IRA creates new opportunity for peace
Historic announcements precede cessation
The series of historic announcements which signalled a renewed
IRA cessation began on Friday 18 July at noon with a joint
statement from Gerry Adams and John Hume. Following a Sinn Féin
Ard Chomhairle meeting later that day Gerry Adams revealed that
he and Martin McGuinness had met the IRA and urged the
restoration of the August 1994 cessation. On Saturday morning 19
July came the IRA announcement of the cessation which began at
noon on Sunday 20 July.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)