Newscast Old Newscast: The Good Friday Agreement, 1998 (Part 1)
28 snips
Apr 18, 2025 Join Nick Watt, Newsnight's political editor who closely reported on the Troubles, and Annita McVeigh, BBC News chief presenter and veteran of Northern Ireland coverage, as they revisit the emotional day when the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. They discuss the complexities of the peace negotiations, the roles played by key figures like George Mitchell, and the personal tragedies that shaped journalism during this turbulent era. The conversation reveals the enduring impact of this historic agreement on current events and the hope for a united future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Memories of The Troubles
- Anita McVeigh shared vivid childhood memories of the Troubles and personal encounters with violence.
- She recounted the trauma of narrowly escaping a bombing that killed a man and his granddaughter.
Reporter Witnesses Shankill Bomb
- Nick Watt arrived in Northern Ireland in 1993 and witnessed the Shankill bomb aftermath.
- He highlighted how Northern Ireland had slivers of normal life despite the violence.
Sunningdale Agreement's Legacy
- The Sunningdale Agreement was a precursor to the Good Friday Agreement with similar principles.
- It failed earlier, but laid the groundwork for power-sharing and North-South cooperation in 1998.