The GFA is 20 years old. Your thoughts and where were you?

Mint Sauce

I was 19 years old. Growing up in London, to Irish parents, was one exposed to the terror campaigns in mainland Britain, and two in my regular summer long visits, and occasional easter, and Christmas ones here, Especially since had family on both sides of the border we were well used to random Army, and RUC checkpoints, soldiers, helicopters, etc, when traveling through the North, and Customs and Garda checkpoints once crossing back into the Free State, The South, RoI, depending on the family member you were traveling with. Then there was the sudden cancellations of visits to places such as Derry or Enniskillen, or looking for alternatives routes if traveling back to Belfast Airport or the Docks.

Now, it's so much better, peace is evident, and progression is also continuing. Unfortunately though the continued failures to restore power sharing in Stormont, the continued bickering of parties in the North, and the failure to have a response to Brexit, I would have a concern, that the work of all 20 years ago could be unraveled.

As for where I was. We were preparing to move here from London, and were traveling on the overnight coach from London to Dublin, listening to continuing updates on the BBC Radio and Talk Radio UK, with the fear that the midnight deadline for talks would be missed, but they thankfully continued. Sky News was being played on every screen on the ferry, with most watching it. Then the news that the agreement had been made, and then the Irish response, and view compared to the British one, on Irish Radio on the journey to Donegal, and RTE that afternoon.

Hopefully today's governments can get their acts together, and one hopefully remember the work of their predecessors, and two, honor it by keeping things going, and progressing.

ShadyAcres

Mint Sauce wrote: »

I was 19 years old. Growing up in London, to Irish parents, was one exposed to the terror campaigns in mainland Britain, and two in my regular summer long visits, and occasional easter, and Christmas ones here, Especially since had family on both sides of the border we were well used to random Army, and RUC checkpoints, soldiers, helicopters, etc, when traveling through the North, and Customs and Garda checkpoints once crossing back into the Free State, The South, RoI, depending on the family member you were traveling with. Then there was the sudden cancellations of visits to places such as Derry or Enniskillen, or looking for alternatives routes if traveling back to Belfast Airport or the Docks.

Now, it's so much better, peace is evident, and progression is also continuing. Unfortunately though the continued failures to restore power sharing in Stormont, the continued bickering of parties in the North, and the failure to have a response to Brexit, I would have a concern, that the work of all 20 years ago could be unraveled.

As for where I was. We were preparing to move here from London, and were traveling on the overnight coach from London to Dublin, listening to continuing updates on the BBC Radio and Talk Radio UK, with the fear that the midnight deadline for talks would be missed, but they thankfully continued. Sky News was being played on every screen on the ferry, with most watching it. Then the news that the agreement had been made, and then the Irish response, and view compared to the British one, on Irish Radio on the journey to Donegal, and RTE that afternoon.

Hopefully today's governments can get their acts together, and one hopefully remember the work of their predecessors, and two, honor it by keeping things going, and progressing.

I can't remember yesterday let alone 20 years ago. But I was 19 so we are the same age:)

Zebra3

It was signed at about 4am so I was probably in bed.

kneemos

Nobody cares about the Nordies.

zapitastas

The north is largely unrecognisable from the place it was 20 years ago, from the physical infrastructure that divided the two parts of the island to the gross sectarianism that prevaded life in many ways. There are still a lot of unsolved issues but life is a hell of a lot better and interaction between members of the different communities continues to improve. We were always just one dodgy decision or incident ny the British government to send things backwards though and I fear we are about to be dragged back in time. The only long term viable solution for the island will be the removal of the border

Grayson

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Hopefully today's governments can get their acts together, and one hopefully remember the work of their predecessors, and two, honor it by keeping things going, and progressing.

I can't remember the actual agreement. I do remember when a ceasefire was declared.
I have stronger memories of the bombings. I remember Omagh, Canary Wharf, Manchester, Warrington and as far back as Enniskillen.

I know the Irish government are committed. I'm hoping the Uk don't throw it away for the sake of brexit.

TheValeyard

kneemos wrote: »

Nobody cares about the Nordies.

maccored

its prob worse now I'd say. Well, not quite, but very much as divided now as it was then. The Peace treaty needs attention and now isnt the time to think the north is sorted, and to let it be as there's 'peace'. Its a time bomb, pardon the pun. Brexit is really going to show the cracks. I was 29 and living in the south for about a decade then

rgodard80a

kneemos wrote: »

Nobody cares about the Nordies.

Not since Aldi and Lidl started selling cheap booze.

