ABSTRACT
In 1975 the British government engaged in covert negotiations with the leadership of the Provisional IRA (PIRA). These negotiations led to a prolonged truce in PIRA violence against the state. This truce, and the parallel negotiations, changed the trajectory of both the PIRA and the Troubles themselves. They ultimately led to a change in leadership at the top of Sinn Fein and the PIRA. They also provided some valuable lessons for those entering into future negotiations, on all sides. This chapter analyses the republican interpretation of the talks and the truce. It does so by analysing notes from the negotiation meetings, provided by Ruairi O’Bradaigh, one of the chief negotiators. This is combined with the analysis of interviews with leadership and rank and file membership of both the PIRA and Sinn Fein. These are all analysed to assess the effect that this had on the trajectory of Provisional republicanism.
