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Alec Reid

January 01, 1970

For other people named Alec Reid, see Alec Reid (disambiguation).

Alexander Reid CSsR (5 August 1931 – 22 November 2013) was an Irish Catholic priest noted for his facilitator role in the Northern Ireland peace process,[1] a role BBC journalist Peter Taylor subsequently described as "absolutely critical" to its success.[2]

The Reverend
Alec Reid
CSsR
Personal
Born
Alexander Reid

5 August 1931 (1931-08-05)
Dublin, Ireland
Died (aged 82)
Dublin, Ireland
Resting placeMilltown Cemetery, Belfast
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materUniversity College Galway
Known forRole in Northern Ireland peace process
Organization
ChurchClonard Monastery
Senior posting
Awards
Ordination1957

Biography edit

Reid was born on 5 August 1931 in Dublin and raised in Nenagh, County Tipperary from the age of six following the death of his father.[3] He studied English, history and philosophy at University College Galway.[4]

He was professed as a Redemptorist in 1950, and ordained a priest seven years later. For the next four years, he gave Parish Missions in Limerick, Dundalk and Galway (Esker Friary), before moving to Clonard Monastery in Belfast, where he spent almost the next forty years. The Redemptorist Monastery at Clonard stands on the interface between the Catholic nationalist Falls Road and the Protestant loyalist Shankill Road areas of west Belfast.[5]

Reid died in a Dublin hospital on 22 November 2013. He was survived by two sisters and an aunt, and was buried in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast.

Peace work edit

In 1975, with Ballymurphy priest Des Wilson, Reid sought to intercede in the increasingly deadly feud between the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA (PIRA). Brought together in Wilson's Springhill home, representatives of each organisation eventually agreed a ceasefire, with the clergymen chairing regular incident meetings.[6] With Wilson, Reid continued what Sinn Féin, and reputed Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), leader Gerry Adams described as "an outreach programme”: the two priests "spoke to unionist paramilitaries and facilitated meetings between republicans and loyalists".[7]

In the late 1980s, Reid facilitated a series of meetings between Gerry Adams and John Hume, in an effort to establish a 'Pan-Nationalist front' to enable a move toward renouncing violence in favour of negotiation. Reid, himself a staunch nationalist who favoured a united Ireland and the withdrawal of British forces from Northern Ireland, then acted as their contact person with the Irish Government in Dublin from a 1987 meeting with Charles Haughey up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. In this role, which was not public knowledge at the time, he held meetings with various Taoisigh, and particularly with Martin Mansergh, advisor to various Fianna Fáil leaders.[citation needed] After the eventual success of the peace negotiations, Gerry Adams said “there would not be a peace process at this time without [Father Reid’s] diligent doggedness and his refusal to give up.”[8]

In 1988 in Belfast, Reid delivered the last rites to two British Army corporals, David Howes and Derek Wood of the Royal Corps of Signals, who were killed by PIRA– an event known as the corporals killings – after they drove into the funeral cortège of IRA member Kevin Brady, who had been killed in the Milltown Cemetery attack. A photograph of his involvement in that incident became one of the starkest and most enduring images of the Troubles. Unknown until years later, Reid was carrying a letter from Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader John Hume outlining Adams' suggestions for a political solution to the Troubles.[2] Adams later told the BBC in 2019 that Reid also advised U.S Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith during the peace process, stating "He was talking to her on the side and she was talking to her brother Teddy."[9]

After he moved to Dublin, Reid was involved in peace efforts in the Basque Country. In January 2003, he was awarded the Sabino Arana 2002 "World Mirror" prize, by the Sabino Arana Foundation in Bilbao, in recognition of his efforts at promoting peace and reconciliation. Reid and a Methodist minister, the Rev. Harold Good, announced that the IRA had decommissioned their arms at a news conference in September 2005.[10]

Reid was involved in controversy in November 2005 when he made comments during a meeting in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church concerning the Unionist community in Northern Ireland.[11] When the loyalist activist Willie Frazer made remarks that Catholics had butchered Protestants during the Troubles, Reid angrily responded: "You don't want to hear the truth. The reality is that the nationalist community in Northern Ireland were treated almost like animals by the unionist community. They were not treated like human beings. They were treated like the Nazis treated the Jews".[12][13] Reid later apologised, saying his remarks had been made in the heat of the moment.[2] In an interview with CNN, he said that "The IRA were, if you like, a violent response to the suppression of human rights".[14]

