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Pop Goes Northern Ireland blends news footage, archive and the musical hits of the time to provide an enthralling and entertaining potted history of Northern Ireland dealing with our difficult recent past in a way that is entertaining, informative, fresh and accessible to all.

This episode focuses on 1978. The IRA are feeling the squeeze as secretary of state Roy Mason continues with a 'military solution' to the conflict. However, although the IRA are a diminished force they still carry out terrorist atrocities. Their increasing using of incendiary devices results in the deaths of 12 people in the La Mon hotel in February.

Amnesty International reports concerns about the abuse of suspects in police custody. The government continues to refuse to treat republican prisoners differently than 'ordinary' criminals. This leads to conflict in the prisons and the start of the 'Dirty Protest' by republican prisoners demanding the restoration of 'special category status’.