The Trouble With The Troubles and Good Friday Agreement

By 1998, the Troubles – the late 20th-century conflict in Northern Ireland that pitted Protestants loyal to the British Crown against Catholic nationalists who demanded a united Ireland free of English rule – were over. The Good Friday Agreement had been signed. Gerry Adams had completed his transformation from Irish Republican Army commander to polished politician and was even cooperating with firebrand loyalist preacher Ian Paisley. But the peace was as fragile as a Belleek teacup.