i'm joined now by freya mcclements, northern editor at the irish times.ast during the troubles. can you tell us what it was like for you? the troubles. can you tell us what it was like for you?— troubles. can you tell us what it was like for you? the way to sum it u - , was like for you? the way to sum it u, it is was like for you? the way to sum it up. it is very _ was like for you? the way to sum it up, it is very similar— was like for you? the way to sum it up, it is very similar to _ was like for you? the way to sum it up, it is very similar to what - was like for you? the way to sum it up, it is very similar to what your. up, it is very similar to what your corresponded outline, it isjust completely different. i grew up in a rural village in county derry. even though we were not in the heart of the city and the heart of the trouble is things like checkpoints and bombings, my own family's business was blown up in a bomb when i was 11, things like this were just part of everyday and it sounds strange and awful when you think back, but things like killi

irish roots with great pride and affection, especially your ancestors who love the may all. and the story of ireland is inextricably linked to immigration, and in many ways, you personify it from the famine times through to day. so many people left the shores in search of a better life in the united states. and a remarkable, 33, maybe 34000000 americans now claim irish ancestry. the signatories of the 1916 proclamation said that this very republic came into being with the support and i called of it's exiled children in america. and how true that was done. so the years are exiled, supported ireland, economically and politically, and never forgot the families they left behind all through your political careers. are you to have been a faithful and supportive friend of ireland? you have been there to court the well known song in sunshine are in shadow. so on this historic occasion, your homecoming, we warmly welcome you back to your roots from the bottom of our hearts. we thank you for all you have done and continue to do for us. here in ireland, the ireland you're visiting this week is a multi cultural progressive nation, benefiting enormously from an inflow of immigrants who have arrived on our

the idea was, i later learned from the irish times they did a little background check. and my good friend, brock obama is my good friend. his grandfather was a shoemaker like mine, sailed 5 weeks earlier from the same port, the idea they both sale for a new life and thought their grand showed their great, great grandsons would both be president, i think is really a little bit of irish malarky tomorrow. also revisit county, may i remember the history and hope in the heartbreak, my blue ancestors must have felt leaving their beloved homeland to begin a new lives in america. i sell this not to wax poetic about bygone days. but because of the story of my family's journey and those who left and those who stayed is emblematic of the stories of so many irish and american families, not just irish american families. and these stories are the very heart of what bind ireland american together. they speak to a history defined by our dreams. they speak to a present written by our shared responsibility. and i speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. so today i'd l

— was, i later learned from the irish times that — was, i later learned from the irish times that begin a _ leaving their beloved homeland to begin a new life in america. i say all this— begin a new life in america. i say all this not— begin a new life in america. i say all this not to wax poetic about bygone — all this not to wax poetic about bygone days but because of the story of my— bygone days but because of the story of my family's journey and those who left and _ of my family's journey and those who left and those who stayed is emblematic of the stories so many irish emblematic of the stories so many irish and _ emblematic of the stories so many irish and american families, not 'ust irish and american families, not just irish—american families. these

up thinking in sectarian divides. >> joining us now, finta o'toole, columnist and write for the irish timeses, personal history of modern ireland. and fintan o'toole, for us it' pretty surprising that a kid could now grew up in belfast and get all the way to hig school before wondering what's the difference between a protestant and catholic. and when i heard that question today i thought, oh, there is question, there is a questio for o'toole tonight. let's see if he can explai that one to america. >> well, you know, lawrence, i is wonderful to think that tha might be a question. because of course, for so long these identities were just s tribally opposed, that eac side thought of itself as bein not the other. they did not really think abou who they were themselves - they thought, oh, we are not those guys and that's a terrible way to think about yourself the difference, of course, and you hinted at this earlier, is this fusion of religion an politics it's never really abou religion as such but you know, it's ver interesting talking -- watching you talk to the senator just before the brea th

