Later there was a new ceasefire , and there were talks between teams from the British and Irish governments , the Ulster Unionist Party , the SDLP , Sinn FÃ in and representatives of loyalist paramilitary organizations , under the chairmanship of former United States Senator Mitchell . The talks produced the Belfast Agreement ( also called the Good Friday Agreement as it was signed on Good Friday , 1998 ) . A re-instituted ceasefire later followed as part of the negotiations strategy , which saw teams from the British and Irish governments , the Ulster Unionist Party , the SDLP , Sinn FÃ in and representatives of loyalist paramilitary organizations , under the chairmanship of former United States Senator George Mitchell , produced the Belfast Agreement ( also called the Good Friday Agreement as it was signed on Good Friday , 1998 ) .