STATES OF CHANGE - REFLECTIONS ON IRELAND IN SEVERAL UNCERTAIN PARTS

The November 1994 crisis over the extradition to Northern Ireland of a paedophile priest was generally seen in Ireland as marking 'a watersh ed in the political life of the state'. It provoked unprecedented publ ic interest, raised fundamental questions about democracy and appeared to crystallize the long process of state-church realignment which has been taking place in Ireland for more than two decades. This paper re flects on the repercussions of the crisis, from a personal perspective , and especially with regard to changing gender relations in the Repub lic and the emergence of peace in Northern Ireland.