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "BBC News - Northern Ireland peace process priest Fr Alec Reid dies". BBC.co.uk. 22 November 2013. from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Peter Crutchley (31 August 2014). "IRA ceasefire 20 years on: The priest who brokered the peace". BBC News UK. from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  3. ^ Peace process priest Alec Reid dies 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Nenagh Guardian, 22 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Rev Alec Reid[permanent dead link]". Queen's University Belfast. Retrieved on 15 August 2008.
  5. ^ Brother Brendan Mulhall. Father Alec Reid C.Ss.R. 3 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Redemptorists Denver, 17 May 2006
  6. ^ Hanley, Brian; Millar, Scott (2010). The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-102845-3.
  7. ^ "Peacemaking Belfast priest Fr Des Wilson dies aged 94. Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams has said there 'would be no peace process' without his work". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Remembering Father Alec Reid". from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  9. ^ Simpson, Mark (1 February 2019). "Gerry Adams: New York in 1994 visit 'pivotal to peace'". BBC News. from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. ^ Cullen, Kevin Maintaining belief in peace aided N. Ireland transformation 15 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine. The Boston Globe, 27 September 2005.
  11. ^ Unionists 'like Nazis', says priest. David Sharrock Ireland Correspondent. The Times (London, England), Thursday, 13 October 2005; pg. 17; Issue 68517
  12. ^ Irish priest provokes fury with unionist 'Nazi' jibe 18 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine Breaking News.ie, 13 October 2005.
  13. ^ Unionist anger over Nazi remarks 30 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine. BBC News, 13 October 2005. Retrieved on 9 August 2008.
  14. ^ ETA Announces Ceasefire 21 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine. CNN Transcript, 22 March 2006.
  15. ^ . Tipperary Peace Convention. Archived from the original on 1 July 2010. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  16. ^ Ralph Riegel (21 August 2013). "Mandela, Clinton and Geldof among the former winners". Irish Independent. from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
  17. ^ "2008 Peace Award & Annual Lecture – Harold Good & Alec Reid". The Gandhi Foundation. from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  18. ^ Honour for Peacemaker Priest 20 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine University of Ulster News Release, 4 July 2008

