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How was the Good Friday Agreement approved in the 1998 referendums?
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the Troubles
Local people walking past a British soldier on guard in Northern Ireland, August 1969.
The Good Friday Agreement was approved through a historic, jointly held referendum in Ireland and Northern Ireland on May 22, 1998, marking the first all-Ireland vote since 1918.1
The agreement received strong public backing, though the results highlighted the deep sectarian divisions within Northern Ireland:1
- Ireland: The agreement was approved by 94 percent of voters.12
- Northern Ireland: The agreement was approved by 71 percent of voters.12
While the overall support in Northern Ireland was clear, there was a significant disparity between the two main communities: 96 percent of Catholics voted in favor of the agreement, compared to only 52 percent of Protestants. This split underscored the ongoing challenges in resolving the region's long-standing sectarian conflict.1