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FORMER CEANN COMHAIRLE Sean Treacy, who spent nearly four decades in public office, has died aged 94.
The Clonmel man served as TD for Tipperary South from 1961 to 1997. He died at Tipperary South General Hospital last night.
A conservative Labour Party member, he was expelled from the party in 1985 after voting against the Family Planning Bill, which was introduced by the party’s own health minister Barry Desmond.
He would retain his seat as an independent from 1985 until his retirement in 1997. He also served as an MEP for Munster from 1981 to 1984.
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin paid tribute to Treacy.
“”I served with Seán in the Parliamentary Party over the years and I know he was a fantastic representative for the people of his constituency of Tipperary South.
“I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family, friends and all those who knew and worked with him at local and EU level.”
Labour Party TD for Tipperary Alan Kelly said:
“I am very saddened to hear today of the death of former Ceann Comhairle and Labour TD for Tipperary South, Seán Tracey who provided decades of service to the constituency and in particular the people of Clonmel.
“Seán preceded me as TD in Tipperary and MEP in Munster, and I know he will be greatly missed by all who knew and served with him, whether as Councillor, TD or MEP.
“He made a huge contribution to our county and our country, and in particular his immense service as Ceann Comhairle and on the Council of State.”
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There will a lot anti IRA comments here today but remember Martin Mcguinness oversaw peace in our lifetime. Something I didn’t think was possible when they started the talks. He stood up for those with no voice and made people listen. RIP
@Brian Lenehan: red thumb yerself ya clown.
@Brian Lenehan: incredibly insensitive saying this after so suddenly after he died. RIP Martin
@Brian Lenehan: #red thumb. He didn’t stoke hatred. He was fighting injustice and oppression. Just shows how little you know or care about the North. He is to be commended for making the shift to peace and dialogue. The north would not be the same had it not been for the thought and bravery to go against the bulk of other IRA members and join the peace process. RIP Martin.
@Brian Lenehan: he was a hero to this Irish person. A man who stood and fought for what he believed and had the stones to bring the IRA to the talks table. I hope he is honoured north and south of the border.
@john Appleseed: I totally agree with Brian but I must say this man has done far more good for Northern Ireland than most. I disagree with him on many things but today I will admit I admire & respected him. My thoughts are with him & his family.
@David one person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighters. RIP Mo chara
@Brian Lenehan: ah yes the comfortable 26 counties man who has absolutely no comprehension of the absolute horror situation young catholic people in the six counties found themselves in during the early 1970s . Indiscriminate killings of Catholics , a system dedicated to keeping the catholic population down with widespread discrimination. The unionist regime allied to the British government created the situation, no one else
Well said, people forget there was a war going on at the time.
@Joe O’riordan: Joe it appears you have absolutely no comprehension of the absolute horror the IRA brought to all citizens of the north.
You need to find better idols.
@Brian Lenehan: I’m vehemently anti IRA. They sicken me and I think they are a symbol of failure. Violence always is. I’m a pacifist. But I have respect for McGuinness, the journey he took and the journey he brought others on. His passing is a loss to the tapestry of peace in Northern Ireland, although I must acknowledge the loss of those human beings murdered by the IRA, no less valuable than Mr McGuinness.
Few people could have build bridges the way he did. May he rest in peace.
@Dilly Dong: We judge ability on height and appearance?? Unless you’re 12 years old that is just a pathetic comment.
@Joe O’riordan: I respected McGuinness far more than i do Adams. I take your point about the horrors experienced by catholics so its a sad irony that republican terrorists killed more catholics than the British army did. The north has come a long way, with a lot as yet unfinished.
@Martin Byrne: I agree with John Appleseed. Thats a ridiculous comment. What has you so ‘vehemently’ anti- IRA? I did’nt see you mention the countless human beings that were murdered by the Crown Forces over the centuries, or the deaths by attempted genocide on this island, or internment without trial leading to the deaths of our Hunger Strikers. You sound like a fool Martin, get on your knees and beg forgiveness.
@Eamonn O’Riain: gobsh*te
@john Appleseed: As with his partner, Ian Paisley, it’s better to celebrate the later years than dwell on the early period. There can be no doubt that McGuinness had a genuine turnaround and came to understand what was required to create meaningful unity among the peoples of Ireland. His influence will be missed in the current difficult period.
