at least eight million of the English population are Irish or of Irish descent.’
‘That’s right,’ Keogh said. ‘But the American tradition is especially strong. You know, that year I went to Berlin with Jack Kennedy and he made a famous speech. He challenged the Communist system. He said “Ich bin ein Berliner”. At that moment in time he was the most famous man in the world.’
‘Absolutely,’ John Major said, ‘and deservedly so.’
‘Then he went to Ireland, to Dublin, and stayed at our Embassy in Phoenix Park. Then Wexford and on to Dunganstown and Mary Kennedy Ryan’s cottage. First cousins, second cousins, every kind of cousin.’ Patrick Keogh laughed. ‘They all turned up. When he visited New Ross the town shut down and then he spoke to the Irish Parliament.’ Keogh shook his head. ‘When he left at Shannon Airport thousands turned out to see him go. Women were crying.’
‘I know,’ Clinton said. ‘By the way, the Irish Prime Minister sends his regrets. He’d hoped to be with us but the peace movement has gathered such momentum in Ireland, he just couldn’t leave.’
‘I understand,’ Keogh said. ‘So what is it you want me to do?’
Clinton turned to John Major. ‘Prime Minister?’
‘As the President has said, we’d like you to go to Ireland. Let me explain. The peace process has moved very fast. Gerry Adams for Sinn Fein and John Hume have between them started a genuine groundswell towards peace in the communities.’
‘Do you believe this to be true of the Protestant Loyalists as well?’ Keogh asked.
‘Yes, in the generality. The hardliners on both sides will still be a difficulty and if the IRA do stand down, a further problem will be in persuading the other side that it’s genuine, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.’ John Major smiled. ‘I call it the Paisley bridge.’
Keogh grinned. ‘Now that is one hell of a bridge to cross.’
President Clinton said, ‘But first and foremost we need a ceasefire from the IRA. Adams and Sinn Fein have tried hard and so have Bruce Morrison and his friends, but it’s a question of persuading the hardliners to agree. It can’t be partial, it must be total. All or nothing.’
‘The thing is,’ Major said, ‘there’s the prospect of a secret meeting in Ireland soon, all sections of the IRA getting together, even splinter groups like INLA. Now, if you could attend that meeting, throw your weight behind Adams, John Hume and the peace movement, the effect might be incalculable.’
‘Your name means a lot over there,’ the President said. ‘It might just tip the balance.’
Keogh shook his head. ‘I’m not so sure. Why should they listen to Patrick Keogh? I’ve not been exactly everybody’s cup of coffee for some time now.’
‘It’s worth a try, Patrick, don’t put yourself down.’ Clinton got up and paced around. ‘Politics is so often just a game. No one knows that better than the three of us, but now and then – not very often perhaps – but now and then, something comes along that’s worth everything. I think that after twenty-five years of war in Ireland we might just have a chance this time of doing something about it and I sure as hell would hate to see that chance go.’
There was silence for a moment. Keogh sat there, frowning, and then he sighed. ‘I’d find it difficult to argue with that. So how am I going to get in on this meeting?’
‘Nothing official,’ Clinton said. ‘Look around this office. You don’t see my National Security Adviser, no CIA presence, no one from the FBI or Justice and State. The Prime Minister and I believe that this should be under wrappers until it’s actually happened.’
‘And how in the hell do we do that?’
‘I’ve given the matter some thought,’ Clinton said. ‘And then the other day I saw something rather interesting in the Washington Post. There was a report that mentioned a stained-glass window of your great-great-uncle who was a Catholic bishop and which was recently installed at Drumgoole Abbey. It’s a convent run by the Little Sisters of Pity, I understand.’
‘That’s correct, Mr President.’
‘This stained-glass window is in a small chapel, the Keogh Chapel. I understand you helped create a foundation to assist in the development of the school the Little Sisters run there?’
‘I was fortunate enough to be able to interest a few business associates in the work there.’
‘But you’ve not visited the place yet?’
‘I will when I can,’ Keogh told him.
‘Why not now, Patrick?’ Clinton said. ‘Let’s say you go to Paris on holiday. The press won’t get too excited about that. You go via Ireland, put down at Shannon Airport and proceed onwards by helicopter to Drumgoole Abbey, announcing that you want to visit the chapel.’
‘You see the point,’ John Major put in. ‘The press and TV are caught on the hop. You’re on your way before they know it’s happening.’
‘That’s right,’ Clinton said. ‘If you turn up, they’ll lay on a service at the abbey, turn out the kids from the boarding school and wave you off as you fly back to Shannon, only on the way you’ll put down at a place called Ardmore House. That’s where the Sinn Fein and IRA meeting will take place. You’ll do your thing …’
‘For good or ill,’ Keogh said.
‘For good, Patrick, I’m certain of it, then back to Shannon and onwards to Paris.’
Keogh nodded slowly. ‘Totally secret, the whole thing.’
‘Absolutely. You see, the visit to Drumgoole Abbey would take care of any reports of you being sighted at Shannon, provide an explanation. The Mother Superior wouldn’t be told of your visit until you were on the way.’
‘Yes, I understand that.’
There was another pause and John Major said gently, ‘Is there a problem, Senator?’
‘Only if this doesn’t stay top secret,’ Patrick Keogh said. ‘I’m aware that the American Ambassador in Dublin has received death threats from hardline Protestant Loyalist groups. I understand she’s been referred to as that Kennedy bitch. God knows what they’d call me.’
‘Yes, we are very concerned about the other side’s attitude in all this,’ John Major said. ‘But we can’t let that stand in the way of our negotiations.’
‘Of course not,’ Keogh said. ‘But if news got out about what I’m supposed to be trying to achieve there are those on the Orange side of the line who might think it would make sense to remove me permanently from the scene. Let’s face it, the murder of Liam Bell doesn’t exactly fill one with hope.’
Clinton went back to his chair behind the desk and sat down. ‘God knows, this wouldn’t be a picnic, and we are asking you to put yourself on the line. That’s why I suggest following the procedure I’ve laid out. All very low key. Only a very small circle of people will know.’
‘What about the IRA conference? They’ll know.’
