A New Ireland: Politics, Peace, and Reconciliation

Throughout twenty-five years of conflict in Northern Ireland, John Hume has been the constant beacon of reason. A New Ireland is John Hume's remarkable story of his personal struggle for civil rights, peace and prosperity for all the people of Ireland. Born in 1937 into a working class Catholic family in Derry, Hume presents vivid memoirs of his youth, family and Catholic Nationalist community. He goes on to explain his political philosophy and examine the historical positions of the parties to the conflict: British and Irish, Unionist and Nationalist. For the first time ever, Hume relates the inside story of his historic meetings with Gerry Adams which eventually led to the 1993 Joint Declaration by Britain and Ireland and the 1994 ceasefire by the IRA and Unionist paramilitaries. He concludes with his assessment of the prospects for a lasting peace in Ireland and his unique vision of an international Irish nation.