This morning I awoke to the sad news that former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald had passed away. “Garret the Good” as he was known was always someone held in high regard in my family. He is one of the Giants of Irish Politics. He gave his all to Irish Politics and was a shining example of active citizenship in this country.
He was the founding fathers of Young Fine Gael as part of his reorganisation of Fine Gael in 1977. He is one of the reasons I joined the Fine Gael party. He dragged the Fine Gael party to the centre and allowed it be the party that is now.
Garret played a massive role in the peace process in Northern Ireland and this weeks events is a testament to the ground work he did.
Also Garret was Minister for Foreign Affairs during Ireland’s first EU Presidency and was widely praised for this. He interest in Europe never waned and he was involved in the campaigns for the Nice and Lisbon Treaties. In future campaigns on Europe he will be sorely missed. For both his passion and his intellect.
We now as a state must be thankful to Garret for what he did for us.
My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. May he Rest in Peace.
Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis
Links
- Statement on the Death of Former Taoiseach and Founder of Young Fine Gael Garrett Fitzgerald – YFG.ie
- Ireland wakes to the news of Garret FitzGerald’s death – the political world reacts – Journal.ie
- “Gentleman”, “statesman” and “servant” all trending – Twitter tributes to Garret FitzGerald – Journal.ie
- President hails FitzGerald as Renaissance man – RTÉ
- Gallery: Garret FitzGerald – RTÉ
Related articles
- Garret FitzGerald (sluggerotoole.com)
- Former Irish PM Garret FitzGerald dies (ft.com)
- Garret FitzGerald: The nicest man in Irish politics (independent.co.uk)
