Irish Northern Aid
The Peace Process
On August 31, 1994, the IRA gave a quantum boost to the peace process with their courageous announcement of a "complete" ceasefire. After three years of delay, deception and inaction by the British government, all-party talks finally began in the fall of 1997. Out of those difficult negotiations, the Good Friday Agreement was agreed on April 10, 1998.
Since then, the British government has not fully lived up to it's commitments on policing, demilitarization, criminal justice reform and the equality agenda. They have also allowed the unionist political parties to continually obstruct, minimize and wreak havoc on the political institutions set up by the agreement.
Throughout all of these difficulties, the Republican Movement has shown it's unwavering support for the peace process. The IRA has taken historic, unilateral moves including putting a substantial amount of it's weapons beyond use on two occasions, witnessed and verified by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, and stating repeatedly that they are committed to a permanent peace.
This massive gesture by the IRA came in the face of over 500 pro-British Loyalist pipe bomb attacks on nationalist communities in the last 18 months alone and Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble determined efforts to undermine the agreement at every turn.
Sinn Féin has worked tirelessly to move the process forward and to maximize the potential of the Good Friday Agreement. They were rewarded for their commitment by the electorate in July 2001 by becoming the largest nationalist party in the north of Ireland. They also made major gains in the Irish General Election in 2002 taking five seats in the Irish Parliament.
Irish America has continued to play a crucial role in supporting peace and justice in Ireland. It's long standing commitment to freedom in Ireland has been a invaluable resource.
Please take the time to learn more about the Peace Process by clicking on the subjects to the left of this page.
It is important to remember that the Peace Process did not begin with initiatives from the British or Irish governments. It began in 1988 when the two leaders of Irish nationalism in the north, Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and SDLP (Social Democratic Labour Party) leader John Hume held a series of discussions over a five year period that culminated in a joint document outlining a framework towards a negotiated settlement. This document, known as the Humes/Adams Initiative, forced the reluctant British and Irish governments to face up to their responsibilities of beginning a process towards a lasting agreement.
Read More About the Good Friday Agreement
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