we are live to fenton o'toole, journalist at the irish times.nk you for joining us this evening. can i ask you to take us back 25 years? it is such a momentous anniversary this weekend. what are your memories? what do you remember about how it played t? >> the overwhelming sense of tension, it is easy in retrospect to think of course the deal was always going to be done, but it did not feel like it at the time. the stars seem to be ning. you had an involved and engaged american administration with bill clinton. you had tony blair in his prime. you had a skilled negotiator in the irish republic. critically, you have the ira through sinn fein seeming to be willing to da deal. that did not mean a deal was going to be done. as mark simpson was just saying, it is very complex. you had to balance so many different factors, different interests between britain and ireland, the two parts of ireland, and within northern ireland itself. we really do need, in spite of all the qualifications and difficulties with the agreement, to look back and recognize tha

learned from the irish times that did some background checks, — times that did some background checks good friend barack 0bama, his grandfather was a shoemaker like mine, _ his grandfather was a shoemaker like mine, sailed five weeks earlier from the same _ mine, sailed five weeks earlier from the same port. the idea they both sailed _ the same port. the idea they both sailed for— the same port. the idea they both sailed for a — the same port. the idea they both sailed for a new life and thought their_ sailed for a new life and thought their grandchildren, great, great grandsons would be both be presidents, i think is bit of irish malarkev — applause. tomorrow i will also visit county— applause. tomorrow i will also visit county mayo and remember the heartbreak my ancestors must've felt leaving _ heartbreak my ancestors must've felt leaving their beloved homeland to begin— leaving their beloved homeland to begin a _ leaving their beloved homeland to begin a new life in america. i say all this_ begin a new life in america. i say all this not— begin a new life in america. i say all this

the idea was, i later learned from the irish times, they did a background check, barack obama's grandfatheras a shoemaker like mine and sailed five weeks earlier from the same port. the idea that they both sailed for a new life and thought their great great grandsons would be president [applause] pres. biden: tomorrow i will also revisit the county and remember the heartbreak my ancestors felt. i say this not to waxed poetic about bygone days, but because of the story of my family's journey. those who left, those who stayed it's emblematic of so many irish and american families. these stories are the very heart of what binds ireland and america together. they speak to the history defined by our dreams. they speak to a present and future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. today, i would like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between ireland and the united states. a partnership for the ages. our shared history dating back to the founding of the united states. the irish that helped kindle the liberty in our country and fired the revolutionary spirit. the irish bloo

irish roots with great pride and affection, especially your ancestors from lou and mayo. and the story of ireland is inextricably linked to emigration and in many ways, you personify it from the famine times through today. so many people left these shores in search of a better life in the united states and a remarkable 33 maybe 34 million americans now claim irish ancestry. the signatories of the 1916 proclamation said that this very republic came into being with the support and i quote of its exiled children in america and how true that was. down through the years, our exiles supported ireland economically and politically and never forgot the families they left behind all through your political career, sir, you too have been a faithful and supportive friend of ireland. you have been there to quote the well known so in sunshine or in shadow. so on this historic occasion, your homecoming. we warmly welcome you back to your roots from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for all you have done and continue to do for us here in ireland. the ireland you're visiting this week is a multicultural progressive nation benefiting enormously from an inflow of immigrants who have arrived on our shore

live now to the northern editor at the irish times, freya mcclements.t pictures with the us president. it just underlines the just underlines the relationship _ just underlines the just underlines the relationship with _ just underlines the just underlines the relationship with us _ just underlines the just underlines i the relationship with us presidents. joe biden_ the relationship with us presidents. joe biden filing _ the relationship with us presidents. joe biden filing a _ the relationship with us presidents. joe biden filing a long _ the relationship with us presidents. joe biden filing a long line - the relationship with us presidents. joe biden filing a long line of- joe biden filing a long line of presidents that stretch right back to the visit ofjohn f. kennedy which people still talk about. with fondness and i suppose you can argue that the pylorus are gracious between joe that the pylorus are gracious betweenjoe biden and john f. kennedy because they both have such a connection with ireland because of their irish roots. the motivation behin

