‘I am glad I was part of the Good Friday Agreement’

It is a historic day with the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement upon us.
For one Donegal man, Pat Doherty, it was the beginning of a road that, he believes, will eventually lead to a United Ireland.

The Carrigart native is as clear today as he was back on April 10, 1998, when it was signed that a United Ireland is the ultimate and only solution to the partition of this island.

The deal brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles.

It's fair to say that since then the agreement has touched on aspects of life in Donegal but especially in Northern Ireland - from the political institutions, such as the power-sharing government, to Brexit and how it operates in that part of the UK.

Mr Doherty, the only Donegal person at the talks, says throughout the negotiations an end to the partition of Ireland, an end to the Union with Britain, and the construction of a new national democracy, a new republic on the island of Ireland and reconciliation between Orange and Green was always their main goal.

Mr Doherty was not only vice-president of Sinn Féin but had a pivotal role when it came to dealing with the British and Irish Governments because the Unionists and at times members of the SDLP would not speak to them.

He was also responsible for briefing the party and the media on each and every step of the talks as well as direct responsibility for prisoners and their ultimate release.

"As things moved on you had to relate to all the parties but the biggest political issue at the time was the state of Unionism,” Mr Doherty said.

“It was all over the place with in-fighting.

“This is a huge pity because as we move forward to a United Ireland, people who now class themselves as Unionists will be part of that entity. That's a reality for them and a reality for us as well. You have to look at that in a very broad way and figure out what's required and deal with it."

The now 77-year-old former MLA and MP says he has thousands of stories from the days spent working on the agreement and the comings and going of the various party leaders and government ministers.

He added the loyalist parties the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) were always happy to talk when Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) or David Trimble's Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) were not anxious to play ball.

Mr Doherty said the Irish Government's civil servants were "extraordinarily able" when it came to the negotiations and certainly played a big part in the successful outcome of the talks

Mr Doherty was also high in his praise for Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Labour Party leader Tony Blair saying the chemistry they enjoyed and their straight-talking approach kept things moving at difficult times.

Pat Doherty with Gerry Adams  and Martin McGuinness

He said so many of the Sinn Féin party members played key roles throughout the discussions and with their help guided by the late Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams ensured negotiations were always moving forward.

He added the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland George Mitchell was also crucial and his straight talking provided the framework for discussions and more importantly progress at so many levels.

But the agreement is still moving too slowly he says.

"I would like to see it working faster, the human rights aspect of it developed as well as the economic improvements for the north-west, particularly the development of the A5. It's nothing short of an international disgrace the way Donegal, Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh have been neglected by both governments."

He says he hoped the anniversary and discussions around it will be a springboard for future development but is wary of the current state of the DUP.

"They have landed themselves in a contrary position but no matter how they ended up there they are there so how do they get out of it?"

But Mr Doherty has no doubt the reunification of Ireland is not far off.

"It is going to happen with dialogue and an understanding of Unionism, treating them properly and reassuring them they are going to be treated properly. It will not be the end of Unionist people it will be the end of Unionism."

Pat Doherty with Martin McGuinness

He is critical of the lack of work the Irish Government has put into getting ready for the event when it comes.

"I am glad I was part of the Good Friday Agreement process,” he says. “It was a unique experience. It's a nostalgic time looking back but I'm optimistically looking forward. there will be upsets, there will be challenges and ups and downs but Sinn Féin has come on extraordinarily well and it's looking good, north and south.

“Big projects take a long time but there's light at the end of this tunnel, and a big bright light it is too.”