A few years ago at the height of the Northern Ireland Troubles, a group of 38 IRA prisoners escaped from the Maze prison. The violent breakout was celebrated by their Republican supporters as “the Great Escape” of “IRA heroes”. But while Republicans (mostly from the Catholic community) cheered, the majority in Northern Ireland, Unionists (mostly Protestants), saw the jail-breakers as ruthless criminals, murderers and terrorists.
Some time later two of the men who escaped, Brendan McFarlane and Gerry Kelly, were arrested in Holland. Police believed the IRA men were plotting a violent attack on British soldiers in Germany. A cache of weapons was uncovered by the Dutch police and the British government of Margaret Thatcher worked very hard to have the two escapees extradited to serve long prison sentences in Northern Ireland.
I managed to get into the Dutch jail to talk to the IRA prisoners for a TV programme. The key question was whether the IRA should be considered criminals as the British wanted or, as the IRA claimed, as “freedom fighters” and “political prisoners” who should be freed in Holland.
My own family are Protestants, with roots in Scotland and also in the Unionist pro-British community in Northern Ireland. I was well aware how much the IRA was hated. But I also knew many Republicans. IRA members spoke passionately of their “armed struggle” to throw British forces out of Northern Ireland. These real fears and historic hatreds, it seemed to me at the time, had lasted centuries and probably could never be solved. It seemed hopeless.
But then two extraordinary things happened. First, a group of visionary politicians, including Bill Clinton and US senator George Mitchell, plus courageous British and Irish political leaders, among them prime ministers John Major, Tony Blair and Ireland’s Bertie Ahern, started to work hard behind the scenes to bring the parties together. And second, the leadership of the IRA made a profoundly important decision.
They realised their “armed struggle” could continue to all eternity but would never lead to the outcome they wanted. They could not create a truly united Ireland by blowing up parts of it with bombs. The IRA therefore took the momentous decision to move more emphatically into politics through their political party Sinn Fein.
By the time all this happened, I was the BBC’s North America editor in Washington DC and I spent time with the American negotiator on Ireland, senator Mr Mitchell. His family background was part-Lebanese. He joked that this meant he understood divided communities. His negotiating technique was – in a word –patience. He sat down with Unionists and asked about their grievances. They would talk non-stop for hours. Then he sat down with Republicans. They would also talk for hours. Mitchell would repeat the process for many weeks.
“I did a lot of listening,” he told me, as if he was Northern Ireland’s psychotherapist. Then when everyone was bored of rehearsing their problems, Mr Mitchell finally asked both sides what they might do to find solutions.
It all still seemed impossible. We had 30 years of the immediate crisis in which 3,500 had died and about 700 years of tribal hatreds between English, Irish and Scots. A Unionist MP said to me that the only reason Mr Blair thought an agreement was even possible was that he had “no sense of history”. Everyone doubted that the IRA and other paramilitary organisations would give up their guns and explosives.
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But then, at the Belfast parliament in Stormont, I bumped into the former IRA prison escapee Gerry Kelly. He had eventually been extradited from Holland, jailed, then released by the British government. He was by this time an elected member of parliament, smartly dressed in suit and tie. His previous status in the IRA gave him great credibility within the Catholic community in Northern Ireland and in the Good Friday Agreement negotiations.
One of the key British negotiators at the time told me he thought Mr Kelly was among the most scary people he had ever met. On that day in Belfast, Mr Kelly called out to me and said he “wanted a word”. We walked around outside the parliament building until he stopped and said: “Tell me, Gavin – should I smile more on television?”
I laughed at the typically dry Belfast humour. “It wouldn’t hurt, Gerry,” was my reply. And then I realised this conversation marked a watershed moment. “This is going to work isn’t it?” I said, meaning that if one of the IRA’s so-called hard men was thinking about his public image on TV, there was a real prospect of peace. Mr Kelly nodded and said he hoped so. The IRA then began to de-commission their weapons.
