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The two Chiefs have just arrived up at Stormont. The press coverage is quite amusing at the minute with every sort of clown getting airtime in order to claim the credit for bringing about this "historic" day. On RTE we have McDowell again proclaiming his republican credentials and "bigging up" (as they might say over on OWC) Liz O'Donnell. On BBC there's Brid acclaiming St John Hume and Tony Blair. Over on Slugger, it's Trimble getting the plaudits while on the Nolan show earlier it was Papa Doc.

Personally, I reckon it was the vision of John Hume, Martin Mansergh and Alec Reid that put it together with Gerry Adans putting most on the line to end the conflict with most of the unionists having been dragged along kicking and screaming by Mo Mowlam.

So who do you think deserves most credit?

Agree Donagh with your nominations. I would also give Blair grudging credit for sticking at it (along with  Bertie, but no one else from the 26 counties) as no other British Prime Minister would have done, in my opinion, and the late Mo Mowlam got the ball rolling as well. Find it hard to think of anyone on the unionist side (Trimble's nobel Peace Prize which bought him a house in London was a joke), worthy of credit, with the possible exception of the late David Ervine.

while i didnt give him the most credit Albert renynolds did by far the most from any individual point of view.it was his no nonsense business like attutude that really go the ball rolling while other were lettinng their dogmas hold them back . I gave my vote to the IRA as they have lost most out of the process and  they knew this would happen which makes it a very brave move on their behalf to accept english rule

Donagh also agree there with the nominations. The IRA also got my vote, they have showed great courage to take the road they have taken and tremedous recilence in the face of heel dragging and spanner throwing by th unionist/MI5 etc.

Hopefully we can now live side by side and develop this part of our island into a global united force

John Hume's model of the future is the one that will eventually result, even if it is largely being carried forward with his party. Mind you 
Margaret Ritchie seems to have taken the comments on the SDLP being boring to heart, she is dressed as if going to Woodstock!

Who was the tools protesting, they didn't  look to have any obvious signs of which side they were.

Fair enough list Donagh, I was torn between Hume, The IRA and Adams. Whilst Hume pretty much sacrificed his party for the better good, I agree with the posters above re: the IRA, but Gerry Adams got my vote as he brought the IRA to the table and got them to make many hard choices, whilst keeping a united front, during this Adams was also having to deal with an anti-Sinn Fein media and constant public heckling and opposition from a "pan unionist front", but most on that list deserve some kudos.

Quote from: Spiritof98 on May 08, 2007, 12:57:08 PM
Who was the tools protesting, they didn't  look to have any obvious signs of which side they were.

Anti-War demonstrators - there to protest at Blair and the war in Iraq.

no one
today copperfastens british rule in the occupied six counties

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on May 08, 2007, 01:01:15 PM

Quote from: Spiritof98 on May 08, 2007, 12:57:08 PM
Who was the tools protesting, they didn't  look to have any obvious signs of which side they were.

Anti-War demonstrators - there to protest at Blair and the war in Iraq.

Have just heard that "wee willie rat face frazer" is protesting at the gates of stormont as well!!!!

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on May 08, 2007, 01:40:13 PM

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on May 08, 2007, 01:01:15 PM

Quote from: Spiritof98 on May 08, 2007, 12:57:08 PM
Who was the tools protesting, they didn't  look to have any obvious signs of which side they were.

Anti-War demonstrators - there to protest at Blair and the war in Iraq.

Have just heard that "wee willie rat face frazer" is protesting at the gates of stormont as well!!!!

Probably huffing because he couldn't get elected.

Quote from: ziggysego on May 08, 2007, 02:38:08 PM

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on May 08, 2007, 01:40:13 PM

Quote from: Gaoth Dobhair Abu on May 08, 2007, 01:01:15 PM

Quote from: Spiritof98 on May 08, 2007, 12:57:08 PM
Who was the tools protesting, they didn't  look to have any obvious signs of which side they were.
[/quote

Anti-War demonstrators - there to protest at Blair and the war in Iraq.

Have just heard that "wee willie rat face frazer" is protesting at the gates of stormont as well!!!!

Probably huffing because he couldn't get elected.

Does he work?  I know hes not an elected politican, so where does the time / money come from ?

Sorry, Donagh - I agree broadly with your own nominees for credit, but how did the Irish Army get into your list of candidates for consideration? OK, they dismantled the odd bomb and the like, but they were hardly at the forefront of the peace process. More to the point, why have so many voted for them?

Bob "man of integrity" McCartney deserves credit for giving both sides something to laugh at.

It can only be John Hume. It's scary (but sadly not surprising) that some people are giving credit to the IRA.

