Ideas # 1: What it took to end a 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland
Sep 1, 2025
Branca Marien, a senior researcher on divided societies, Alan McConnell, a lawyer and advocate for Sinn Féin, and historian David A. Wilson delve into the intricate journey of peace in Northern Ireland. They explore the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement, discussing the complexities of reconciliation amid division. Key topics include the historical context of the Troubles, the significance of community support, and the strategic use of ambiguous language in negotiations. Their insights provide a thought-provoking perspective on conflict resolution and legacy.
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Night Of Fear Before The Agreement
- Alan McConnell describes a tense 1997 night watching Orange marches with Canadian MPs amid riots and army presence in Portadown.
- He felt despair then saw the Good Friday Agreement eight months later, teaching him persistence in peacemaking.
Outsider Escorted Through Divided Belfast
- Branca Marien recounts arriving in North Belfast and being escorted because she was staying in a staunchly Republican area.
- The experience revealed how official peace narratives differed from everyday sectarian realities on the ground.
1968 March As The Polarizing Trigger
- David A. Wilson pinpoints October 5, 1968, when police attacked a civil-rights march in Derry as a key trigger for polarization.
- He argues the televised violence initiated the spiral that produced the IRA and decades of conflict.