Peace processes are never perfect. IRA members rarely repudiate their past. They express regret about those who were killed but never accept that the IRA was a terrorist organisation. Unionists still see the IRA as murderous criminals, even though Protestant paramilitary organisations also have plenty of blood on their hands. Forgiveness is difficult. Forgetting is impossible.
Nevertheless, Mr Kelly went on to become a minister in the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. The Unionist leader Ian Paisley and a former IRA commander, Martin McGuinness, worked so well together they were known as “the Chuckle Brothers” for their shared sense of humour. And Gerry Kelly used his IRA past to try to bring together combatants in intractable violent conflicts elsewhere in the world, including in the Philippines.
He once told me that the key moment for him came when he realised that very few wars are ever truly won. The British, he said, could never completely destroy Irish Republicanism. The IRA could never completely destroy the passion of those in Northern Ireland who want to remain British. The choice was for both sides to fight forever or to negotiate. The Good Friday Agreement was the result.
There are still a few hopeless Republican diehards who have no political programme and who plot acts of terror. And there are still some Protestant bigots who hate Catholics simply because they are Catholics. Right now, flying certain flags, singing certain songs or choosing to speak in Irish rather than English can lead to a row or a fight. But anyone visiting Northern Ireland today will find it a beautiful place with mostly safe streets and strong local pride. When I lived in Belfast, a visit to a restaurant or a theatre always carried the vague worry that a bomb would go off or some terrorist incident would take place. Some flashpoint areas were always avoided, except by the foolhardy. Things have changed so much for the better it’s tempting to forget the dismal and violent past.
Simply put, the Good Friday Agreement has been one of the greatest political successes of recent history. But even now it may be in jeopardy. Some politicians, including the oddball British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, appear unable to comprehend how Brexit and the demand for Britain to erect borders with the European Union could sour relations between Britain and Ireland, and kill peace between Unionists and Republicans. Brexit means borders. A hard border on the island of Ireland – something almost no one wants – raises again the kind of divisions which led generations of Irish and British men and women to fight and kill each other.
Moreover, despite the hopes of those who believe the spirit of Good Friday could translate to other conflicts, that seems unlikely. The current Israeli government appears to think overwhelming military might provides lasting security. It doesn’t. There is no permanent victory when people continue to hate you. The Assad regime appears to believe brutalising the Syrian people guarantees the regime’s survival. It merely guarantees worldwide loathing.
But if members of the IRA and other paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland, Unionists and Republicans, can change and make peace, perhaps there remains hope in other supposedly impossible conflicts. The Good Friday Agreement teaches important lessons, even for those with blood on their hands. But nothing useful can be taught to those who simply refuse to learn.
Gavin Esler is a television presenter, journalist and author
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
The%20specs
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The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
Japan 30-10 Russia
Tries: Matsushima (3), Labuschange | Golosnitsky
Conversions: Tamura, Matsuda | Kushnarev
Penalties: Tamura (2) | Kushnarev
Bugatti Chiron Super Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,600hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.4seconds
0-200kph in 5.8 seconds
0-300kph in 12.1 seconds
Top speed: 440kph
Price: Dh13,200,000
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport - the specs:
Engine: 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto
Power: 1,500hp
Torque: 1,600Nm
0-100kph in 2.3 seconds
0-200kph in 5.5 seconds
0-300kph in 11.8 seconds
Top speed: 350kph
Price: Dh13,600,000
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE’s revised Cricket World Cup League Two schedule
August, 2021: Host - United States; Teams - UAE, United States and Scotland
Between September and November, 2021 (dates TBC): Host - Namibia; Teams - Namibia, Oman, UAE
December, 2021: Host - UAE; Teams - UAE, Namibia, Oman
February, 2022: Hosts - Nepal; Teams - UAE, Nepal, PNG
June, 2022: Hosts - Scotland; Teams - UAE, United States, Scotland
September, 2022: Hosts - PNG; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
February, 2023: Hosts - UAE; Teams - UAE, PNG, Nepal
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
