The Easter Peace: A Dramatic Deal Raises Northern Ireland's Hopes

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There are few Pollyannas in Northern Ireland. "Peace walls" divide Protestant and Roman Catholic neighborhoods, shootings and bombings have taken more than 3,000 lives in the past 30 years and graffiti spell out sectarian hate. Under tremendous pressure last week, the region's most powerful politicians reached an agreement on a new form of government for the troubled province--a deal that may be the most important since Ireland's independence in 1921. But the public reaction was guarded, more relief than euphoria. The Good Friday settlement "won't cure all the ills," said Belfast Mayor Alban Maginness. But he added: "We are moving from the politics of strife and violence into the …