Episode 6: Deadline Image

Episode 6: Deadline

2 March 2023 - 59 mins
Podcast Series As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern & The Good Friday Agreement

With little progress and many twists and turns along the way, the talks continued. Events were expedited, however, when the independent chair, Senator George Mitchell set a deadline of Easter for the conclusion of the talks. In this episode, Bertie Ahern recalls how the final few days leading up to the signing of The Good Friday Agreement unfolded. He recalls how he had to work through the night despite enduring his own personal tragedy on the final week, Unionist figures remember the last-minute walkouts and protests that attempted to derail the entire process and former US President Bill Clinton reveals why he intervened at the eleventh hour.

For more information, full interviews, and bon...

59 mins

Series Episodes

Extended Interview: Liz O'Donnell

Extended Interview: Liz O'Donnell

Liz O’Donnell was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Bertie Ahern’s newly formed coalition Government in 1997. In this extended interview, Liz explains to Bertie Ahern how she came to be involved in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement. She details her experience of the multi-party talks, the roadblocks along the way, and the lasting impact the Omagh Bombing had on her.

49 mins

26 April 2023 Finished

Extended Interview: Monica McWilliams

Extended Interview: Monica McWilliams

The Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition played a key role in the Good Friday Agreement negotiations. In this extended interview, Monica McWilliams tells Bertie Ahern how the party came into existence, her own personal loss as a result of the troubles and the misogyny the women in the room felt.

1 hour 4 mins

14 April 2023 Finished

Extended Interview: Peter Robinson

Extended Interview: Peter Robinson

There was one major party in Northern Ireland that did not participate in the multi-party talks that resulted in The Good Friday Agreement. The DUP, led at the time by Ian Paisley, refused to engage in the negotiations and campaigned for a 'No' vote in the referendum that followed. Peter Robinson, who took over as leader of the party and served as First Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2008 until 2016. explains to Bertie why the party stayed out of the talks, why he regrets not engaging with Sinn Féin sooner and what aspects of the agreement he thinks have been a success.

43 mins

6 April 2023 Finished

Extended Interview: George Mitchell

Extended Interview: George Mitchell

Senator George Mitchell was the independent chair of the talks. This is the full conversation between Senator Mitchell and Bertie Ahern, in which they discuss how George came to be involved in the politics of Northern Ireland, the challenge of managing the big personalities in the room, and the legacy of the Good Friday Agreement.

1 hour 8 mins

4 April 2023 Finished

Episode 9: Legacy

Episode 9: Legacy

In this final episode, Bertie Ahern looks at how the agreement has served the people of Ireland over the past quarter of a century, analyses the challenges that have been posed by Brexit, and asks what the future holds for the generations to come. For more information, full interviews, and bonus material head to Newstalk.com/GoodFridayAgreement.

1 hour

9 March 2023 Finished

Episode 8: The American Influence

Episode 8: The American Influence

Throughout the peace process of the 1990s, US President Bill Clinton played a key role in steadying the nerves of the parties and helping to get the deal across the line. In this episode, Bertie Ahern reunites with President Clinton to hear why he became so invested in securing peace in Northern Ireland, the impact the bombing of Omagh had on him, and how the island of Ireland has set the standard globally for what a peace deal can achieve. For more information, full interviews, and bonus material head to Newstalk.com/GoodFridayAgreement.

39 mins

9 March 2023 Finished

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