fein leading out leading the opposition and many think they could well be leaving the irish government for the first timement where most of the parties in the irish parliament are coming togetherfor a moment parties in the irish parliament are coming together for a moment of national unity, as it were to listen to president biden�*5 addre55. national unity, as it were to listen to president biden�*5 address. to to president biden's address. to interrupt you briefly as you did such a brilliantjob of explaining the history behind the pictures that we are seeing. i should say to viewers that arejoining we are seeing. i should say to viewers that are joining us that you're watching on bbc news president biden has arrived to the irish parliament. his cavalcade iri5h parliament. his cavalcade arrived around 1015 minutes ago and he is meeting and greeting people behind the scenes and we do expect him very shortly to arrive into the chamber. and to give this address. a5 chamber. and to give this address. as we've been talking about, and address that only three other us presidents have given. it is a really signi

seen him arrive at farmleigh house in dublin for a meeting with the irish prime minister — leo varadkar. just before that, he spent timethe irish president, micheal d higgins. while there, he planted an oak tree in the grounds and rang the bell of peace. that bell of course, has huge significance for peace on the island of ireland. it was erected in 2008 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the good friday agreement. mr biden also inspected a military guard of honour, and signed the visitors' book. he told reporters what he wrote... as the irish saying goes, "your feet will bring you where your heart is." and then i say, "it is an honour to return." i talk about returning to the home of my ancestors, to celebrate the things that bind ireland and the united states, peace, equity, and i think the most irish of words used in my family was dignity. anyway, thank you all very much. i'm not going home, i'm staying here in this incredible place. all you american reporters, it is just like the white house, right? thank you. later this afternoon, mr biden will become the fourth us president to address a joint sitting of irel

i wasn't going to say this, but i'll say it anyway, the idea was i later learned, from the irish timesod friend, his grandfather was a shoe maker like mine, sailed five weeks earlier from the same port. the idea they both sailed for a new life and thought their great, great

but as mark was talking about, return visits, exploring those irish roots that you heard him reference in his speech, so many different timesow irish peace is so important to the broader us public. as we see, the broader us public. as we see, the president's plainjust arch its way around, as mark was saying, we are going to see a visit to county mayo. the president as he explores and makes more contact with some of those families he has already met several times before, back in 2016 he made a visit. some of those families at the white house only last month. those are the pictures live from dublin. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. birkenhead park has always been at the heart of the community. from royal visits to rugby games. and today it's in the running to be a unesco world heritage site. birkenhead park was the world's first publicly funded park. it opened its gates in 1847, and since then has become the blueprint for green spaces around the world, most famously for new york's central park. and today, this green space welcomes around 2 million visitors every year. we do get visitors coming from all ov

i wasn't going to say this, but i'll say it anyway, the idea was i later learned, from the irish times, they did a little background check, and my good friend barack obama, and he is my good friend, his grandfather was a shoe maker like mine, sailed five weeks earlier from the same port. the idea they both sailed for a new life and thought their great, great grandsons would both be president i think is really a little bit ofirish malarkey [ applause ] >> the history and hope and the heartbreak my ancestors must have felt leaving their beloved homeland to gain new life in america. i said all this not to wax poetic about bygone days, but because of the story of my family's journey and those who left and those who stayed is emblematic of the stories of so many irish and american families, not just irish-american families. and these stories are the very heart of what binds ireland and america together they speak to a history defined by our dreams. they speak to a present written by our shared responsibility, and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. so today i'd

in the irish times headline is write, the county is mad for the president.ou have seen so far? >> reporter: well, chris, just about 175 years ago a schumaker by the name of owen finnegan left to the united states in search of a better life. today his great, great grandson returned here as the president of the united states president biden is the 8th american president to come here to ireland, but by some genealogists standards, he's among the most irish to do so. ten of his 16 great great grandparents were from here in ireland, and that's really the story that president biden is tracing here we're in downtown dundalk, the motorcade just passed us in the last few minutes as president biden spent time out shaking hands on the streets, went into a local restaurant we expect to hear him make some informal remarks at a pub nearby here where he's going to be joined by his fifth cousin once removed, rob carney a big rugby star in ireland. this is as president biden put it earlier today, like coming home he earlier today was able to tour a castle not far from here.