@Martin Byrne: read some history before you start s##t talking on forums like here!!!!
Totally agree with you john Appleseed. Calling a man a dwarf just because he is not tall is despicable & childish. I hope @Dilly Dong does not have children to pass his views on to. Our president is a giant of a man in many ways.
@Paul: day after day in the 80s, yet another report of someone being shot or blown up by the IRA. It seemed like it would never end (and if Ruairi OBradaigh had had his way, they’d still ne at it). The 2 Australians shot by mistake in Germany, the bombing of the army band at Deal, Tim Parry, Enniskillen – and that’s just off the top of my head. The IRA may have started out with noble intentions but it very quickly became an evil, twisted, intransigent terror group and McGuinness and Adams were right to see the futility of its MO, even if they couldn’t stop being apologists for it.
@Joe: that’s the thing about violence- it always ‘feels’ like the right response. ‘Let’s get the b@st@rds.’ But unless you have overwhelming power and are willing to use it, it drags on, self-perpetuating and poisoning everything. It musn’t be forgotten that the IRA was not thw only way to respond to Unionist oppression. John Hume and Seamus Mallon took a different path.
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.
@Thomas Reilly: really Thomas! (god) i thought you were the “doubting one”
@Scundered: To have some perspective scundered I,d advise you to read the stories of Dan Breen, Tom Barry and other leaders in the war of independence and civil war.I agree with you about the horror the IRA brought to NI but if you don’t look at the reasons why the IRA came into the scene in the late 60,s then you are missing the point completely. By the way if you want to talk about absolute horror then look no further than what the british empire has done worldwide.
A terrorist who ignored the democratic wishes of the Irish people for decades, contributing to the murder and maiming of hundreds of innocent men, women and children.
Ireland is a better place without this man.
@Mumpsimus: When he says he fought the state who were armed with the most modern weapons, how does setting of large bombs in big cities square with that? If you want to say it was a war then surely targeting civilian areas is a war?
And just because you eventually turn to peace dies not excuse or exhonorate anyone (from any side).
@MaryLou(ny)McDonald: *war crime
@Scundered: they weren’t on their own you know
@Paul Culligan: Paul because they killed people. Killing people is wrong. Blowing up kids in chippers is wrong. Blowing up pregnant women is wrong. Kidnapping and shooting mothers is wrong… The crown forces were the agents of a brutal British regime that subjugated catholics for hundreds of years. But as soon as ‘our’ people killed other human beings they lost any moral standing. The IRA had / has many members who are violent and bloodthirsty psychopaths. They purport to act in the name of the Irish people. Well I never voted for them, and I have always insisted that they do not act in my name. I am vehemently opposed to their existence and their disgusting actions. That McGuinness came from that and moved forward is to be appreciated and admired. The full context of the civil rights movement, subjugation of catholics, etc… must be understood if anyone is to understand McGuinness.
@john Appleseed Here here. He was the voice for the oppressed in the north and was involved in a conflict not of his doing, he will be remembered as a great politician who was part responsible for the peace process. Condolences to his family, his journey is now over and may he rest in peace.
@Scundered: easy to talk now….
@Diarmuid: You must be on the viagra today. Every time there is a mention of SF you get a horn.
@Martin Byrne: you appear to run with the hare and hunt with the hound. Learn your history and then talk to me about context and attrocities.
Yes the ones down here who just turned their backs on the north. It was a case of ‘im alright jack’. I’m ashamed of our attitudes towards our people in the north. It’s a wonder they have any time for us at all.
No not down here. We yellow bellies and lick arses wouldn’t like to upset the British.
A loyal servant of Ireland RIP
@Eye_c_u: So I take it Eye you have the same view of Michael Collins then..
@Eye_c_u: you idiot
@Eye_c_u:
And when the immoral, uncivil injustices were fought against and fully drained out of the rotten sectarian system prevailing for decades in NI, Martin McGuinness fully embraced the democratic process and ended up a fully fledged Irish Statesman.
RIP to the Peacemaker!
