Dublin Theatre Festival 2024: Owen McCafferty’s writing cuts through the Belfast peace talks’ seriousness to find levity in personal stakes and political bluster

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar said every party should make Irish unification ‘an objective, not an aspiration’. But is that the right goal? And what needs to happen first?

New writing and never-previously broadcast interviews bring alive the negotiations and nervousness before a critical moment in the Belfast peace process

Noel Doran singles out the murder of Patrick Kielty’s father in 1988 in influencing his outlook as editor of Irish News for 25 years

The former priest who played a key role in the peace process reflects on the backchannel that enabled dialogue between the IRA and the UK government

On this island, the Irish flag and the Union Jack will have to grow more comfortable in each other’s company

Mallie, once the voice of The Troubles on radio, looks backwards and ahead for Northern Ireland

Her hopeful words were in sharp contrast to Joe Brolly’s cynical appraisal of the mood south of the border

Scrupulous, modest and fair judge, who brought otherworldliness to a new dimension

The paper’s editor during its most troubled years believed they should be reporting critical voices of the SDLP founder

Newly released State papers shed light on the years immediately after the Belfast Agreement, so much of which is still in dispute or open to interpretation

Former UUP leader jointly awarded Nobel Peace Prize with SDLP’s John Hume in 1998

Former taoiseach to speak at event at Derry’s Guildhall by video link

Saturday

Bust to be placed beside one of late John Hume and will be unveiled to coincide with 25th anniversary of awarding of Nobel Peace Prize to both men

Stephen Walker’s eminently readable overview is strongest when detailing the strain Hume lived under for years

Hume’s son believes the prospect of the presidency was ‘never under serious consideration’

Loyalists and republicans were opposed to the SDLP leader’s efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland, as these extracts from a new book by Stephen Walker show

Family of former Ulster Unionist Party leader discuss his love of his music, the risks he was willing to take and frustration with Blair after the agreement

Archbishop remembers growing up in Derry during the Troubles, and tensions between Church and IRA