Every issue of An Phoblacht/Republican News from 1983-1986.
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1983
Gerry Adams’ election as MP for West Belfast in the 1983 Westminster general election was a landmark moment covered extensively by An Phoblacht/Republican News. Sinn Féin’s strong performance in local elections further demonstrated the party’s growing electoral base across the North. The paper reflected the movement’s confidence in the ballot box strategy while continuing to cover the IRA’s ongoing armed campaign. Adams’ election as Sinn Féin President and emergence as the public face of the movement marked a significant shift in how republicanism presented itself politically.
| January 1983 |   06 January |   13 January |
  20 January |   27 January | February 1983 |
  03 February |  10 February |  17 February |
  24 February | March 1983 |   03 March |
  10 March |   17 March |   24 March |
 29 March | April 1983 |  07 April |
 14 April |   21 April |  28 April |
| May 1983 |  05 May |  12 May |
 19 May |  26 May | June 1983 |
 02 June |  09 June |  16 June |
 23 June |  30 June | July 1983 |
 07 July |  21 July |  28 July |
| August 1983 |  04 August |  11 August |
 18 August |  25 August | September 1983 |
 01 September |  08 September |  15 September |
 22 September |  29 September | October 1983 |
 06 October |  13 October |  20 October |
 27 October | November 1983 |  04 November |
 10 November |  17 November |  24 November |
| December 1983 |  01 December |  08 December |
 15 December |  21 December |
1984
The IRA’s bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton in October 1984, which nearly killed Margaret Thatcher, was one of the most dramatic operations of the conflict and featured prominently in An Phoblacht/Republican News. The paper also covered the New Ireland Forum report and Thatcher’s emphatic rejection of its findings, which reinforced the republican movement’s view that constitutional nationalism offered no viable path forward. Sinn Féin continued to build its political organisation across the North throughout the year.
| January 1984 |  05 January |  12 January |
 19 January |  26 January | February 1984 |
 02 February |  09 February |  16 February |
 23 February | March 1984 |  01 March |
 08 March |  15 March |  22 March |
 29 March | April 1984 |  05 April |
 12 April |  19 April |  26 April |
| May 1984 |  03 May |  10 May |
 17 May |  24 May |  31 May |
| June 1984 |  07 June |  14 June |
 21 June |  28 June | July 1984 |
 05 July |  19 July |  26 July |
| August 1984 |  02 August |  09 August |
 16 August |  23 August |  30 August |
| September 1984 |  06 September |  13 September |
 20 September |  27 September | October 1984 |
 04 October |  11 October |  18 October |
 25 October | November 1984 |  01 November |
 08 November |  15 November |  22 November |
 29 November | December 1984 |  06 December |
 13 December |  20 December |
1985
The Anglo-Irish Agreement of November 1985 was rejected by the republican movement and covered critically in An Phoblacht/Republican News. Sinn Féin viewed the agreement as a British and Irish establishment attempt to undermine the movement’s growing electoral support and copper-fasten partition. The paper documented both the republican response and the mass unionist protests that followed the agreement’s signing. The IRA’s campaign continued throughout the year as the movement assessed the political implications of the new Anglo-Irish relationship.
1986
The 1986 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis was the defining political event of the year, with delegates voting to end abstentionism from Dáil Éireann. An Phoblacht/Republican News covered the debate extensively as the movement navigated one of its most significant political shifts. The decision led to a walkout by traditionalist republicans who went on to form Republican Sinn Féin. The IRA’s armed campaign continued alongside Sinn Féin’s increasingly confident electoral strategy as the movement entered a new and contested phase in its development.
| January 1986 |  02 January |  09 January |
 16 January |  23 January |  30 January |
| February 1986 |  06 February |  13 February |
 20 February |  27 February | March 1986 |
 06 March |  13 March |  20 March |
 27 March | April 1986 |  03 April |
 10 April |  17 April |  24 April |
| May 1986 |  01 May |  08 May |
 15 May |  22 May |  29 May |
| June 1986 |  05 June |  12 June |
 19 June |  26 June | July 1986 |
 03 July |  17 July |  24 July |
 31 July | August 1986 |  07 August |
 14 August |  21 August |  28 August |
| September 1986 |  04 September |  11 September |
 18 September |  25 September | October 1986 |
 02 October |  09 October |  16 October |
 23 October |  30 October | November 1986 |
 06 November |  13 November |  20 November |
 27 November | December 1986 |  04 December |
 11 December |  18 December |  Christmas |
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