Watching every bit of it on every channel, and hopping on to debates online and in MIRC Chat, ICQ and Virtual Irish Pub. Also enjoying Harris, Fanning, The Cruiser, Dudley Edwards and all the other nutjobs in Independent Newspapers going lula at what they termed the "pan nationalist front" as it became clear they (and John Bruton, Brian Hayes, Michael McDowell & Proinsias de Rossa) were on the wrong side of history after all their vilification campaigns against Hume and Adams.

Hume, Adams, Reynolds, Clinton, Kennedy-Smith, Bruce Morrison, Bill Flynn, Chuck Feeney, Niall O'Dowd, Peter King, Donald Keough and many others stand out from that period.

Class of 82

Involved in politics at the time. Felt like we were living through a truly historic time. Hard to believe how apathetic I am about the whole situation twenty years later.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Atlantic Dawn

Brexit will make it interesting, if there's no single market there will be a border and then it will all kick off, I'd expect some Easter European country will be tasked with policing the border.

Jimbob1977

It was ground-breaking.

The previous years were full of murder and controversy like Drumcree, Canary Wharf bombing, Arndale Shopping Centre bombing, Loughinisland and Greysteel etc.

For once, people had the chance to live a normal life. Like going out to a bar or restaurant without the fear of the place getting shot up.

It's amazing how the key parties of the SDLP and UUP were pushed to the fringe almost immediately after signing the accord.

Atlantic Dawn

Jimbob1977 wrote: »

It was ground-breaking.

The previous years were full of murder and controversy like Drumcree, Canary Wharf bombing, Arndale Shopping Centre bombing, Loughinisland and Greysteel etc.

For once, people had the chance to live a normal life. Like going out to a bar or restaurant without the fear of the place getting shot up.

It's amazing how the key parties of the SDLP and UUP were pushed to the fringe almost immediately after signing the accord.

As controversial as this will sound I think only for the Canary Wharf bombing there would be no peace today, it focused minds.

Choochtown

maccored wrote: »

its prob worse now I'd say. Well, not quite, but very much as divided now as it was then. The Peace treaty needs attention and now isnt the time to think the north is sorted, and to let it be as there's 'peace'. Its a time bomb, pardon the pun. Brexit is really going to show the cracks. I was 29 and living in the south for about a decade then

Whilst I mostly agree with the 2nd part of your statement that we can't be complacent and think that things are sorted, you are way way off the mark if you think that people are as divided now as they were 20 years ago.

I grew up in the North through the 70s and 80s and the change in society in the North, particularly in towns and cities is immense and that is mostly due to the GFA.

Class of 82

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

As controversial as this will sound I think only for the Canary Wharf bombing there would be no peace today, it focused minds.

And Manchester. No one will admit it but the IRA bombed the British to the negotiating table.

facehugger99

Class of 82 wrote: »

And Manchester. No one will admit it but the IRA bombed the British to the negotiating table.

So wrong it's funny

The IRA had been comprehensively defeated by the British Army and MI5 by the time of the GFA. Infiltrated by moles and spies. Out-thought and out-fought.

The GFA was the fig leaf to cover up the surrender of the IRA - Sunningdale for slow learners.

It took a quarter of a century and terrible loss of life to realise that terrorism would never provide a solution.

Jimbob1977

If there had been a mix-up with the warning for the Arndale bombing, the loss of life would have been catastrophic.

On YouTube, you can see the CCTV footage of the bomb. It was immense. Surely the biggest IRA bomb ever.

During Euro 1996 also. I think Germany were playing Russia that afternoon at Old Trafford.

Class of 82

facehugger99 wrote: »

So wrong it's funny

The IRA had been comprehensively defeated by the British Army and MI5 by the time of the GFA. Infiltrated by moles and spies. Out-thought and out-fought.

The GFA was the fig leaf to cover up the surrender of the IRA - Sunningdale for slow learners.

It took a quarter of a century and terrible loss of life to realise that terrorism would never provide a solution.

Sure. Bombs that size in a major English city did not look the work of a defeated outfit to me.

Hector Bellend

It was about 2 weeks before my 21st. I was probably **** furiously

Sunny Disposition

Was only a teenager but really interested in it, watched all the TV shows and read papers everyday about it.
Had never been to the north at that stage, think it was another ten years before I crossed the border. It just wasn't seen as an option this far south.
Have been loads of times since, from a visitors perspective a lot of the North is really divided, especially Belfast. Would be a bit worried that there will be a lot of potential for trouble as long as it is so divided.

maccored

Choochtown wrote: »

Whilst I mostly agree with the 2nd part of your statement that we can't be complacent and think that things are sorted, you are way way off the mark if you think that people are as divided now as they were 20 years ago.