course, the good friday agreement provides the pathway towards constitutional, tmj, for the 1st time in irish history, the opportunity lawfully to legislate or to color referendum is provided for schedule. one of the northern ireland act 980 it is the legal are working of the agreement on for the 1st time provides an awesome way to unification . and really it's in the hands of the people are respectful analysis is not at the opportunity. has he him to test the principle of consent at the unionist majority which had underpinned really what was a sectarian state in the north? i go on forever. the last 3 parliaments to which unionism aspired, at the local storm of the sand, late the west minister assembly, or the westminster government. sorry, i'll let me, let me just coming from it with that in mind. i want us to listen to a statement from the head of the democratic unionist party jeffrey donaldson that was made following biden's speech on the good friday agreement this past wednesday, which was yesterday to take a listen. but it's good to have the president of the united states here in belfast

said this is for my irish ancestors. and the last time me rog and he said this is for peace. now he's also been meeting with the irish prime minister, otherwise known as the t shirt lee over at car. they've been talking more about a political issue. so we know they have talked about ukraine, but in that discussion with the irish prime minister, you know, the president biden also alluded to shared values between the ireland and the united states of some of a more of those other ideas that you might hear echoed in this speech of before coming to dublin, president biden explored one of the tones where his ancestors once lived. he was greeted by crowds waving american flags. of course, phil, let's not forget this might all seem very personal, very familiar. but this is a u. s. president, which may indeed, who may indeed have one eye on a possible bait for reelection. and of course, present biden is not the only american citizen who claims irish american heritage. in fact, there are tens of millions of them. and this may indeed, these nostalgi

i'm tapped into his irish roots several times throughout the visit, even speaking gaelic to tell lawmakers that he was in fact home joe biden started his day with the irish head of state. michael higgins, taking part in a tree planting ceremony. oh, and ringing the p. spell with his irish heritage never far from his thoughts this roll margin or it would be good. the bow commemorates the good friday agreement, which ended decades of sectarian violence in northern ireland. but for the most part, the u. s. president's trip has been a light hearted one. visiting his ancestral home towns and joining the prime minister to watch a youth group play the irish sport of commercial v. i'm. we're very fortunate to have the u. s. president and u. s. administration that takes an active and it's not daily, certainly weekly interest in irish affairs where one of only $200.00 countries in the world. and we're, we're very fortunate that we're always high on the presence agenda under top of mind when he's dealing with european affairs. that special relationship was front of mind for biden, when he addressed t

on solely dedicated to the peaceful transition towards constitutional tmj, which for the 1st time and irish history, the good friday agreement, consolidated for would you say now that the presence of u s, president biden has added to the momentum of your calls, and that is of course to, to reunite all of our i think it's perhaps more nuanced than not. so president biden was very awe careful in his remarks, very diplomatic in his remarks. ah, what was came to to assure all citizens of as island now that his administration and indeed successive administrations, as we know, are the guarantor for peace. which the good friday agreement, of course, provides for. he was careful to advise not the resumption of par sharing is a monitor for people here. he was very alert to the concerns us. he should be off unionists. but of course, the good friday agreement provides the pathway towards constitutional, tmj, for the 1st time in irish history, the opportunity lawfully to, to legislate or to color referendum as provided for schedule, one of the northern ireland act 980. it is the legal are working off t

a yeah, i mean, it's sort of the time of the irish times there was an article about j.k.or the irish rowling and the writer for the ifish had rowling and the writer for the irish had said that she is irish times had said that she is against treatment of trans against equal treatment of trans people. that's factually incorrect wrong. and i would factually wrong. so and i would be worried about that but, you know, we should be know, i think we should all be worried should all worried because. we should all be it because the be worried about it because the media where we our media is where we our information from. but it's got to the point now like, said to the point now like, i've said before we longer trust before where we no longer trust the that puts us in the media, and that puts us in a very different difficult situation as there's situation because as there's going people on, the other going to be people on, the other side of it who are going promote their lies. yeah they're going to say, hey, you know what they've been lying to? which of course they you can trust me a

