Has died He will be missed by everyone in the north, even loyalists and unionists though they may deny even the idea of it.
His death casts a shadow over the struggling peace process and perhaps over the most senior of his colleagues. From now on Gerry Adams is isolated. I hope Thomas Murphy is either free or will be released. Now is not a time for the remaining peacemakers to be incarcerated.
Below is a short post I wrote when Martin McGuinness retired I meant it then and now.
The people of Derry/LondonDerry have lost someone who loved them most.
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Martin McGuinness Has retired. He will not stand in the forthcoming Stormont election. He will no longer lead Sinn Fein in the north of Ireland. Whatever people think of Martin McGuinness I for example am not a supporter his leadership in Stormont has been helpful, discreet and as far as I know more bipartisan than DUP and Unionists.
Make no mistake Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams and to his often unacknowledged credit Tom Murphy took considerable risks to bring peace to the north, and in spite of some dissidents that peace has held. John Hume is greatly respected for his part in the peace process McGuinness, Adams and Murphy not so much, but those three brought the IRA with them and no one else could have done that.
Have the three big names changed? I doubt it they are as republican now as they have always been but they learned and then taught others to represent it better they paved the way for a successful all Ireland Sinn Fein.
I should say I remember a much younger McGuinness, bright, cold, stubborn and sharp but never defensive he was not and is not ashamed of his past or the past of the IRA and that too applies to Gerry Adams and Tom Murphy.
I like so many absolutely hate the violence of their past, the intimidation of local people, the punishment beatings and the eviction of people from their homes and families but all of us have to come to terms with what was and if we want peace accept the willingness of others to be peaceful.
I can't think of anyone else who could have reached out to and been on friendly terms with Ian Paisley.
I wish Martin McGuinness a long, happy and healthy retirement. Now is not the time to discuss successors.
His death casts a shadow over the struggling peace process and perhaps over the most senior of his colleagues. From now on Gerry Adams is isolated. I hope Thomas Murphy is either free or will be released. Now is not a time for the remaining peacemakers to be incarcerated.
Below is a short post I wrote when Martin McGuinness retired I meant it then and now.
The people of Derry/LondonDerry have lost someone who loved them most.
-----
Martin McGuinness Has retired. He will not stand in the forthcoming Stormont election. He will no longer lead Sinn Fein in the north of Ireland. Whatever people think of Martin McGuinness I for example am not a supporter his leadership in Stormont has been helpful, discreet and as far as I know more bipartisan than DUP and Unionists.
Make no mistake Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams and to his often unacknowledged credit Tom Murphy took considerable risks to bring peace to the north, and in spite of some dissidents that peace has held. John Hume is greatly respected for his part in the peace process McGuinness, Adams and Murphy not so much, but those three brought the IRA with them and no one else could have done that.
Have the three big names changed? I doubt it they are as republican now as they have always been but they learned and then taught others to represent it better they paved the way for a successful all Ireland Sinn Fein.
I should say I remember a much younger McGuinness, bright, cold, stubborn and sharp but never defensive he was not and is not ashamed of his past or the past of the IRA and that too applies to Gerry Adams and Tom Murphy.
I like so many absolutely hate the violence of their past, the intimidation of local people, the punishment beatings and the eviction of people from their homes and families but all of us have to come to terms with what was and if we want peace accept the willingness of others to be peaceful.
I can't think of anyone else who could have reached out to and been on friendly terms with Ian Paisley.
I wish Martin McGuinness a long, happy and healthy retirement. Now is not the time to discuss successors.
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