I grew up in the North through the 70s and 80s and the change in society in the North, particularly in towns and cities is immense and that is mostly due to the GFA.

i grew up there too and its as bad now in the likes of omagh as it was in the 80s. as for the division - who are people voting for and what parties are being squeezed out? Exactly.

Chrongen

Mint Sauce wrote: »

I was 19 years old. Growing up in London, to Irish parents, was one exposed to the terror campaigns in mainland Britain, and two in my regular summer long visits, and occasional easter, and Christmas ones here, Especially since had family on both sides of the border we were well used to random Army, and RUC checkpoints, soldiers, helicopters, etc, when traveling through the North, and Customs and Garda checkpoints once crossing back into the Free State, The South, RoI, depending on the family member you were traveling with. Then there was the sudden cancellations of visits to places such as Derry or Enniskillen, or looking for alternatives routes if traveling back to Belfast Airport or the Docks.

Now, it's so much better, peace is evident, and progression is also continuing. Unfortunately though the continued failures to restore power sharing in Stormont, the continued bickering of parties in the North, and the failure to have a response to Brexit, I would have a concern, that the work of all 20 years ago could be unraveled.

As for where I was. We were preparing to move here from London, and were traveling on the overnight coach from London to Dublin, listening to continuing updates on the BBC Radio and Talk Radio UK, with the fear that the midnight deadline for talks would be missed, but they thankfully continued. Sky News was being played on every screen on the ferry, with most watching it. Then the news that the agreement had been made, and then the Irish response, and view compared to the British one, on Irish Radio on the journey to Donegal, and RTE that afternoon.

Hopefully today's governments can get their acts together, and one hopefully remember the work of their predecessors, and two, honor it by keeping things going, and progressing.

Had an acquaintance from both sides of the "sectarian divide" shot dead.
Snogged an absolute babe from Derry (Taig) in New York.
Snogged another stunner (proddie) at the Oktoberfest.

Got hit in the mouth by a squadie in Belfast and called a terrorist scumbag in Islington when they heard my accent.

Tough shout for a Muslim these days.

I still adore Nordie girls and English lads are mostly sound.
Hate cnuts with guns who can't spell their own names though.

end of the road

facehugger99 wrote: »

So wrong it's funny

The IRA had been comprehensively defeated by the British Army and MI5 by the time of the GFA. Infiltrated by moles and spies. Out-thought and out-fought.

The GFA was the fig leaf to cover up the surrender of the IRA - Sunningdale for slow learners.

It took a quarter of a century and terrible loss of life to realise that terrorism would never provide a solution.

the BA and MI5 actually failed to defeat the ira. the ira always had some moals and spies right from the very start, that was just the name of the game. they forced the british to a stalemate, and did not surrender.
the troubles were regretible, no question of that, and they didn't need to happen, and wouldn't have had britain engaged with those who wanted to solve the issues peacefully. but the brutal reality is that it was ultimately the IRA campaign that brought the solution, because britain had made it clear it was not going to engage with those who wanted to bring about a solution via peaceful means. if bloody sunday didn't make that clear to anyone, then of course nothing will, but that is their issue.
john major's government and later blair's government, along with the irish counterparts realised that things had to change, and change they did. all involved negotiated especially later on, and eventually we got the ultimate agreement that is the GFA.
the GFA was the deal that allowed northern ireland to modernise. it was the deal that finally finished the sectarian statelet for good. it was the deal that allowed the future of northern ireland to be decided by the people. it was the deal that Sunningdale could and should have been, instead of the failure it was. it was the deal that brought peace to the north. it was the deal that will mean future generations will grow up not knowing bombs, guns, and mass-violence, and state sanctioned sectarian bigotry from the RUC who were thankfully disbanded, and the BA who were sent either home or back to their barracs. and for that we can all be greatful.
but make no mistake about it, the IRA could have and would have kept their campaign going had the GFA not offered the solution. we can thank all involved that it was the solution and the campaign ended and the weapons were destroyed. yesterday 20 years ago was a great day. let us hope that certain interests won't undo the good work, no good will come from it.

Choochtown

maccored wrote: »

i grew up there too and its as bad now in the likes of omagh as it was in the 80s. as for the division - who are people voting for and what parties are being squeezed out? Exactly.

... except in the 80s lots of people were being murdered.

I think its safe to say today things are much much better.

I agree that politically it is still a very divided society but a 25 year old today is not separated from half of the population in any way like a 25 year old in the 80s was.