Anthony meets all the historic figures

FLYING the flag for Drogheda on the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday agreement was Fianna Fail’s Anthony Moore who attended a special conference held in Queen’s University, Belfast.

Entitled “Building Peace: the Belfast / Good Friday agreement 20 years on” the conference saw the major players in the agreement gather to celebrate the historic occasion, including Senator George Mitchell, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former British prime minister Tony Blair, the former first and deputy first ministers of Northern Ireland David Trimble and Seamus Mallon and last but not least former US president Bill Clinton.

After a short photocall for the signatories at the entrance to Queens, Anthony joined them inside the university for a chat over tea and sandwiches before they went on to speak at the conference that afternoon.

He said:- “I remember well the historic day 20 years ago when Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair emerged from Castle Buildings to announce that agreement had been reached between the parties. Coming from a border county like Louth, which was so affected by the Troubles, it was wonderful to be present there last week, and to speak with great men like Seamus Mallon, who did so much to bring about the Good Friday Agreement and the 20 years of peace we have had since it was signed. It was also fantastic to meet Bill Clinton, who reminded us that the agreement is a “prize jewel”, which remains an inspiration to peacemakers around the world.”