An Irish Journal

by Gerry Adams

The views and insights of the leader of Irish Republicanism in a wide-ranging collection of articles. A unique insight into recent Irish politics, this new book covers the crucial period between mid-1997 and the end of 2000. Consisting of selected articles from his regular column in the New York newspaper, The Irish Voice, these writings provide not only a revealing chronicle of the peace process but also an insight into his private life, and some surprisingly light and humorous moments. His reports on the struggle for peace possess a remarkable immediacy, written as they were in the midst of momentous events. From the long Unionist refusal to talk to Republicans, through the tortuous negotiations of the Good Friday agreement, to the suspension of the Executive and other crises, Gerry Adams gives an absorbing first-hand account.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Gerard "Gerry" Adams, MLA, MP (Irish: Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh; born 6 October 1948) is an Irish republican politician and abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the political party at the top of the latest North of Ireland election polls amidst a three-way split in the traditionally dominant unionist vote. Sinn Féin is the second largest party in the Northern Assembly.

From the late 1980s onwards, Adams has been an important figure in Ireland's peace process, initially following contact by the then Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader John Hume and subsequently with the Irish and British governments and then other parties. In 2005, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) indicated that its armed campaign was over and that it is now exclusively committed to democratic politics. Under Adams, Sinn Féin changed its traditional policy of abstentionism towards Oireachtas Éireann, the parliament of Ireland, in 1986 and later took seats in the power-sharing Northern Assembly. However, Sinn Féin retains a policy of abstentionism towards the Westminster Parliament.

Reviews

[Ryan O'Malley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays which detail the peace process from the perspective of one of the key figures. Adams stresses the need for reconciliation to end conflict and not seeing others as enemies. I also appreciated the fun non political essays throughout.