@Eye_c_u: show some respect for an Irish hero, it would be preferable if u stay away from his state funeral that his service to this country so richly deserves, history will show this man as an Irish hero and legend
@Hugo Bugo: What’s heroic about blowing up towns and villages and innocent civilians just because they’re of the opposite religion to you? Is it ok then if someone else done it to you, that you can then do it to others? Is that how it works? Because if you are ok with what he done then you must be ok with the horror the British done too. Can’t have it both ways.
Many innocent men, women and children would be alive today if it wasn’t for the terrorist actions of individuals like this.
Rose tinted historical revisionism and lies won’t change that fact.
Ar dheis dé go raibh a h-anam.
It’s an important day to remember the victims of PIRA terrorism who are no longer with us due to the undemocratic, unmandated terrorist actions of self-styled “patriots” like McGuiness.
@Diarmuid: Dermot please don’t ever spell your name Diarmuid ever again you excuse for an Irish man,
He is a troll who has no life and you are right he is an insult to a good Irish name. RIP Mr. McGuinness, a man who done more in ten minutes of his life for the oppressed people in the north of this country than this troll could do in a 100 years.
Just one of the vast majority of Irish people who rejected SF/PIRA and its bombing of innocent men, women and children for 4 decades.
SF/PIRA trolls will never succeed in rewriting history.
@Diarmuid: la la land with fairy’s and unicorns stay in your little bubble! I was the youngest of a family of 10 gun held to my father’s head while we were put out of our house because we lived in east Belfast/ sorry MATE your the wrong side of the devoid, go f#!k yourself you known nothing!
@Adrian:and my i add this was for “our own protection”!!
And that gave other terrorists the right to do the same thing to other families?
Good thing your morally bankrupt views were not endorsed by the people of NI at the ballotbox in the 20th century.
@Diarmuid: you poor poor blinkered fool! its the 21st century!! of course my opinion has changed our family was never political in fact the total opposed, but to assume peace comes from a bottle is is pure ignorance!! Through history peace has come from an armed struggle! Did the 26 get independence by the good grace of the British government at the time! NO. to criticize how peace is achieved and those who get it. Like i said you’re an excuse for an Irish man!
@DERMOT DERMOT DERMOT DERMOT
@Adrian: Is ainm Gaeleach é “Dermot” fosta. Ní mór duit béim a chur ar oideachas, a chara.
Lá ríméadach don oileán iontach seo.
Ar dheis an diabhal go raibh a anam.
@DERMOT: i have a cat that barks! still doesn’t make him a dog!
@Adrian: “i have a cat that barks! still doesn’t make him a dog!”
LOL! Thats brilliant.
@Diarmuid: you are nothing but a pirck
@Adrian: do you think if the British had been absolutely determined to hang on to Ireland there is anything Michael Collins’s flying columns could have done about it? Ireland was just too much trouble to hang on to, but Lloyd George dictated the trrms of the treaty. You can’t do that if you’re the losing side.
@Squarepeg01: home rule was well on the cards for ireland in the British parliament thanks to O’Connell put to one side during the great war and forgotten! Yes Ireland was a thorn in the empire’s ass only and only when we took up arms again did Lloyd George have no other choice but to give us a free state and he (Lloyd George) was one tough ba€&ard the 6 were provisionally loyalists lands given to the Scottish lords
There are going to be a lot of comments about his past etc..however he did change, that change undeniable brought peace and this should be his legacy. If we keep looking into the past wevcan never build a future. Ireland has lost a great man. RIP Martin.
@Ivor O’Sullivan: It’s rare I’ll agree with John Bruton, but he made an excellent point this morning. He said that McGuinness helped deliver peace, but he hopes his legacy will be reconciliation, which hasn’t happened yet.
Martin McGuinness spent the last twenty years of his life trying to choose his words carefully, and pick the ones which were most likely to foster reconciliation and least likely to deepen divisions. It was not often reciprocated, and not often followed even by his own party. But whatever his past, this is what made him a statesman and a towering figure of modern Ireland.
On a day like today, is it important to remember the victims of terrorism, including the terrorist organisation led by this man.
Attempts to rewrite history and this man’s horrific past will not succeed.
Diarmaid a chara walk in their shoes then judge. Not from your comfort down here. Listening through the years to selected news reports which obviously you fell for hook line and sinker. Education would be a good way forward for you. Le gra.
