prepared to make his now landmark broadcast on RTE in response to the outbreak of violence the day before in Derry. It was the greatest challenge to his career so far, as the violence plunged Lynch and his cabinet into crisis on how to respond. Earlier that day he had come under pressure within his cabinet for military intervention in the north. This 90′ documentary explores how Lynch dealt with the crisis of August 1969 by examining in forensic historical detail the dramatic events of 13th August at cabinet level in Dublin, Belfast and London, and explores the political consequences had the Irish Army actually crossed the border.