Tag Archives: good friday agreement

It Was Twenty Years Ago Today…

Posted on April 10, 2018 by fitzjameshorse

…that the Good Friday Agreement was signed. 10th April 1998. It seems like yesterday but it is actually closer to one third of my life. Good Friday just happened to be the day that it was signed. There were intense … Continue reading →

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(Cr)Ash Wednesday

Posted on February 14, 2018 by fitzjameshorse

So…the Talks have collapsed. The Blame Game begins. No matter what the public statements say, the real debate…the real rancour is within parties. Spokespersons who are put forward (like Simon Hamilton of DUP) are essentially safe pairs of hands. BREXIT … Continue reading →

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Joint Authority Or Direct Rule?

Posted on January 12, 2017 by fitzjameshorse

It is strange that any upcoming election will focus on two rival Plan Bs rather than the alleged purpose…electing a power-sharing Executive for Norn Iron. The Good Friday Agreement is a failure. Whether it deserves to fail…thats a different question. … Continue reading →

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Peace Without Dignity?

Posted on December 13, 2016 by fitzjameshorse

Yes I voted for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998…more than 90 per cent of nationalists did so and more than 50 per cent of unionists did so. It is a simple enough balance sheet. It ended violence. That is … Continue reading →

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Confidence Building Measures For Nationalists

Posted on May 7, 2016 by fitzjameshorse

If you were the last German soldier to be mortally wounded in Berlin in April 1945, you might think it wasnt worthwhile. Conversely if you were the last Russian soldier to be mortally wounded, you might think it was at … Continue reading →

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Stormont Cannot Survive

Posted on March 5, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

I really do wonder if the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 can survive. Arguably it has been so undermined by inaction (Victims, Irish Language, Bill of Rights) or the way that the Irish and British governments withdrew support from the … Continue reading →

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Malachi O’Doherty And The Royal “We”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by fitzjameshorse

What exactly is the Good Friday Agreement and Parity of Esteem? We were told that nobody won and nobody lost. We are all entitled to our Identity….British, Irish and I understand those terms….and “Northern Irish” (no I dont know what … Continue reading →

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I Welcome The Haass “Failure”

Posted on January 2, 2014 by fitzjameshorse

For about an hour on Monday, it seemed quite possible that the Haass Talks would “succeed”. I dont know how Success and Failure is measured but I welcome the “Failure”. Indeed I dont even think they were intended to succeed. … Continue reading →

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Good Friday Agreement…Fifteen Years On (SDLP Conference)

Posted on May 26, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

It is somewhat inevitable that an event organised by SDLP to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement will focus on the fact that the opportunies presented by the Agreement have been wasted. The Agreement is an article … Continue reading →

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Quotes Of The Night.

Posted on May 24, 2013 by fitzjameshorse

I am only home from a SDLP organised discussion on the “Good Friday Agreement….15 Years On”. I will be blogging about this tomorrow. It is after midnight and my head is still buzzing from the tour de force that is … Continue reading →

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