Blair and Ahern hail Anglo-Irish partnership that helped land Good Friday accord

The former prime minister and taoiseach have reflected on the negotiations ahead of the 25th anniversary of the deal.

Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern during a news conference at Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park in 2006 (Julien Behal/PA) (PA Archive)

Sir Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have hailed the spirit of Anglo-Irish teamwork and partnership that marked the high pressure negotiations that delivered Northern Ireland’s historic Good Friday Agreement.

Twenty-five years on from the intensive talks that produced the landmark accord in April 1998, the former UK and Irish prime ministers have reflected on their famously close working relationship.

While stressing the importance of the UK and Irish governments acting in lockstep, the ex British PM and Taoiseach credited the bravery of unionist and nationalist political leaders in Northern Ireland for striking the powersharing settlement that largely ended the Troubles.