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Gerry Adams (born October 6, 1948) has been the president of Sinn Fein, a political party in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and in [[Northern Ireland]], since 1983. He is also a member of the [[United Kingdom]] parliament, representing the Belfast West constituency. Adams was one of the key figures in the [[Irish peace process]], which culminated with the 1998 [[Good Friday Agreement]].
Gerry Adams (born October 6, 1948) has been the president of Sinn Fein, a political party in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and in [[Northern Ireland]], since 1983. He is also a member of the [[United Kingdom]] parliament, representing the Belfast West constituency. Adams was one of the key figures in the [[Irish peace process]], which culminated with the 1998 [[Good Friday Agreement]].
== Early life ==
Gerard Adams (Gearóid Mac Ádhaimh in Irish Gaelic) was born into a Catholic Nationalist family in West Belfast as one of 10 siblings. Both sides of the family had an extensive history of involvement in Nationalist activities. Adams attended primary school in Belfast, but left school early to become a bartender, and joined Sinn Fein in 1964.
== Republican activity ==
It has been claimed that Adams was an important figure in the [[IRA]] from the early 1970s<ref>Moloney, E. (2002). A Secret History of the IRA. New York: WJ Wiley.</ref> He was interned without trial in 1971 but released in July 1972 to participate in negotiations with the British government. Adams has consistently denied ever being an IRA member.<ref>Cowan, R. (2002). Adams denies IRA links as book calls him genius. ''The Guardian''.</ref>