The death of Albert Reynolds: Unburdened by political baggage

THOUGH his term of office as Taoiseach was one of the shortest, the contribution made by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who has died at the age of 81, to the making of an enduring peace on this island will go down in the pages of Irish and British history as one of the most important achievements of our time.

Businessman, dance hall owner, showband promoter, pet food manufacturer, and publisher, he was born in Rooskey, Co Roscommon, and got his first job as a railway porter.

A self-made man, he was unburdened by political baggage and fitted comfortably into the role of statesman in tortuous peace negotiations between Dublin and London. He had a relationship of absolute trust with former British prime minister John Major who said he was "at the heart of the success of the Irish peace process".