a yeah, i mean, it's sort of the time of the irish times there was article about j.k. was an articlerowling and the writer for the ifish had rowling and the writer for the irish had said is irish times had said that she is against equal treatment of trans people. that's factually incorrect wrong. and i would factually wrong. so and i would be worried about that but, you know, i we should be know, i think we should all be worried because. we should know, i think we should all be wo worried:ause. we should know, i think we should all be wo worried about we should know, i think we should all be wo worried about ite should know, i think we should all be wo worried about it because the be worried about it because the media where we our media is where we our information from. but it's got to the point now like, said to the point now like, i've said before no longer trust before where we no longer trust the that puts in the media, and that puts us in a very different difficult situation as there's situation because as there's going people on, the other going to be people on, the other side o

figures from the incredible agreement, not just tony blair and bill clinton, but the irish prime minister at the timee president of the european union, because this was an agreement that brought together not just the irish government and the british government in a way they had never been before after decades, generations of distrust, which had a lady in history between -- laid deep in history between the island of ireland and the united kingdom, but also brussels and washington, d.c., because there was an internationally underpinned agreement. to see those figures from the past -- rather grayer hair, like me -- nevertheless signifying what is possible through negotiation, and now the additional hurdle of getting self-government back up and running. christian: as you say, when you were there, you had to negotiate with reverend ian paisley, who could be quite feisty at times, maybe a lot stronger in tone than the current incumbent. i wonder what advice he would give to the current northern ireland secretary. seem to have a very difficult day yesterday. >> well, the advice i would give him, as i've bee

irish parliament. only the fourth time a us president has been invited to do this so it is a huge honourforjoe biden whoedibly proud of his irish roots. we saw yesterday he was meeting his family members and locals there and at times, to be honest, it looked like he was on holiday, he was having such a good time. let's see what he got up to. an irish homecoming for a us president. joe biden, who describes himself as a proud irish—american, arrives in his ancestral home of county louth. coming here, it feels like coming home. it really does. the way every time i've come — the welcome from the people on the streets, they're so gracious to us. he flew into dublin from belfast on air force one and was greeted by the irish prime minister, leo varadkar. then on to carlingford and dundalk. cheering. despite the rain, crowds lined the streets to welcome one of the world's most powerful men. today it's back to business in dublin, meeting the irish president and then speaking in the parliament. he's only the fourth us president to be invited to do so. then he's on the road again, meeting his cousins in county may

the irish times calls it a very irish welcome for president biden. ditor at "the financial times" ed loose maybe you can tell me. there's something about ireland that revives the spirit of every american president that comes here. >> yeah. thinking of jfk's famous trip there in june 1963 described as the happiest four days of my life i think it is not just people like biden and kennedy have strong irish ancestry and heritage there is something about irishness. i feel fraudulent talking about this but i am married to an as you know to an irish woman who's from county mayo where you are right now and has people from there. there is something about irishness. hard scrapible, a bit of the american creed that i think biden taps into. talks about middle class is a value than a number. he interweaves that with stories of his grandfather and the passage across the atlantic so i imagine this will be mox the happiest three days of his presidency this is a -- i envy you being on this trip. >> yeah. it is remarkable but it is something that jfk said four days in

and when joe biden rang that p spell at the irish president's residence, he said he rang it, and he said, this is for ireland. hearing it a 2nd time. he said these are for my irish ancestors. and the last time he said, this is for peace. and of course we remember that the reason behind this whole visit to the island is indeed the 25th anniversary of that piece. a court of the good friday agreement, though, here as i said, likely that looked toward the future as well as the past. what he said in his speech, belfast, for example, you said your histories are history and your future is our future. and i think we might hear similar messages echoed here today. there are lots of guests of honor in the parliament behind me. one of them, for example, i understand is to be the ukrainian ambassador to ireland, of course, that ireland and the united states, both political backers of ukraine in it's ongoing fight to defend against that ongoing russian invasion and biden, we also know is amana, often known to quote, irish poetry or irish prover, it's that something is also done during this trip. so i think you might expect a couple of irish pro

this handshakes and history, joe biden meets the irish prime minister after spending time with the country'srotest, protests continue in france due to pension age. and mary quant, the fashion designer who shaped the look of the 1960s, has died. hello and welcome. us presidentjoe biden is continuing his

