Dr. Martin Mansergh, Rev. Roy Magee, and Fr. Alec Reid were the pivotal "backroom" architects of the Northern Ireland peace process. Working largely in the shadows, this trio bridged the gap between warring paramilitaries and sovereign governments, creating the trust necessary for the 1994 ceasefires and the subsequent Good Friday Agreement.Dr. Martin Mansergh, a Protestant Republican and advisor to three Taoisigh, acted as the intellectual bridge for the Irish government. He famously translated the aspirations of Sinn Féin into language acceptable to constitutional democracy. Fr. Alec Reid, a Redemptorist priest based at Clonard Monastery, served as the primary conduit for Gerry Adams, literally carrying secret communiqués under his coat—even while famously administering last rites to soldiers during the 1988 "corporals killings." Rev. Roy Magee, a Presbyterian minister, performed a parallel, high-stakes role within Loyalist circles, persuading the CLMC to lay down arms by addressing their fears of a "sell-out."Together, they were awarded the 1995 Tipperary International Peace Award. While Mansergh passed away in September 2025, the collective legacy of these three men remains a testament to the power of persistent, quiet diplomacy in ending decades of bloodshed.