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TRIBUTES HAVE POURED in across the political divide following the announcement of the death of former Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.
The longstanding Sinn Féin member had been one of the dominant personas in Northern Ireland politics since the 1980s.
He played a vital role in the peace process, taking on the job of chief negotiator for Sinn Féin in the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement.
President Michael D Higgins released a statement this morning paying tribute to McGuinness and expressing sympathy with his family.
“The world of politics and the people across this island will miss the leadership he gave, shown most clearly during the difficult times of the peace process, and his commitment to the values of genuine democracy that he demonstrated in the development of the institutions in Northern Ireland,” President Higgins said.
As President of Ireland, I wish to pay tribute to his immense contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland – a contribution which has rightly been recognised across all shades of opinion.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said McGuinness will “always be remembered for the remarkable political journey that he undertook in his lifetime”.
“Not only did Martin come to believe that peace must prevail, he committed himself to working tirelessly to that end,” he said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said that she could not support what he did before turning to politics, but that he was a “vital part” of the peace process.
“While I can never condone the path he took in the earlier part of his life, Martin McGuinness ultimately played a defining role in leading the republican movement away from violence,” she said. “In doing so, he made an essential and historic contribution to the extraordinary journey of Northern Ireland from conflict to peace.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin TDs and politicians from the UK and Ireland both north and south of the border have paid tribute to McGuinness.
Speaking outside Leinster House, Mary Lou McDonald said:
His legacy is a peaceful future, that future that he helped to secure for our island and the advancement of the movement for Irish unity which gathers pace year-on-year.
Sinn Féin leader in the North Michelle O’Neill described him as a “legend” and a “friend and mentor”.
“My heart is broke this morning,” she said.
We have lost a legend, a giant of a man. I’m very proud to say he was my friend and mentor.
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams released a statement, saying that McGuinness had shown “great determination, dignity and humility” throughout his life and his illness.
“He was a passionate republican who worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation and for the re-unification of his country. But above all he loved his family and the people of Derry and he was immensely proud of both,” Adams said.
Across the political divide, DUP leader Arlene Foster has also paid tribute to McGuinness, expressing her sympathies with his family.
“I want to express my sincere condolences, both personally and on behalf of our party, to the McGuinness family upon hearing the news of the passing of former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness,” Foster said.
“History will record differing views and opinions on the role Martin McGuinness played throughout the recent and not so recent past but history will also show that his contribution to the political and peace process was significant.
He served the people of Northern Ireland as deputy first minister for nearly a decade and was pivotal in bringing the republican movement towards a position of using peaceful and democratic means.
Foster said that McGuinness had worked to build “the relative peace we now enjoy” in Northern Ireland.
“While our differing backgrounds and life experiences inevitably meant there was much to separate us, we shared a deep desire to see the devolved institutions working to achieve positive results for everyone,” she said.
I know that he believed that the institutions were the basis for building stability.
Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said the island of Ireland lost an important political figure and he acknowledged his contribution to peace in Northern Ireland.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Flanagan said he had seen “first hand” the manner in which he embraced and worked within the peace process.
“I’ve seen firsthand the manner in which he… professionally engaged in ensuring that peace and stability as envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement was realised,” he said.
Flanagan also said that he liked McGuinness on a personal level, and referenced the “threats he withstood on a daily basis” from dissident republicans who didn’t support the peace process.
“I liked Martin McGuinness, I liked him personally, he was personally very charming,” said Flanagan.
“He was always very courteous, but having experienced first hand his personal contribution to building peace and consolidating the peace process I feel sad.
A sad day. Martin McGuinness was a man who travelled on a long journey and he did so with great conviction.
Former UK government press secretary Alastair Campbell described him as a “great guy”.
“So sad Martin McGuinness has died,” he tweeted.
Some will never forgive his past but without him there would be no peace. The man I knew was a great guy.
As well as opposition politicians, tributes and expressions of grief have been pouring in from Sinn Féin TDs and rank and file members on the loss of one of their political giants.
