steps towards peace quotes

Heath recognised Stormont had lost credibility with the minority community and that only new political structure could restore order

p1

by Paul Bew

suspension of Stormont

Faulkner’s acceptance of power-sharing was a courageous but politically disastrous gamble

p2

by Paul Bew

faulkner cautiously supporting the white paper

The Unionist family was irreparably split, with Faulkner’s moderates isolated from their grassroots base

p2

by Marianne Elliott

1973 assembly

pledged unionists fragile majority

For the SDLP, entering government was both a moral risk and a political necessity

p3

by Richard English

sunningdale executive talks

republicans accuse SDLP of collaboration

Sunningdale outlined almost every principle of the Good Friday Agreement

p4

by Paul Bew

sunningdale terms

Sunningdale was a brave attempt at reconciliation, but it overestimated goodwill and underestimated fear

p4

by Tim Pat Coogan

republicans fear was to give up on united ireland

unionists fear was the opposite

[Reagan] expressed concern about the lack of political progress

p5

no author

Reagan and Thatcher meet in December 1984

Ulster Says No

p7

Paisley

23 Nov 1985 rally

Slogan for next 10yrs

[The AIA] helped boost a habit of cooperation between Irish and UK governments

p7

no author

Boosted SDLP and Adams cooperation.

The Agreement did not bring peace, but it made peace possible

p7

by Thomas Hennessy

foundation for later peace efforts

[Britain had no] selfish, strange or economic interest in Northern Ireland

p8

by SoS Peter Brooke

Brooke sought new political dialogue

green tinge

p9

unionists unhappy with nationalist bias in DSD

stop the killing

p9

by Albert Reynolds

sinn féin can only join peace talks if violence ended

We are beyond the beginning but we are not yet in sight of the end

p10

by John Major

ceasefires by IRA and loyalists called

The Anglo-Irish Agreement created the structures; the Downing Street Declaration created the political conditions; together they made the Good Friday Agreement possible

p11 outro

by Brendan O’Brien

analysing steps towards peace

final quote in essay