Ireland Coursework
- Describe the reported incident in your own words with explanation of the content.
This article decries the Republic of Ireland Prime Minister Bertie Ahern signing over the constitutional claim on the six counties over to Northern Ireland. Also the English Prime Minister Tony Blair giving power to Ulster and the IRA agreed to hand over their weapons, this agreement is known as the Good Friday agreement. This particular agreement was started in April of 1999 and the 603 days, which have passed, have been very nervous because this was a giant step in the peace process. However finally on Thursday 2nd of December the Good Friday agreement was signed and completed by the Ulster secretary Peter Mandelson. Ulster is no longer under English rule and the Republic of Ireland has no claims in what goes on in Ulster and the 10 ministers form the new government of Ulster. The reactions to this meeting were very positive with Ulster’s first minister David Trimble stating that it was a great meeting and the future looks very bright because of the friendliness of all the people involved. The Ulster unionist leader had no complaints about sitting at the same table with ex-IRA (Irish republic army) and Nationalist Martin McGuinnes dissipate them being sworn enemies. This suggests that times are changing for the better and peace is perhaps starting to be achieved because these two sworn enemies are having a civil conversation. Also the picture in the center of the newspaper article suggests that everyone sitting at the table is happy and proud of this agreement. Especially David Trimble who looks extremely overcome with joy. From the start this meeting was very relaxed because the Nationalist Sinn Fein member Martin McGuinnes sat in a unionists seat and laughter was shared amongst the room. Ulster now has 10 new ministers who will run and control Northern Ireland. These members consist of the SDLP (Social Democratic Labour party) led by John Hume and also the new government consists of Sinn Fein. Working together is the way forward and this is being achieved, the Good Friday agreement is a massive step this article suggests.
