Every issue of An Phoblacht/Republican News from 1979-1982.
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1979
An Phoblacht/Republican News covered an eventful year for the IRA in 1979. The killing of Lord Mountbatten and eighteen British soldiers at Warrenpoint in August represented one of the most significant IRA operations of the conflict. The election of Margaret Thatcher as British Prime Minister in May was closely watched by the republican movement, with her hardline approach to Irish republicanism already apparent. The paper reflected growing confidence within the IRA and Sinn Féin as the movement entered a pivotal new decade.
| January 1979 |  An Phoblacht (06 January 1979) |  An Phoblacht (20 January 1979) Last Issue |
 06 January |  13 January |  20 January Last Issue |
| APRN Merged |  27 January | February 1979 |
 03 February |  10 February |  17 February |
 24 February | March 1979 |  03 March |
 10 March |  17 March |  24 March |
 31 March | April 1979 |  07 April |
 14 April |  21 April |  28 April |
| May 1979 |  05 May |  12 May |
 17 May |  26 May | June 1979 |
 02 June |  09 June |  16 June |
 23 June |  30 June | July 1979 |
 07 July |  14 July |  21 July |
| August 1979 |  04 August |  11 August |
 18 August |  25 August | September 1979 |
 01 September |  08 September |  15 September |
 22 September |  29 September | October 1979 |
 06 October |  13 October |  20 October |
 27 October | November 1979 |  03 November |
 10 November |  17 November |  24 November |
| December 1979 |  01 December |  08 December |
 15 December |  22 December |
1980
The prison issue and hunger strike crisis dominated An Phoblacht/Republican News throughout 1980. Republican prisoners in the Maze Prison escalated their campaign for political status, with seven prisoners beginning a hunger strike in October. The strike was called off in December amid confusion over British government commitments, a conclusion that left deep bitterness within the movement. The paper was central to communicating the prisoners’ demands and building public support for the campaign throughout the year.
| January 1980 |  05 January |  12 January |
 19 January |  26 January | February 1980 |
 02 February |  09 February |  16 February |
 23 February | March 1980 |  01 March |
 08 March |  15 March |  22 March |
 29 March | April 1980 |  05 April |
 12 April |  19 April |  26 April |
| May 1980 |  03 May |  10 May |
 17 May |  24 May |  31 May |
| June 1980 |  07 June |  14 June |
 21 June |  28 June | July 1980 |
 05 July |  12 July |  26 July |
| August 1980 |  02 August |  09 August |
 16 August |  23 August |  30 August |
| September 1980 |  06 September |  13 September |
 20 September |  27 September | October 1980 |
 04 October |  11 October |  18 October |
 25 October | November 1980 |  01 November |
 08 November |  15 November |  22 November |
 29 November | December 1980 |  06 December |
 13 December |  20 December |  27 December |
1981
The ten hunger strikers who died in the Maze Prison in 1981 defined the year for An Phoblacht/Republican News and for the republican movement as a whole. Bobby Sands, the first to die in May, had been elected MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone while on hunger strike. The paper covered the deaths of each hunger striker and the massive public response they generated. The electoral breakthrough demonstrated by Sands accelerated Sinn Féin’s political strategy, with Danny Morrison articulating the armalite and ballot box approach that would define the movement in the years ahead.
| January 1981 |  10 January |  17 January |
 24 January |  31 January | February 1981 |
 07 February |  14 February |  21 February |
 28 February | March 1981 |  07 March |
 14 March |  24 March |  28 March |
| April 1981 |  04 April |  11 April |
 18 April |  25 April | May 1981 |
 02 May |  09 May |  16 May |
 30 May | June 1981 |  06 June |
 13 June |  20 June |  27 June |
| July 1981 |  04 July |  11 July |
 18 July |  25 July | August 1981 |
 01 August |  08 August |  15 August |
 22 August |  29 August | September 1981 |
 05 September |  12 September |  19 September |
 26 September | October 1981 |  03 October |
 10 October |  17 October |  22 October |
 29 October | November 1981 |  05 November |
 12 November |  19 November |  26 November |
| December 1981 |  03 December |  10 December |
 17 December |  31 December |
1982
Sinn Féin’s electoral ambitions were clearly visible in 1982 as the party contested elections to the new Northern Ireland Assembly, winning five seats. An Phoblacht/Republican News reflected the movement’s growing confidence in its dual political and military strategy. The IRA’s campaign continued throughout the year, including the Hyde Park bombing in July. The paper documented Sinn Féin’s organisational development across the North as the movement consolidated the political lessons of the hunger strike period.
| January 1982 |  07 January |  14 January |
 21 January |  28 January | February 1982 |
 04 February |  11 February |  18 February |
 25 February | March 1982 |  04 March |
 11 March |  18 March |  25 March |
| April 1982 |  01 April |  08 April |
 15 April |  22 April |  29 April |
| May 1982 |  06 May |  13 May |
 20 May |  27 May | June 1982 |
 03 June |  10 June |  17 June |
 24 June | July 1982 |  01 July |
 08 July |  15 July |  22 July |
 29 July | August 1982 |  05 August |
 12 August |  19 August |  26 August |
| September 1982 |  02 September |  09 September |
 16 September |  23 September |  30 September |
| October 1982 |  07 October |  14 October |
 21 October |  28 October | November 1982 |
 04 November |  11 November |  18 November |
 25 November | December 1982 |  02 December |
 09 December |  16 December |  21 December |
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