'I was pregnant with my third daughter' - Waterford MEP reflects on Good Friday Agreement

A Waterford MEP is reflecting on the signing of the Good Friday Agreement as colleagues in the European Parliament commemorated the peace accord this week.

Twenty five years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, MEPs held a ceremony and panel discussion in Brussels to remember the landmark event.

The Agreement, signed on April 10 1998 and voted through by referendum on May 22 of the same year, was approved by 94.3% of Waterford voters who agreed to accept the Agreement and amend the Irish Constitution.

The ceremony, co-organised by cross-party Irish MEPs, was attended by European Commission, Parliament and Council Presidents Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola and Charles Michel respectively.

MEP Grace O’Sullivan, Tommy Bowe, MEP Seán Kelly and MEP Ciarán Cuffe at the event.

Speaking from Brussels, O’Sullivan reflected on how the agreement has helped to shape politics both across Ireland and the EU.

She said, "During the lead up to the Good Friday Agreement, I was pregnant with my third daughter. I was aware that the outcome of the vote and the referendum would shape the Ireland that she, and my other children, grew up in. When the Good Friday Agreement was signed in April and passed by referendum later in May in 1998, it gave my daughters a chance to grow up in a post-war Ireland, in a country of peace.

"Having lived through the reality of having conflict dictate the lives of innocent civilians, and to see that transform into peace-building gives hope that transformative change can happen elsewhere.”

The Good Friday Agreement marked the end of a 30 year long period of violence in Northern Ireland. It created a pathway for peace and reconciliation, and the referendum saw one of the largest voter turnouts in the history of Northern Ireland at 81.1%.

The impact of such a historic agreement is still felt across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as the nations celebrate 25 years of peace and progress.

O'Sullivan concluded: "At a time of continued tension between London and Dublin following Brexit, it’s important to keep in mind that peace still takes work, even to this day.

"Earlier we heard strong words of support from the Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It is an important reminder that the EU has our back in building peace."