Adams, Gerry (1948-…), was president of Sinn Féin << shihn fayn >> , an Irish nationalist political party, from 1983 until 2018. Sinn Féin is the political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA is a group that has long sought to unite the country of Ireland with Northern Ireland, a political division of the United Kingdom.
For many years, Adams defended the IRA’s use of violence to achieve its goals for Northern Ireland. However, he also sought a peaceful settlement to the conflict. Adams participated in talks that led to a 1998 agreement committing all sides to resolve their differences by peaceful means. On March 26, 2007, Adams met with Ian Paisley, president of the Democratic Unionist Party, which has supported Northern Ireland’s continued union with the United Kingdom. The two leaders agreed to establish a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. The government began in May 2007. See Northern Ireland (The Good Friday Agreement) .
Gerard Adams was born on Oct. 6, 1948, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1964, he joined Sinn Féin. He became involved in the movement to improve social and economic conditions for Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland. Authorities imprisoned him during much of the 1970’s because of his suspected role in the IRA. In prison, Adams encouraged Irish nationalism in Northern Ireland. He has written several books, including A Farther Shore: Ireland’s Long Road to Peace (2003).
See also Irish Republican Army ; Sinn Féin .