External links edit

January 01, 1970
alec, reid, other, people, named, disambiguation, alexander, reid, cssr, august, 1931, november, 2013, irish, catholic, priest, noted, facilitator, role, northern, ireland, peace, process, role, journalist, peter, taylor, subsequently, described, absolutely, c. For other people named Alec Reid see Alec Reid disambiguation Alexander Reid CSsR 5 August 1931 22 November 2013 was an Irish Catholic priest noted for his facilitator role in the Northern Ireland peace process 1 a role BBC journalist Peter Taylor subsequently described as absolutely critical to its success 2 The ReverendAlec ReidCSsRPersonalBornAlexander Reid5 August 1931 1931 08 05 Dublin IrelandDied22 November 2013 aged 82 Dublin IrelandResting placeMilltown Cemetery BelfastDenominationRoman CatholicAlma materUniversity College GalwayKnown forRole in Northern Ireland peace processOrganizationChurchClonard MonasterySenior postingAwardsSabino Arana 2002 World Mirror prize Gandhi Foundation International Peace AwardOrdination1957 Contents 1 Biography 2 Peace work 3 Awards 4 References 5 External linksBiography editReid was born on 5 August 1931 in Dublin and raised in Nenagh County Tipperary from the age of six following the death of his father 3 He studied English history and philosophy at University College Galway 4 He was professed as a Redemptorist in 1950 and ordained a priest seven years later For the next four years he gave Parish Missions in Limerick Dundalk and Galway Esker Friary before moving to Clonard Monastery in Belfast where he spent almost the next forty years The Redemptorist Monastery at Clonard stands on the interface between the Catholic nationalist Falls Road and the Protestant loyalist Shankill Road areas of west Belfast 5 Reid died in a Dublin hospital on 22 November 2013 He was survived by two sisters and an aunt and was buried in Milltown Cemetery Belfast Peace work editIn 1975 with Ballymurphy priest Des Wilson Reid sought to intercede in the increasingly deadly feud between the Official IRA and the Provisional IRA PIRA Brought together in Wilson s Springhill home representatives of each organisation eventually agreed a ceasefire with the clergymen chairing regular incident meetings 6 With Wilson Reid continued what Sinn Fein and reputed Provisional Irish Republican Army PIRA leader Gerry Adams described as an outreach programme the two priests spoke to unionist paramilitaries and facilitated meetings between republicans and loyalists 7 In the late 1980s Reid facilitated a series of meetings between Gerry Adams and John Hume in an effort to establish a Pan Nationalist front to enable a move toward renouncing violence in favour of negotiation Reid himself a staunch nationalist who favoured a united Ireland and the withdrawal of British forces from Northern Ireland then acted as their contact person with the Irish Government in Dublin from a 1987 meeting with Charles Haughey up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 In this role which was not public knowledge at the time he held meetings with various Taoisigh and particularly with Martin Mansergh advisor to various Fianna Fail leaders citation needed After the eventual success of the peace negotiations Gerry Adams said there would not be a peace process at this time without Father Reid s diligent doggedness and his refusal to give up 8 In 1988 in Belfast Reid delivered the last rites to two British Army corporals David Howes and Derek Wood of the Royal Corps of Signals who were killed by PIRA an event known as the corporals killings after they drove into the funeral cortege of IRA member Kevin Brady who had been killed in the Milltown Cemetery attack A photograph of his involvement in that incident became one of the starkest and most enduring images of the Troubles Unknown until years later Reid was carrying a letter from Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams to Social Democratic and Labour Party SDLP leader John Hume outlining Adams suggestions for a political solution to the Troubles 2 Adams later told the BBC in 2019 that Reid also advised U S Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith during the peace process stating He was talking to her on the side and she was talking to her brother Teddy 9 After he moved to Dublin Reid was involved in peace efforts in the Basque Country In January 2003 he was awarded the Sabino Arana 2002 World Mirror prize by the Sabino Arana Foundation in Bilbao in recognition of his efforts at promoting peace and reconciliation Reid and a Methodist minister the Rev Harold Good announced that the IRA had decommissioned their arms at a news conference in September 2005 10 Reid was involved in controversy in November 2005 when he made comments during a meeting in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church concerning the Unionist community in Northern Ireland 11 When the loyalist activist Willie Frazer made remarks that Catholics had butchered Protestants during the Troubles Reid angrily responded You don t want to hear the truth The reality is that the nationalist community in Northern Ireland were treated almost like animals by the unionist community They were not treated like human beings They were treated like the Nazis treated the Jews 12 13 Reid later apologised saying his remarks had been made in the heat of the moment 2 In an interview with CNN he said that The IRA were if you like a violent response to the suppression of human rights 14 Awards edit1995 Along with Dr Martin Mansergh and Presbyterian minister the Reverend Roy Magee he was awarded the 1995 Tipperary International Peace Award 15 now described as Ireland s outstanding award for humanitarian work 16 2005 awarded an honorary doctorate by NUI Galway 2008 received the Gandhi Foundation International Peace Award together with Reverend Harold Good 17 2008 made an Honorary Graduate of the University of Ulster and made a Doctor of the University DUniv in their Summer Graduation ceremonies in recognition of his contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process 18 2009 awarded the Reflections of Hope Award by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum 1 References edit a b BBC News Northern Ireland peace process priest Fr Alec Reid dies BBC co uk 22 November 2013 Archived from the original on 27 November 2018 Retrieved 22 November 2013 a b c Peter Crutchley 31 August 2014 IRA ceasefire 20 years on The priest who brokered the peace BBC News UK Archived from the original on 27 November 2018 Retrieved 31 August 2014 Peace process priest Alec Reid dies Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Nenagh Guardian 22 November 2013 Rev Alec Reid permanent dead link Queen s University Belfast Retrieved on 15 August 2008 Brother Brendan Mulhall Father Alec Reid C Ss R Archived 3 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine Redemptorists Denver 17 May 2006 Hanley Brian Millar Scott 2010 The Lost Revolution The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers Party Penguin Books Limited ISBN 978 0 14 102845 3 Peacemaking Belfast priest Fr Des Wilson dies aged 94 Sinn Fein s Gerry Adams has said there would be no peace process without his work The Irish Times Retrieved 22 August 2023 Remembering Father Alec Reid Archived from the original on 4 June 2019 Retrieved 2 January 2020 Simpson Mark 1 February 2019 Gerry Adams New York in 1994 visit pivotal to peace BBC News Archived from the original on 8 May 2019 Retrieved 1 February 2020 Cullen Kevin Maintaining belief in peace aided N Ireland transformation Archived 15 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine The Boston Globe 27 September 2005 Unionists like Nazis says priest David Sharrock Ireland Correspondent The Times London England Thursday 13 October 2005 pg 17 Issue 68517 Irish priest provokes fury with unionist Nazi jibe Archived 18 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine Breaking News ie 13 October 2005 Unionist anger over Nazi remarks Archived 30 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine BBC News 13 October 2005 Retrieved on 9 August 2008 ETA Announces Ceasefire Archived 21 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine CNN Transcript 22 March 2006 Tipperary Peace Convention Tipperary Peace Convention Archived from the original on 1 July 2010 Retrieved 25 May 2015 Ralph Riegel 21 August 2013 Mandela Clinton and Geldof among the former winners Irish Independent Archived from the original on 26 May 2015 Retrieved 25 May 2015 2008 Peace Award amp Annual Lecture Harold Good amp Alec Reid The Gandhi Foundation Archived from the original on 6 November 2013 Retrieved 22 November 2013 Honour for Peacemaker Priest Archived 20 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine University of Ulster News Release 4 July 2008External links editRev Alec Reid receives an honorary degree from Queen s University Belfast Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp Northern Ireland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alec Reid amp oldid 1182526063, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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