Reynolds was the main architect of the preace we all enjoy today

The generous tributes paid from all sides of the political spectrum yesterday on the death of Albert Reynolds were well-deserved by the former Taoiseach and government member.

Happily the increasingly shrill political partisanship which blights the public discourse here now was set aside for a short while at least.

Reynolds served the country well, as an energetic and pragmatic minister. As Taoiseach he was a leading driver, if not the leading driver, of the peace process, including the 1994 IRA ceasefire, culminating in the arrangements which have given us 20 years of peace.

This surely ranks as the political achievenment of the last half century on this island.

People who did not live through the accursed Troubles may find it hard to fully appreciate what that meant. Those of us who did will never forget the daily dismay which the news from the North brought into our lives.

Murders and maimings, suffering of the vilest kinds were the constant backdrop to our everyday existence. These were made all the more meaningless as they achieved so very little other than perpetuating hatred across communities and generations.

By using his considerable talents as a persuader, negotiator and dealmaker, Albert Reynolds, with many courageous people of goodwill managed to bring an end to the horror most of us feared would never cease. What would the betting have been that he and his collaborators, British, Irish and American, nationalist and unionist, north and south would succeed?

Very long odds, odds that might have daunted a less robust character. Reynolds and his equally determined collaborators beat those odds, and the pay-off was, and continues to be, massive.

His pragamtism should not be forgotten either. He was the first leader of Fianna Fáil to accept that the days of single-party Governnet were over and he entered a coalition with Labour. This may not have ended happily, essentially because Reynolds’ stubborn side could not be placated, but it was milestone moment. His contribution to generating economic growth should not be underestimated either.

Sadly, his final years were blighted by serious illness. The greatest monument to Albert Reynolds and to those humanitarians who worked with him to end the nightmare of the North will be the careful preservation of the peace which prevails, hopefully leading to long-term peace and prosperity for all the people of Ireland.

SG de Paor

Kilbredeoga

Co Chorcaí