A great day in modern Irish History...

I am just home and saw on the RTE website that the IRA have released a unilateral statement putting an end, unequivocally, to the armed struggle. They are putting down arms, will total decommisioning of arms, with priests as witnesses, as of 4pm today (Irish time). This is a massive and immensely positive move by the IRA. I fully welcome this statement and now only wish that the Loyalists will follow suit and show the same acceptance that the Good Friday Agreement must be fully implemented. With Loyalists still carrying arms around neighbourhoods (not allowing the residents to order take out pizza or chinese due to the threat of murder...please) it seems highly unlikely. Still, the suspicious Unionists will deny, what I feel is a genuine statement, the intent of the IRA. Both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have done great work behind the scences to persuade the Army Council to lay down arms and follow a peaceful route. Paisley, the DUP and the DPP must act on this and push the Agreement forward now to their people, to bring total peace to the North. It's up to them now, to co-oprerate with the Irish and British Governments to cement the peace process. I know some of you back home will not trust the statement and think that I am blinkered by the "cause" and by Gerry Adams, but we must put our faith in this. It MUST work and it WILL bring peace to the North for the first time in 40 years.

Tony Blair has yet to make a statement but is quoted as saying that it is a step of "unparalleled magntitude". Some Unionists, namely Paisley who met Hain this morning, are outraged by the release by the British Government of Sean Kelly (Shankill bomber) under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, on the premise that the statement would be a positive move by the IRA. It is...

Bertie hasn't said anything yet from what I can gather (still can't listen to RTE Radio live for some reason, only recorded shows) but I am interested in hearing what he has to say. No doubt he'll have been well informed. Here's to a peaceful Ireland...

For those of you who haven't read it, here is the full text of IRA statement:

"The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.

The IRA leadership has also authorised a representative to engage with the IICD to complete the process to verifiably put its arms beyond use in a way which will further enhance public confidence and to conclude this as quickly as possible. We have invited two independent witnesses, from the Protestant and catholic churches, to testify to this.


The Army Council took these decisions following an unprecedented internal discussion and consultation process with IRA units and volunteers. We appreciate the honest and forthright way in which the consultation process was carried out and the depth and content of the submissions. We are proud of the comradely way in which this truly historic discussion was conducted.

The outcome of our consultations show very strong support among IRA volunteers for the Sinn Fein peace strategy. There is also widespread concern about the failure of the two governments and the unionists to fully engage in the peace process. This has created real difficulties. The overwhelming majority of people in Ireland fully support this process.

They and friends of Irish unity through the world want to see the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Notwithstanding these difficulties, our decisions have been taken to advance our republican and democratic objectives, including our goal of a united Ireland. We believe there is now an alternative way to achieve this and to end British rule in our country.

It is the responsibility of all volunteers to show leadership, determination and courage. We are very mindful of the sacrifices of our patriotic dead, those who went to jail, volunteers, their families and the wider republican base. We reiterate our view that the armed struggle was entirely legitimate. We are conscious that many people suffered in the conflict. There is a compelling imperative on all sides to build a just and lasting peace.

The issue of the defence of nationalist and republican communities has been raised with us. There is a responsibility on society to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of the pogroms of 1969 and the early-1970s. There is also a universal responsibility to tackle sectarianism in all its forms. The IRA is fully committed to the goals of Irish unity and independence and to building the Republic outlined in the 1916 Proclamation.

We call for maximum unity and effort by Irish republicans everywhere. We are confident that by working together Irish republicans can achieve our objectives. Every volunteer is aware of the import of the decisions we have taken and all oglaigh are compelled to fully comply with these orders.

There is now an unprecedented opportunity to utilise the considerable energy and goodwill which there is for the peace process. This comprehensive series of unparalleled initiatives is our contribution to this and to the continued endeavours to bring about independence and unity for the people of Ireland.

P O'Neill."

When the IRA called a ceasefire in 1994 I was at the top of the Sears Tower (?) in Boston, in some guys office looking out on Boston Harbour. Now, 11 years later, I am sitting in a shoe box in Osaka, Japan on the other side of the world when they announce an end of the armed struggle. I am confidnet that this time I won't have to recall where I was when the IRA took up the armed struggle again....