Description

The Making of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985: A Memoir is an extraordinary behind-the-scenes account of one of the most significant diplomatic achievements in modern Irish and British history. Written by Sir David Goodall, a senior British civil servant who played a central role in the negotiations, and edited by Frank Sheridan, the paperback edition was published in 2021 by the National University of Ireland in association with Four Courts Press.

The memoir chronicles the negotiations that culminated in the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement on 15 November 1985 by Garret FitzGerald, Taoiseach of Ireland, and Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. The agreement marked a historic breakthrough by giving the Irish Government a formal consultative role in the governance of Northern Ireland while reaffirming that any constitutional change would depend on the consent of its people. Today, it is widely recognised as a major milestone on the road to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

Serving as Deputy Head of both the Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office, Goodall kept a detailed personal journal throughout the negotiations from September 1983 to December 1985. Although the memoir remained unpublished during his lifetime, it offers an unusually frank account of the diplomatic process, revealing the difficult compromises, political pressures, and personal relationships that shaped the final agreement.

The book explores a wide range of topics, including:

• The secret negotiations between the British and Irish governments
• The working relationship between Margaret Thatcher and Garret FitzGerald
• The role of senior civil servants and diplomats behind the scenes
• Internal disagreements within the British government
• Anglo-Irish diplomacy during the Troubles
• The drafting and negotiation of the 1985 Agreement
• The Agreement’s significance for the later Northern Ireland peace process

One of the memoir’s greatest strengths is its honesty. Goodall candidly describes the frequent tensions between negotiating teams and the often difficult relationship between political leaders and their advisers. He recounts how negotiations repeatedly moved between optimism and near collapse, while also providing insightful portraits of the personalities involved. His observations offer readers a rare glimpse into the realities of high-level diplomacy during one of the most challenging periods of the Troubles.

The volume is enhanced by a foreword from Maurice Manning, an introduction by Morwenna Goodall, and contributions from Stephen Collins, Michael Lillis, Charles Powell, and Robin Renwick, each bringing additional perspectives on the negotiations and their historical significance. These contributions place Goodall’s memoir within the wider context of Anglo-Irish relations and the evolution of the peace process.

Praised by historians, diplomats, and reviewers alike, the memoir has been described as an indispensable resource for understanding the complex diplomacy behind the Agreement. Critics have highlighted its elegant writing, balanced judgement, and unique value as a first-hand historical source documenting one of the defining political negotiations of the late twentieth century.

Ideal for readers interested in Irish history, Northern Ireland, British-Irish relations, diplomacy, political memoirs, and the peace process, The Making of the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985: A Memoir is an authoritative and engaging account of a landmark agreement that transformed relations between Britain and Ireland and helped lay the foundations for lasting peace.