irish parliament. just before four o'clock london time. peaker of the house and we are expecting him to become the fourth us president to address the irish parliament. more on this as we get it. new data shown to the bbc suggests that thousands of metric tonnes of oil have spilled routinely into uk waters from oil and gas production. the spills took place over five years and some of them hit areas meant to protect wildlife. i'm nowjoined by the bbc�*s climate and science reporter live from the cardiff newsroom. i wonder if we could just start off with how much of a problem this is, georgina? 50 with how much of a problem this is, georuina? ., with how much of a problem this is, georuina? . , with how much of a problem this is, georuina? ., , ., ., .,, georgina? so what this data has shown is that _ georgina? so what this data has shown is that 22,000 _ georgina? so what this data has shown is that 22,000 tonnes i georgina? so what this data has shown is that 22,000 tonnes of| georgina? so what this data has i shown is that 22,000 tonnes of

he's a president who, perhaps more than any other in recent times, has spoken often of his irish rootsery excited to come and see for himself the benefits that the good friday agreement has brought to northern ireland. we'll have more on president biden�*s visit in a moment. but as chris mentioned, political violence in northern ireland is now relatively rare. but there was a petrol bomb attack on police officers in londonderry during an illegal republican parade on monday. it was during events to mark the easter uprising against the british in 1916. a number of illegal republican parades went ahead over the weekend — police say there will now be an investigation into possible offences under the terrorism act. 0ur ireland correspondent emma vardy reports from the scene: it is no secret that street disorder is orchestrated and planned in derry on significant dates in the republic calendar — but those tasked with carrying it out were born long after the 30 years of conflict that this city endured in the past. while many events in northern ireland this easter are marking the anniversary o

he references those irish roots all the time quotes, irish poets and a lot of his speeches.and in fact, before this trip, the white house sent quite an extensive genealogy table dating back to 18. oh, three. going back to president biden's great great great grandparents, who eventually journey to the united states. but of course, this trip is about more than sentiment as well. it's timed around the 20. the fifth anniversary of the good friday agreement that accords that brought peace between the nationalists and the unionists here in northern ireland. president biden, of course, very eager to highlight the legacy of that agreement, which came about with some significant american investment , not just american investment. but but democratic investment in the form of president bill clinton and the senator george mitchell. and certainly president biden wants to underscore the importance of these kinds of agreements in world affairs, particularly at a moment when american involvement overseas as being questioned in the united states by some republicans. this is sort of the diffe

to thank mayor london breed for being such a friend of ireland, of the irish and of irish-america and in my short time here, i see what you do for the people of san francisco, thank you. and we will have you in ireland in the next few months, i can promise you. i thought that was for me behind me. keep it going. today we raise the flag for irish flag in san francisco and not just the heritage but the city that has been a melting pot, the people from all over the world, a community of values and diversity and inclusion and acceptance. this is long been a home to the irish, this is a city that the irish helped built and shape and it's a city where the irish have forjd multi ethnic, friendships and unions. for st. patrick's day this year, we celebrate 100 year in support of peace and international order. i want to recognize, the fact that artmiss the international community for the past 100 years. member of eu and ecc for the last 50 years and with and sign with the help of irish america. we also celebrate the fact that it's been nine years since the consul opened here. it's a great privilege for us mayo

handshakes and history — joe biden meets the irish prime minister, after earlier spending time with the�*world—changer�* in the fight against malaria — ghana becomes the first country to approve a promising new vaccine.

england used to send the irish people here as slaves. and then in time, they brought in the black from africa, and the irish and the black mixed well. - and that's why you see sometimes in the natives that they have bluish, greyish eyes there. that's from the irish. - that's the mix. - that's the mix. (sophie fouron) it's a u.k. overseas territory. - yes. - the relationship with the u.k., how does that work? - well, it's a colony. there are sometimes frictions, but it's been good to montserrat to a certain point, especially with this situation. when the volcano erupted, these people all lost their homes. (manon rozon) england has always provided for montserrat, because since it's colony from... - was there any moment when they thought they should close down montserrat? - yes. they would have closed down the island. that would have been economically the easiest thing to do, to just bring everyone into the british system. - because they have the british passport. - yes. - o.k. - but this is only since the volcano. prior to the volcano, they had the colony

