The Agreement (BBC)

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Sociopolitical Documentary hosted by Trevor Birney, published by BBC in 2023 - English narration

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A landmark documentary examining the intense negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement and the critical referendum campaign that followed six weeks later.

Drawing on a wealth of contemporary archive and weaving contributions from all the major political figures, including President Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair, Senator George Mitchell and Bertie Ahern, the documentary tells the story of the comprehensive political settlement between all the parties presided over by Senator George Mitchell.

Mitchell speaks of the challenges of getting parties to even agree on the issues to be resolved and how the arrival of Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair in the final days changed the dynamic in Castle Buildings.

Mark Durkan recalls the murder of two friends, one Protestant the other Catholic, in Poyntzpass weeks before the Agreement and how the sight of David Trimble and Seamus Mallon walking together to the wakes shaped the Stormont negotiations on the shared role for a first and deputy First Minister.

Jeffrey Donaldson reflects on why he could not agree with the Ulster Unionist Party strategy to support the agreement, and how after an extraordinarily tense 48 hours when everyone struggled for a breakthrough, he, Arlene Foster and others walked out of Castle Buildings before the final famous plenary session when the deal was endorsed.

The documentary also tells the story of the unprecedented referendum campaign, when voters across the island of Ireland passed their verdict on the Agreement. As concerns rose about prisoner releases, policing reform and decommissioning, opponents of the deal emerged. It took the intervention of U2 at a gig in Belfast to bring Yes campaigners John Hume and David Trimble together in public.