Give My Head Peace is a satirical and topical BBC Northern Ireland comedy television series that pokes fun at Sinn Fein, Loyalists, paramilitaries and the various terrorist factions operating in Northern Ireland. The programme is written and performed by a Northern Ireland comedy troop known as "The Hole in the Wall Gang".

The programme was first broadcast as a television film entitled "Two Ceasefires and a Wedding" on BBC ONE Northern Ireland in 1997. The film centred on Emer, the daughter of a "promient" Sinn Fein activist, and Billy, an RUC constable who meet and fall in love. The wedding is however opposed by their respective families, and ends in farce (but with Emer and Billy happy anyway).

Subsequently, a full series was ordered by BBC Northern Ireland. Some changes were made to the format prior to the series going ahead - with the charcter of Cal (Emer's brother)changing substantially, and the introduction of other recurring charcters such as Big Mervin, and Red Hand Luke. A few years into the series, Nuala McKeever (Emer) left the series to peruse other interests, and a new love interest for Billy was introduced in the form of Emer's heretofore unseen sister, Dymphna.

The theme song of the series is "She Says" perfomed by the Saw Doctors. It was released as a single in Ireland in the late 1990s.

As of 2004, the series continues to run on BBC ONE Northern Ireland. It is usually screened in a prime-time Friday night slot, opting out from network BBC ONE. In mid-2004, a selection of episodes were shown across the UK on BBC TWO in a late-night slot.

The principal charcters are:

Da (Tim McGarry)- A "promient" Sinn Fein spokesperson who is eventually elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly Cal (Damon Quinn) - Da's son. In the pilot ("Two Ceasefires and a Wedding") he is portrayed as a sinster IRA activist. In the series, his charcter is much dumbed down and he is the "thick one" of the family. Uncle Andy (Martin Reid) - An old-fashioned traditional loyalist whose twin loves are British Ulster - and Elvis Priestly. Billy (Michael McDowell) - Andy's nephew and an RUC (later PSNI) officer. He falls in lvoe with Emer (and later Dymphna) Emer (Nuala McKeever) - Da's daughter, she falls in love with Billy, but later runs off with a Spaniard (and leaves the series). Ma (Olivia Nash) - the sensible one of the household, she is the one coins the term "Give My Head Peace". Dymphna (Alexandra Ford) - replaces Emer when she runs off with a Spaniard (despite having never been mentioned before).

Web site [www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/gmhp]