Gerry Adams Late Late Show 'ambush'

whiskeysteve · August 10, 2009, 11:11:33 AM

Apologies if this has been talked about before.

Dossing about on youtube there and found these old clips of Gerry Adams on the late late show in the early 90's. I'm a bit young to remember it properly so it was a bit of an eye opener to see Gay Byrne really trying to grill Gerry like he did, in fact was very surprised to see how they (Gay and the other guests) tried to ambush him and how bad a job they made of it. You don't have to be a fan of Gerry to appreciate it. Very surprised by Gaybo, thought he would have stayed out of politics to a degree, the fact that the audience end up cheering the big man says it all.

Im sure the older crowd would remember this well but its interesting viewing for younger posters (if you have time

)

1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxw4a0e_NmU
2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z3t4_0Hjh4&feature=related
3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMjcqMUhrjI&feature=related
4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j44dA9M-gWc&feature=related
5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egom6-LIxdM&feature=related
6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGAr6rLPCqg&feature=related

UTV news reaction after: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wNtuKuZrGs&feature=related

lynchbhoy · August 10, 2009, 11:30:48 AM

while gaybo was always a bit of an ersewipe, its not surprising that there was this 'fear' or dislike of adams and sf etc because the media propaganda in the south was in overdrive all the time spouting the british slant in pretty much everything.

I recall the likes of dunphy who was akin to gaybo and almost as bad as his 'idol' at the time - conor cruise obrien.
then when the negotiating and real truth got out and the media could no longer paper over the unionist/british intransigence (at best - willfull sectarianism at worst) then dunphy publically admitted he was wrong for all those years and then saw what the nationalist/catholic/working class had to endure up there !
He is just one higher profile media person that had the b@lls to state that he was previously wrong.
But as I said, how could anyone down here think otherwise given the abhorrent propaganda they were being fed.

AbbeySider · August 10, 2009, 11:39:11 AM

I watched the all last year.

Adams was unreal.

A Quinn Martin Production · August 10, 2009, 12:45:34 PM

I remember this well when it was first aired. Gaybo refused to shake hands with Adams (he later said that RTE bosses instructed him not to do so). His line about Hugh Leonard being sanctimonious and theatrical was spot on. RTE's lowest point untill theGAA 125 show

Diet Coke · August 10, 2009, 12:55:26 PM

Never liked gaybo....should have run the f**er over when i had the chance in tralee all those years ago.....never forgive myself, but there were worse including
Eoghan Harris and Ruth Dudley Edwards

T Fearon · August 10, 2009, 12:56:28 PM

Remember it well at the time. The total stupidity of RTE lining up a firing squad (don't forget STOOP Austin Currie was also involved) against an individual and the inevitable sympathy that would bring from the audience to an individual as cute as Adams.

But did Gerry not say in one of his books that Gay shook hands with him in the green room later over a bottle of stout?

T Fearon · August 10, 2009, 12:58:14 PM

I once saw Harris in Dublin and had to restrain myself from going over and giving the cnut a mouthful... I honestly don't know if I could restrain myself if I ever bumped into Ruth Puddly Shiteturds

Drumanee 1 · August 10, 2009, 01:01:32 PM

some of the things that was said to adams like calling him a murderer and such like and gay let it go but when adams for instance asked the audience there opinion gay jumped in more or less saying he's out of order,cringe worthy stuff and although i think gay is a wee p***k he is always professional and can make a show out of nothing this was not one of his best moments.

Chrisowc · August 10, 2009, 01:18:17 PM

Obviously this is the first ambush Gerry was ever involved in.

haranguerer · August 10, 2009, 01:35:21 PM

No Chris, he was ambushed by loyalists in 1984. Obviously unsuccessfully, thank god

Denn Forever · August 10, 2009, 02:24:09 PM

To be fair, that was the first time that people in the south who would not be of that political persuasion would have heard Adams speak (without being voiced by an actor).

Baby steps Baby steps.

clarshack · August 10, 2009, 02:34:08 PM

Quote from: T Fearon on August 10, 2009, 12:58:14 PM
I once saw Harris in Dublin and had to restrain myself from going over and giving the cnut a mouthful... I honestly don't know if I could restrain myself if I ever bumped into Ruth Puddly Shiteturds

tbh never heard of her before but I checked her out and this is an article written by her:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-388256/Why-does-Ken-Loach-loathe-country-much.html

apparently she hadnt even seen 'the wind that shakes the barley'. says it all really

orangeman · August 10, 2009, 03:28:54 PM

Although I disagreed strongly with Gaybo's treatment of Adams that night, you have to put it into context. The IRA were not fully married to the political route. There had been a campaign to bring them into line. Gaybo claimed later that he was under instruction what to do and say.

It was embarassing when he asked him where he got the money to build the house in Donegal.

Definitely not one of Gaybo's best moments.

Chrisowc · August 10, 2009, 09:31:49 PM

Quote from: haranguerer on August 10, 2009, 01:35:21 PM
No Chris, he was ambushed by loyalists in 1984. Obviously unsuccessfully, thank god

Got me!

Bord na Mona man · August 10, 2009, 09:39:36 PM

Gaybo was always more anglo in his outlook.
He was in his element in the bad days of the 80s.
His shows spent a lot of time lamenting the state of the country, implying that Irish people were unfit for self rule and that we'd be better off being run by the Brits.

That said, back in the 80s and early 90s, Sinn Fein and the IRA weren't exactly winning over hearts and minds down South with their carry on.