Unlike others (Foster comes to mind), it is clear Martin McGuiness’s transition from armed soldier to peacemaker was genuine. His many efforts to reach across the sectarian divide are a witness to that. He showed real leadership and was able to bring others with him (sceptical Republicans and hostile Unionists). His influence on the Peace process is sadly missing…
And I say that as someone who finds all SF’s acceptance of the armed struggle as abhorrent.
@Shane Bradley: not sure why you targets Foster, but today she paid respect to McGuinness. That in spite of the fact that McGuinness would have been aware of the IRA shooting of her father (because he was a volunteer policeman), and the IRA bombing her school bus full of kids (again, because the driver was a volunteer policeman – not a member of the British army). In spite of having cause, Foster never killed or organised the death of any nationalist when it was obvious she had “just cause”.
Like Paisley and countless terrorists, he knew that he was on the wrong side of history.
His attempts to change the historical perception of him was selfish and self serving. He knew his “struggle” was lost.
Northern Irelands Mandela.. we knew he was ill but this comes as a shock. R.I.P.
@Alan Chapman: why is there always a comparison to be made why can’t he just be Northern Irelands Martin Mcguinness!
@Alan Chapman: Mandela had the democratic support of the vast majority of South Africans.
McGuinness and his fellow Provos disregarded the democratic wishes of the Irish people for 4 decades.
A republican to his soul,i disagreed with the politics,but hugely admire SF for breaking the cycle of violence,lets hope history will be kind to him and remember the corner stone of peace he built, RIP
@David Dineen: Republicans respect democracy and the rule of law. This man ignored the democratic wishes of the Irish people, ignored the rule of law and even refused to recognise our State for decades.
Republicans do not lead terrorist organisations which target and murder innocent men, women and children.
Still a shock even though we knew how gravely I’ll he was. RIP, I hope history will be kind to him.
@Diarmuid: again tripe go read a book its been over 400 years
End of an era. RIP
may the peace that you helped to bring to this island be with you now Martin. RIP.
A monumental and positive figure in Irish history RIP.
A true son of Ireland.
No matter what people may think.
He led the way from the bullet to the ballet box
It’s easy to judge the worst in us hard for does to acknowledge the good in us. History will tell
In peace may he rest
RIP.
RIP
Oh dear. That’s sad news to wake up to. Condolences to his family and friend. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam delis.
I grew up in London at a time where IRA bomb threats were extremely common, and my father worked at Natwest when IRA hit that tower. However, even with that background – I must recognize what an incredible contribution that Martin McGuiness made to peace in Ireland.
We live in a world where people struggle to get over petty arguments; for himto take the responsibility on his shoulders, & have the vision, intelligence and diplomacy to pursue peace is truly incredible. RIP Martin McGuiness
The peace process will be his legacy. Yes he was flawed and I can’t condone his actions as a younger man but he brought real tangible change to NI and was sincere in wanting a better future for all.
A great Irishman. RIP
There can hardly be a family on this island, my own included, who haven’t lost someone to the troubles, if we’re going to allow bitterness and bigotry to creep in for their loss and privately want some sort of revenge we’ll never move forward.
McGuinness, and others like him, put their past behind them and took a leap of faith allowing a never before seen peace into Northern Ireland. For that I thank him. My children thank him. History will remember him.
@Jed I. Knight: the vast, vast majority of people in Ireland were unaffected by the troubles unless they had family in Ulster or in poor areas of cities with drug problems. I, like thousands who grew up with in both sides of the border in Ulster, were largely appalled by the actions of all men of violence on all sides, and have no doubt that our rejection of this violence led people like McGuinness to change their view that violence was the only way. The peace in the North is still tenacious as we still have people with violent backgrounds (Kelly, Adams) pulling the strings of peace as a puppet to retain power. I don’t mind McGuinness (he was a distant relative), but I will be glad when the fawning stops.
RIP…great man whose works brouggt peace and srability to NIR.
Pity the journal had to bring up his past..he not even cold. Gutter journalism!!!
@Kev Creed: You need to relax and show some respect yourself.
Why shouldn’t they have mentioned his past? His past is precisely what made his story remarkable. Someone whose willingness to put aside extremism and violence and make compromises with his enemies gave the peace process genuine legitimacy. McGuinness’ history with the IRA was as key as Paisley’s history with fire and brimstine sermons. If anyone else apart from McGuinness and Paisley had shaken hands it might have been a lot harder to sell to either side.
