A very reasonable point Pippa; although I have to say, the comments on this article feel almost like Pulitzer Award winning articles for their thoughtfullness, even-handedness and lack of prejudice (that's not very sarcastic) in comparison to some of the comments on other articles; have you seen those in response to 'Family of woman seized by Iran tell of Distress'??

Lil, London,

I agree with Pippa; it's great to see progress. Seeing the the two warhorses smiling at each other in this morning's paper was hard to believe, to say the least. However, this would not be the first time that men of war have turned into men of peace as they begin to think about their legacies. I am delighted that Mr. Paisley and Mr. Adams have taken the first steps in this direction. Let's hope and assume that they will continue in their quest for a lasting peace.

John McSweeny, Ottawa Hills, USA

Perhaps now we can safely assume that the fascist criminal gangs of the IRA and their Protestant counterparts will be wound back by the emerging Northern State.Should this not be achieved very quickly and with speed then another generation of Irish people will reap the whirlwind of murder and extortion.
Given that most people want economic certainty and security coupled with lasting peace then Mr.Adams and the Rev'd Paisley must grasp this nettle and eradicate the noxious weeds of terrorism,extortion and vigilantism

Eddie Keane, Brisbane, Australia

An Afrikaner once told me the reason that a settlement was reached in South Africa: The Afrikaners, Christians, could not bring themselves to do what it would take to stay in power. In Northern Ireland, both sides, most likely have come to the same conclusion, based on the same religious ethos. To prove that not only Christians can do this, Hamas and Israeli, Pakistani and Hindu, Tamil and Buddhist, ought to consider what happened yesterday in Stormont as an example worthy of emulation. Atheists, agnostics, and neo-pagans, in the meantime, might pause and ponder.

Sid Cundiff, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Now this new and young generation of Northern Irishers, be they oft the Nationalist or Loyalist tradition, have the opportunity to work out their own destiny. Ireland once educated all of Europe; this new generation, in developing a new country, perhaps united at last, may show the new Europe and a divided America how to set a new kind of national direction. Please God.

patricia o'hagen, rockville centre, new york/usa

Well all the comments below serve to improve relations don't they! Anyone got anything positive to say? Progress is progress at the end of the day. It's easy to be sceptical, and understandable perhaps. But each fresh attempt, whatever the motive, should be given a fresh chance to succeed.

Pippa , Liverpool,

It is difficult to achieve peace when you dwell on the mistakes and grievances of the past. Paisley and Adams should see themselves as having the key to a stable society for their people and they need to act in the interest of the future of Northern Ireland. Though hard decisions are difficult to make, pursuing and achieving true peace should be the vision and mission of the two men. A peaceful and stable Northern Ireland would not only enshrine their names in the history book of honour but also make them potential candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Azuma Kalu, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Very considered opinion Gordon that the "Irish" deserve to be stuck on an island with one another. Your friend, who commented "whatever, I dare say, is in all likelihood not "Irish" at all, but rather British. We Irish of course didn't want the division of our island, we didn't want 50 odd years of Stormont majoritarian rule backed up by a British guarantee, and we most certainly did not want British soldiers roaming the streets of Northern Ireland implementing a shoot-to-kill policy at the behest of a strong-headed Tory Government. The problems which we have in Ireland, like Palestine and Kashmir, are in small measure due to former British imperialist policies. What a pity that some British today choose not to take the time to fully understand it. For my own part, the Scots more than deserve to be on an island with the English and from rising Nationalism north of the border, it seems your own problems are just around the corner!!

Reg Kearns, Dublin,

Old enemies - share the future. Well they would share it anyway. It doesn't mean they would agree. I used to think that I wanted Paisley dead. Now at last in this agreement, I think I can put my 35 year condemnation of the Protestants to rest. It's hard to believe that peace is finally here.

As hard to believe that it is, I wish it the ultimate success.

A united Ireland - rest at last.

Danny of Australia, Adelaide, Australia

That inexhaustible supply of cynicism is still evident in these first two comments from Belfast. One of the most historic days in a terrible recent history and all that can be said is "whatever"!! The Irish deserve to be stuck on an island with each other.

Gordon Robson, Ayr, Scotland

Now they are talking of when they stop for the summer, that is after they start work in May!

Hugh, Belfast,

Whatever!

Robin, Belfast, NI

It wont take long now for the country of Ireland to be re-united, what a pleasure.

Mike, Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire

This has to go down as one of most historic events of the 21st century. If Tony Blair ever worries about his 'legacy' then he need look no further than to NI. He and his government have delivered something that looked impossible, a permanent peace in NI.

Justin Kirby, Livingston, West Lothian

Can americans refrain from commenting as we have all see what happens when they get involved in a conflict. In fact anyone who is not from Ireland/N.Ireland should keep their nose out too!

Matthew , Omagh,

I'd like to congratulate Bobby from Palm Springs for his positive and constructive comment! Let's hope there are a great deal more open mined people in both the north and south?

David, Melbourne, Australia

Never a fan of Paisley. Always one of God.

That old Chinese adage " if you wait long enough you will see the body of your enemy float by" ( or words to that effect) seems thankfully redundant. Life is to be treasured!

To be honest, neither of the two figures fill me with any warmth but if their positions today are embraced by their respective communities I´ll be the first to congratulate them.

I´m from an Irish background but, for several generations now, an Englishman. I genuinely hope Ireland finds the degree of tolerance which is commonplace in the mainland - despite the rants of the curmudgeonly cliques.

God bless all those men and women of good will. Hopefully, Northern Ireland´s next generation will know peace as the norm ratther than the exception.

Nigel, Caracas, Venezuela

It's about time.. now if we could just get those pesky iraqis to submit...

Austin Johnson, Dallas, Texas

The Island is Ireland; all of it.

Bobby, Palm Springs, California