provocations, speaking at the university of ulster, the american president reminded several times of his irish and even tried to make jokes, referring to the audience located in the gallery behind the stage. okay, i didn't see you. here everyone at the top, the initiator of this visit , prime minister sunuk later, had to prove to journalists that he and biden were for we had a lot to discuss over a cup of coffee. we talked in particular about the incredible economic opportunities that are opening up for northern ireland. i think it's all incredible. in parting, the us president reminded everyone that american investments are in northern ireland. it depends on how the peace process develops in the region, and the full-blown trade deal with washington that london hopes for has been left blank, judging the brevity of biden's visit to northern ireland. one of the british commentators joked you will not have time to blink your eyes, as everything will already be behind you from belfast. biden, went to the south of the island in republican ireland. to the homeland of his ancestors, who in the middle

live now to fintan o'toole, journalist at the irish times. fenton. can i ask you to first of all take us back 25 years? at such a momentous anniversary this weekend. what are your memories, what you remember about how it played out's the about how it played out's ii�*ué overwhelming sense about how it played out's the overwhelming sense of tension. it's easyin overwhelming sense of tension. it's easy in retrospect to think a well of course the deal was always going to be done, but it did not feel like it at the time. the stars seem to be aligning. the engaged american administration with bill clinton. you have tony blair at his prime, not long in office. you have a very skilled negotiator and the rubber cobbler than party. uncritically you had the ira seeming to be willing to do a deal. but that did not mean that a deal was going to be done, because as mark simpson was just saying, it is very complex. you have to balance so many different factors, so many different interests between britain and ireland, between the two parts of ireland, and t

his irish escape this becomes that especially convenient time for this summit.t comes on the heels of events in the real world highlight the shop stators of the american superpower he supposedly leads. the latest humiliation is a series of intelligence leaks, highly classified intelligence that have laid bare biden strategic disarray and aptitude weakness. the leaks themselves are a shocking blow to u.s. relations with many key allies whose seekers have been spilled so liberally disclosures haven't just embarrass government such as israel and the united kingdom and in south korea they placed the lies of the intelligence asset and service members in danger. in the hunt for the leaker at 21-year-old international guardsmen was arrested by the fbi in the development that raise more questions about how secure u.s. intelligence really is. but if the fact of the leaks is damaging enough the content are devastating. once the exposed fears among officials despite more than $100 billion of u.s. aid to ukraine the war with russia could turn sharply against as it soon look

be a resolution to it. 20 blair criticised the government on monday at not investing enough time with the irishknow that tonight he had in meeting with the two shook and it's a first bilateral meeting they've had. has britain done enough to engage in this? moise done enough to engage in this? noise hasn't. done enough to engage in this? noise hasn't- rishi — done enough to engage in this? noise hasn't. rishi sunak— done enough to engage in this? noise hasn't. rishi sunak did _ done enough to engage in this? fir? 39: hasn't. rishi sunak did achieve the windsor framework with the irish government standing alongside them and that's .mac ia congratulating him for that because it was in the case under borisjohnson or under his two predecessors since 2010. and i don't mean a party pointed, i want to even a conservative government to which i'm opposed in certain respects, to succeed in northern ireland and i think it's doable. i think the dup can find reasons why they would want to go back into stormont if there are still detailed negotiations with them. 0bviously, negotiations with them. obviously, y

irish immigrants. there were on the east coast of the uk, excuse me of the us at the time. election. they were so many irish citizens in the us. so the rule was made that gets to be physically present in the country. so yes, the irish diaspora in ireland, the lineage is huge and not to mention, those who have made it so far in the political sphere and also the economic sphere. and culturally. so it is no wonder people claim the irish diaspora and we are lucky and happy to claim them as well. in we are lucky and happy to claim them as well. ., , we are lucky and happy to claim them as well. . , ._ , , ., we are lucky and happy to claim them as well. . , , , ., ., , as well. in many ways he is not only s-ueakin as well. in many ways he is not only speaking to — as well. in many ways he is not only speaking to the _ as well. in many ways he is not only speaking to the irish _ as well. in many ways he is not only speaking to the irish people, - as well. in many ways he is not only speaking to the irish people, the . speaking to the irish people, the international community, he