McGuinness is survived by his wife Bernie, his four children Grainne, Fiachra, Fionnuala and Emmet, and his grandchildren and extended family.
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Hopefully now that things are calming he might take time out to release a new Gangham song for us fans.
Quick! Someone stop Leo before he invites him here!
@pats brandon: what has Leo got to do with this?
@Fabio Dillon: it’s called a humorous comment and as for Leo and Kim that won’t happen as there is no way you can be seen to meet with a monster, who has destroyed his peoples lives and forced more than a few people to leave their home and birth place for a better life and whose people are now suffering from food shortage, no money and health system that is 3rd world and has people dying as a result.
But if Kim has no problem with this and can overlook Leo’s faults and failings to the irish people so be it
@nelly:
Trying to compare Ireland to NK is moronic, even if its an attempt to be humourous.
@Walt Jabsco: so sorry snowflake, did I upset you
@Walt Jabsco: who performed your humour bypass?
Damn good whoever it was….
@Dessie Deratta:
I have a great sense of humour thanks sweetheart – it’s just that there was nothing even remotely funny in Nelly’s comment.
@Walt Jabsco: 25 thumbs up and counting says different. Unfortunately the journal and snowflakes, like yourself got rid of the red thumbs down, as you don’t do rejection well. Smiley face, smiley face, humorous face, laughing face. Wave bye bye
@Walt Jabsco: I’d say you’re great Craic over a pint.
@nelly: except for food shortage, I agree 100%
@Walt Jabsco: No you don’t and yes there was.
@pats brandon: Leo can invite Justin Trudea for an afternoon of ..
Orange Mocha Frappuccino’s ! !!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTrxEQnPtAg
@nelly: yeah it’s not a humorous comment. Completely and utterly a non relevant comment. Thanks for your dribble though.
Chins finally taking some responsibility for this rogue leader with nuclear weapons which they created…….Have to give Trump some credit for this…..
@pc_comments: What are you talking about?
@pc_comments: in this case you could use the common typo “rouge regime” and still be right.
@pc_comments: yes, puzzled myself. Read somewhere, USA has 5500 nuke warheads, Russia has about 4000 nukes, China has 250, India and Pakistan have about 5 each, and there is world panic that Rocket Man may have 1 ???
Expel some Chinese diplomats.
We don’t need an actual reason….or must we wait till British spooks instruct us to?
@Dessie Deratta: What has china done on ireland?
@Sean Conway: What have the Russians done to Ireland? Tory boys Leo and Simon wanting to please their superiors.
@Dessie Deratta: Stick to your day job.
@Sean Conway: As we see from the Russian affair we don’t need a reason…neither China nor Russia have every done Ireland any harm.
But lets expel them to show solidarity with the Pentagon.
Donald will sort out all those lads
@Ger Burke: The guy can’t even hire a lawyer.
@Larry Doyle: Thanks for the leftie input. Took a while for you to come up with that I’d say.
Now, let’s hope these two lads can sort things out themselves. No need for the US to stick their beak in. N.korea are no more a threat to the world than Wales are.
@Centerro:
Tell that to the South Koreans
@Walt Jabsco: actually the SoKos are scared that Trump will start a war that will kill millions of them.
@Dessie Deratta:
It’s possible to be afraid of both the US and NK you know. They just don’t want a war full stop, and who could blame them?
@Walt Jabsco: It’s ok for th US to have a civil war. but korea or anyone shouldn’t?
@Sean Conway: They did have one. 1950 to 1952. Read a history book.
Another triumph for Trump.
Its a good step forward
Funny how a guy that’s worshipped so much in North Korea is so scared that he has to take secret trips abroad. Thought he’d be a guy for full state honours when he travels abroad. But then the north Koreans probably don’t even know he’s gone!
@Adrian: apparently he is afraid of flying.
Perhaps not for the same reason that many people are.
@Adrian: probably so much secrecy because he’s scared of being assassinated or being kidnapped by the CIA.
If either happened the country would deny it and his clone would take over!
I’d love to go for a pint him
@johnbunton: with him
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