Although recent events are testing its durability, the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 has been hailed as a triumph of Anglo-Irish diplomacy. But why did it take 30 years of intense conflict to reach an understanding of the problem before a solution could be implemented? In this analysis, centuries-old misperceptions between the two islands are scrutinized and recent seismic shifts are examined, including the changing nature of Irish nationalism and the role of Irish-America in both shaping and resolving conflict. The study seeks to demonstrate how even the most intractable conflicts can be made more malleable.