Manchester University Press
9 Two balls of roasted snow
Abstract
The influence of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) suggested the party's strengthened position in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. John Hume's secret discussions with Gerry Adams aimed at bringing an end to the Irish Republican Army (IRA)'s campaign of violence, and at drawing republicans into the political process. The Downing Street Declaration (DSD) was directed towards the same end as the Hume-Adams talks, namely an IRA ceasefire. In the DSD, the British government studiously avoided any commitment to becoming persuaders for Irish unity. The ‘Americans for a New Irish Agenda’ were supportive of Sinn Féin rather than the SDLP, and pushed one idea in particular: that Adams be given a visa allowing him to visit the US. The TUAS document clearly signalled a significant change in republican strategy. The IRA ceasefire of August 1994 is finally explored.
Abstract
The influence of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) suggested the party's strengthened position in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. John Hume's secret discussions with Gerry Adams aimed at bringing an end to the Irish Republican Army (IRA)'s campaign of violence, and at drawing republicans into the political process. The Downing Street Declaration (DSD) was directed towards the same end as the Hume-Adams talks, namely an IRA ceasefire. In the DSD, the British government studiously avoided any commitment to becoming persuaders for Irish unity. The ‘Americans for a New Irish Agenda’ were supportive of Sinn Féin rather than the SDLP, and pushed one idea in particular: that Adams be given a visa allowing him to visit the US. The TUAS document clearly signalled a significant change in republican strategy. The IRA ceasefire of August 1994 is finally explored.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Note on terminology xi
- List of abbreviations xiii
- Preface xv
- Introduction 1
- 1 You can’t eat a flag 7
- 2 A united Ireland or nothing 19
- 3 Dublin is just a Sunningdale away 39
- 4 The two traditions 65
- 5 An agreed Ireland 81
- 6 Internationalising the conflict 105
- 7 The totality of relationships 115
- 8 No selfish strategic or economic interest 137
- 9 Two balls of roasted snow 151
- 10 Sunningdale for slow learners 175
- 11 A new Ireland in a new Europe 193
- Conclusions 213
- Bibliography 239
- Index 251
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Note on terminology xi
- List of abbreviations xiii
- Preface xv
- Introduction 1
- 1 You can’t eat a flag 7
- 2 A united Ireland or nothing 19
- 3 Dublin is just a Sunningdale away 39
- 4 The two traditions 65
- 5 An agreed Ireland 81
- 6 Internationalising the conflict 105
- 7 The totality of relationships 115
- 8 No selfish strategic or economic interest 137
- 9 Two balls of roasted snow 151
- 10 Sunningdale for slow learners 175
- 11 A new Ireland in a new Europe 193
- Conclusions 213
- Bibliography 239
- Index 251
