Biography
Caoimhe Nic Dháibhéid – University of Sheffield
- Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Sheffield.
- Studied History and French at University College Cork, before undertaking an M.A. and Ph.D. at Queen’s University Belfast.
- 2009-10 Research Fellow at the Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University Belfast
- 2010-2012 Rutherford Research Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
- Researches in Irish history, in particular the Irish Revolution; political violence and terrorism since the nineteenth century; and the cultural history of the Irish Revolution, particularly the history of emotions.
Interpretation
When thinking about the key contributors who shaped the peace process at various points Bertie Ahern is absolutely crucial because he is a deal maker. He comes from a background of undertaking very effective trade union negotiations and is instinctively oriented towards outcomes and getting deals done. He understands the importance of making key concessions. In particular, the amending of articles two and three of the Irish Constitution, which removed the claim to Northern Ireland as part of its national territory is absolutely crucial. Making that concession at an early stage of the negotiations and getting the people of Ireland to agree to it was key to building unionist confidence because they saw there was a new relationship between North and South. A long-standing Unionist fear was that they were bordered by an aggressive state waiting to swamp them. So the changing of articles two and three seems to me to be an important turning point because it handed Trimble the commitment necessary for him to convince the unionists that Ireland was serious about change.
Task
Study each interpretation and summarise the key points made by the historian.
- What do they argue is the most important factor, individual or group?
- How did this contribute to the peace process and Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement?
- What challenges and obstacles had to be overcome?
- What evidence is given to support this interpretation?
- Does the historian’s biographical information help to explain their interpretation?
- From your own knowledge how convincing do you find this interpretation?
- What further evidence would you want to find in the documents to make the interpretation convincing?
- If you were to provide a one-word summary of this individual’s contribution, which of these would you choose, or can you think of a better word?
- Obstructive / Unhelpful / Marginal / Constructive / Helpful / Pragmatic / Visionary / Essential