Bertie Ahern: Thirty years after historic ceasefire, let's remember those who helped silence the guns

It is exactly three decades today since the IRA laid down its arms.

Former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds and former SDLP leader John Hume shake hands after their meeting at Government Buildings in Dublin on September 6, 1994. Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the IRA ceasefire of August 1994. It was a day that many of us thought would never come, given the almost intractable nature of the conflict that had raged for 25 years.

August 31 will also mark 10 years and 10 days since the death of Albert Reynolds, the man who, as prime minister, did more than anyone to secure the ceasefire in the face of scepticism and criticism for daring to believe that an end to the violence was possible in the summer of 1994.