Archbishop Eames News Today

Confidential minutes of talks between Tony Blair and the main church leaders in NI are released.

Extent of British discomfort at commemorating Irish Famine revealed John Major said 1996 service would look like an apology and offend unionists, files show Tue, Dec 29, 2020, 00:05 Éamon Phoenix, Mark Devenport Irish emigrants embarking for America at Waterloo Docks, Liverpoo...

John Major blocked Irish famine event over apology A typical rural Irish house in the 19th century Éamon Phoenix Former British Prime Minister John Major. Picture by Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire Proposals to mark the 150th anniversary of the Great Famine with an ecumenical service in Liverpool to coincide with President Mary Robinson’s first visit to the UK were vetoed in 1996 by Prime Minister John Major. Newly-released files show the service had been mooted for...

IRA wanted to freeze Sinn Fein out of talks with British about ending Troubles Newly released paper said the IRA leaderships least favoured approach to talks was to involve Sinn Fein figures Gerry Adams with Martin McGuinness (Image: PA) Never miss a thing from Belfast and beyond - sign up for FREE newsletter direct to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes...

peace talks The IRA wanted to freeze Sinn Fein out of backchannel talks with Brits about ending the Troubles, state papers reveal David Young Updated: 27 Dec 2020, 18:42 THE IRA wanted to freeze Sinn Fein out of proposed backchannel talks with the Brits about ending the Troubles, it can now be revealed. An internal Irish government communique reported that the IRA Army Council informed two prison chaplains in spring 1990 that it was prepared to enter exploratory discussions with the UK. 1 R...

The IRA did not want Sinn Fein involved in proposed back channel talks with the British about ending the Troubles. The message from a senior Irish official to colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been newly-released by the National Archives under the 30-year rule. The IRAs Army Council told two prison chaplains in the spring of 1990 that it was prepared to enter exploratory talks with the UK, according to the internal Irish government communique. The two chaplains at the Ma...