John Hume and Alec Reid for having the balls and the foresight to get the whole thing kicked off

John Major. The power to impose a deal, which was what was needed between two groups incapable of splitting the difference, has always rested with the British government. Successive governments - not least Labour ones - have talked the talk but couldn't walk the walk when faced with rhetoric about dealing with terrorists (okay to talk to the Mau Maus but not to the Provos) or the Orange card. While periodically hampered by parliamentary arithmetic, Major was the first PM to behave as an honest broker between two warring parties.

Donagh.......what about Holly, 8 from Kent?

Quote from: Spiritof98 on May 08, 2007, 11:54:47 AM
Donagh also agree there with the nominations. The IRA also got my vote, they have showed great courage to take the road they have taken and tremedous recilence in the face of heel dragging and spanner throwing by th unionist/MI5 etc.

Hopefully we can now live side by side and develop this part of our island into a global united force

What did the IRA have to lose??  Do you think the lads enjoyed life on the run? 

 It's Hume by a mile for me. It is difficult to get two diametrically opposed groups together but it takes a very clever individual indeed to even get the ball rolling. 

Honourable mention to Reynolds, Major and in fairness Blair, Trimble and Ervine.

Canavan.

Don't be forgetting Bill Clinton and George Mitchell.

Quote from: SammyG on May 08, 2007, 05:54:21 PM
It can only be John Hume. It's scary (but sadly not surprising) that some people are giving credit to the IRA.

I voted for Hume but am saddened by the comment above. Like it or not samuel the face of politics in the north has changed since the IRA downed their weapons and I was  no fan of theirs but I admire greatly the decision they took and the net result of that decision is that there are thousands of people from both sides of the community walking around today in the north who would otherwise be dead, either killed in bomb blasts or shot dead by paramilitaries from either side, in short the decision the IRA  made was monumental and changed the landscape of the six counties for the better.

Do you feel it is ok to give credit to the UDR and RUC Sammy?  your richeous indignation hopefully extends to the british side of the struggle as well. :-\

Quote from: deiseach on May 08, 2007, 06:09:16 PM
John Major. The power to impose a deal, which was what was needed between two groups incapable of splitting the difference, has always rested with the British government. Successive governments - not least Labour ones - have talked the talk but couldn't walk the walk when faced with rhetoric about dealing with terrorists (okay to talk to the Mau Maus but not to the Provos) or the Orange card. While periodically hampered by parliamentary arithmetic, Major was the first PM to behave as an honest broker between two warring parties.

cant agree about major.

I recall the sense of disgust when he pulled the rug from under the peace movements feet

it was this action that finally woke up some southern pundits

eamonn dunphy most notably did a massive u turn based on the actions of major showing flamin eamon the error of his ways.

major - no way.

Awwww lads sure you's all know it was down to Bono!!

The final  "permanent" ceasefire decision by the IRA was the single biggest contribution to the process. Very little could have happened without that.

Not on the list but whenever I heard David Irvine speak I was optimistic about the process. I don't know if many listened to him but I'm glad he was around.

Quote from: stew on May 09, 2007, 02:15:55 AM

Quote from: SammyG on May 08, 2007, 05:54:21 PM
It can only be John Hume. It's scary (but sadly not surprising) that some people are giving credit to the IRA.

I voted for Hume but am saddened by the comment above. Like it or not samuel the face of politics in the north has changed since the IRA downed their weapons and I was  no fan of theirs but I admire greatly the decision they took and the net result of that decision is that there are thousands of people from both sides of the community walking around today in the north who would otherwise be dead, either killed in bomb blasts or shot dead by paramilitaries from either side, in short the decision the IRA  made was monumental and changed the landscape of the six counties for the better.

Do you feel it is ok to give credit to the UDR and RUC Sammy?  your richeous indignation hopefully extends to the british side of the struggle as well. :-\

WTF are you on about? What have the UDR or the RUC got to do with the peace process? The question was about who contributed most to the process, the IRA contributed fcuk all other than a few robberies to pay their pensions. The IRA/INLA/UDA/UVF/RHC are a bunch of gangsters, nothing more nothing less. The war is over (thank f**k) but they continue to be gangsters (pimping, extortion, smuggling, robberies etc etc) and probably always will.

I give credit to the IRA too.

Quote from: muppet on May 08, 2007, 11:15:40 PM
It's Hume by a mile for me. It is difficult to get two diametrically opposed groups together but it takes a very clever individual indeed to even get the ball rolling. 

Honourable mention to Reynolds, Major and in fairness Blair, Trimble and Ervine.

Jezuz muppet, you've managed to whitewash the contribution Republicans made too this process - thats some going!!!