Gerry Adams

GERRY ADAMS: More pieces of the unity jigsaw being put in place

THIS week significant developments that can shape the future direction of constitutional politics on this island are taking place in Leinster House. On Tuesday Sinn Féin’s Bill setting out a practical plan to achieve a united Ireland is up for discussion. Fine Gael is moving ahead with its plan for a blueprint for Irish unity for November. And other parties, including the Social Democrats and Labour, have expressed their support for unity and, notwithstanding Micheál Martin’s opposition, it is obvious that there are many within Fianna Fáil who understand that planning for unity makes sense.

GERRY ADAMS: A new plan for 1916 battlefield site is the way forward

THE 1916 Moore Street Battlefield site in the centre of Dublin is a hugely important historical and cultural location whose significance has been ignored by successive Irish governments for over a century. Currently much of the Moore Street terrace and adjoining lanes are under threat of demolition by the London-based developer Hammerson.

GERRY ADAMS: Unity conversation picks up pace in Dublin circles

THE ‘Planning for Constitutional Change Bill 2026’, which I referenced in last week’s column, has passed its first hurdle in the Dáil. It will now go to second stage on July 7 and then on to the Committee stage before returning to the Dáil later in the year.

Gerry Adams: Pride shines out amidst the racism and the violence

THE bulletholes from the August 1969 sectarian pogrom against the people of the Falls area are still visible on the front wall of St Comgall’s Primary School, Divis Street. Last Thursday lunchtime, a few yards from where whole terraces of houses were burned out, scores of community activists from across Belfast came together in Ionad Eileen Howell to discuss another pogrom. This time the pogrom was rooted in violent racism.

GERRY ADAMS: An open letter to my Orange Order neighbours

AS June heads towards July the distant beat of your drums is pounding out their rhythm. The marching season for all of the Loyal Orders is well under way and the 12th of July is fast approaching. One July, sitting during yet another negotiation into the early hours with Tony Blairm the rat-a-tat-tat of Lambegs sundered the quiet. We paused as he asked if I knew what that was. “Yes,” I replied, “that’s the Orangemen.”“Jungle drums?” he said.

Gerry Adams: Our new Lord Mayor owes a lot to Granny Donnelly

THERE was a time when younger people I used to bump into would say to me by way of introduction “You used to know my Mammy.” “Or my Daddy.” Nowadays they say to me “You used to know my Granny.”

GERRY ADAMS: How the Bunscoil carved its place in our city’s history

A FEW weeks after the Good Friday Agreement was agreed in April 1998 I brought a delegation of the Board of Governors of Bunscoil Phobail Feirste on the Shaws Road in West Belfast to meet the British Secretary of State Mo Mowlam.

GERRY ADAMS: Fianna Fáil turn away from their foundational aim

LAST Saturday the Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis in Dublin marked the centenary of that party. At its foundation in 1926 it was agreed that the party would be titled ‘Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party’.

GERRY ADAMS: The people are ahead of the politicians on Irish unity

AT the time of writing this week’s column Keir Starmer is still the Leader of the British Labour Party and Prime Minister. On Monday he delivered a ‘Save Keir Starmer’ speech which may or may not work for him. Can he survive the voices of opposition within Labour? That is a matter for his party.

GERRY ADAMS: Springhill heroes invoke warm local memories

WHEN I was a wee buck growing up in Ballymurphy there was a river at the back of the houses across from our home place at the corner of Glenalina Road and Divismore Park. The river ran the length of our street and the length of Ballymurphy Road before exiting below the Whiterock Road and into the City Cemetery. From there it meandered down to and under the Falls Road beside the bus depot and onwards to the Bog Meadows. You can see it there to this day. The stretch which used to border our street was long ago captured and incarcerated in a pipe below ground.

GERRY ADAMS: We're standing at the crossroads

SINN Féin, but especially, the party in Belfast, pulled out all of the stops at the weekend to ensure that the Ard Fheis was a huge success. The ICC Waterfront Hall was buzzing with republican voices from across our island and beyond talking about the big issues confronting all of us nationally and internationally. The number of young people attending and taking part in the debates was particularly encouraging.

GERRY ADAMS: Our seagoing heroes deserve a permanent tribute

FOR as long as the English have occupied Ireland there have been political prisoners. As long as there have been political prisoners there have been daring and ingenious escapes. In the most recent period of conflict it is estimated that around 100 republicans participated in escapes, including the great escape from the H-Blocks in 1983. That was the biggest ever in British penal history. Others tunnelled their way out; clambered over walls; escaped in a helicopter; shot their way out; blew a hole in a wall; hid in a bin lorry; or dressed as priests; or in one case as a woman. I was a Samuel Beckett type of escapee. I failed. But I never gave up. I failed better.

GERRY ADAMS: Fuel protest has been disastrously handled by FFFG

THE blockade of fuel depots, motorways, towns and Dublin city centre was entirely avoidable if the FFFG government had taken the growing crisis around the cost of living and increasing fuel and energy bills seriously months ago. Instead, Micheál Martin and Co stuck their heads in the sand and ignored the mounting anger.

GERRY ADAMS: A fitting tribute to John in a fitting place

I JUST spent an enjoyable couple of hours in the company of my good friend, American trade union leader John Samuelsen, and the staff of Áras Uí Chonghaile and Fáilte Feirste Thiar – the West Belfast Tourist Board. Unbeknownst to John, both organisations had agreed to name one of the Áras rooms after him and a former Transport Workers; Union, (TWU) President, Mike Quill.

GERRY ADAMS: Micheál Martin has zero interest in pursuing unity

AN Taoiseach Micheál Martin was the first guest to participate in a new six part series of the podcast, ‘How to Gael’ under the title – ‘How to Unite Ireland.’

Gaelic Games: St Galls thump 14-man Rossa in strong second half

Antrim GAA and Antrim LGFA join forces to celebrate 2026 Antrim schools awards

CELTIC STORIES: You want exciting players and a strong team? How about a new third kit instead?

The Joe McDonnell Festival of Football enjoys another year of success for juvenile football

EYE ON THE PAST: June 1985 – New Travellers' site at the Windy Gap

PLATING UP: Chicken with red pepper in a creamy mustard sauce

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Is there a test that Jon Burrows can pass?

ANDRÉE MURPHY: Micheál, just don't make the same mistakes that Keir made

Gerry Adams

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