@Kev Creed: you’ll have a heart attack if you read the articles on Sky news.
@Kev Creed: How dare they.
@Kev Creed: Martin never denied his past, never shied away it, he was comfortable with it so he’d have no issue with it being brought up
@Boganity: still some ambiguity about the morning of bloody sunday around what he was armed with (as leader of the IRA in Derry at the time), and some operational details that will give solas to a few families who need to know why their children died, but I think he was honest enough to document or record these somewhere so we can make an honest assessment of his life.
In the end he fought the good fight and did himself justice. Himself and Ian can smile now together. Rest in peace Martin McGuinness
@ Margaret : hopefully Ian will be smiling up
@john Appleseed: together in Hell if there’s any justice in the afterlife, but of course neither Hell nor an afterlife exist, lucky for him.
@jimmyjoe please sir! Ian Paisley had no interest in peace. He died a true bigot and hater of the Irish People. He was dragged to the peace talks by Britain kicking and screaming the whole way. Hell holds a special place for Ian Paisley
@Dilly Dong: DUP weren’t the main unionist party of the day also.
@Dilly Dong: are you enjoying your civil rights there Dill Do? trust me it didn’t start with peace!
@Dilly Dong: The truth well told, John Hume was a true legend, kept on the road to peace when things were at breaking point.
R.I.P Martin a true Irishman who battled to the end ..
A monumentally sad day for the entire island,the images of himself and Ian Paisley his former arch enemy sharing a joke really opened people’s eyes that peace with with the old foe was indeed possible and calmed people everywhere,Martin and Ian now are resting in peace and thank God they along with other great caring people ended the violence and left peace for generations to come,rip
We knew he was ill but this comes as a shock. R.I.P. Northern Irelands Mandela.
@Alan Chapman: Mandela renounced violence following the first death in the brief ANC bombing campaign.
What a pity that Mr McGuinness did not do the same. It took him 20 years to realise Mandela was right.
He deserves much credit for his role over the last 20 years but you can acknowledge this without turning him into something he was not.
When I was a child I went up the north a few times (for me it was the only place to get KFC, but obviously there was more important issues for my parents) and although I didn’t understand why at the time, it was a nerve wracking experience for them.
He was one of many men and women who helped it become not scary to go there(never mind live there, but that’s for another person to tell) but as chief negotiator he deserves more respect from both Unionists and Loyalists.
There is a lot less violence now and less armed forces present and no official border.
@David Duffy: sorry, David, but for years we had to cross the border and be stopped and our car searched by British soldiers… intimidating, yes, but these kids were bound by the law, searching for hidden guns or bombs. The we would drive in the roads around Derry and were stopped by an IRA patrol who would take you out of the car and aim guns at your head for having an English twang to your accent, and be told they didn’t like the look of you. Essentially, we were potential targets for gangs because we supported the SDLP. Whatever your opinion when going to KFC, or whatever your parents were doing, having roaming gangs did nothing to make the vast majority of people feel safe until they were forced to disarm. McGuinness and Paisley were able to ride on the popularity for peace to be seen as “peacemakers”, but they undoubtedly were the stokers of the flames that needed to be put out.
@Gulliver Foyle: those kids weren’t bound the law on Bloody Sunday. It took almost 40 years for that to proven. There was violence and discrimination from all sides including those bound by law. The lawmakers for 50 years from partition set the scene for the next 30.
@Gulliver Foyle: I experienced those roaming gangs of lawless thugs too, we called them the British Army
@Gulliver Foyle: Perfectly put.
So so sad a through gentleman and what he did for the peace process RIP Martin
Cue forty-eight hours of nauseating fawning.
Apart from anything else he was a father and husband, no need for that.
@john Appleseed:Call me old fashioned, but I think terrorism is something to be frowned upon, regardless of whether or not the perpretrator has fathered children.
@neal not Neil. Not old fashioned but massively ignorant. One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
@john Appleseed: Call it what yoy want, justify it however you want, call me ignorant if it makes you feel better, he was still a convicted IRA member who purporred to be a Christian while they murdered thousands in the name of Geography.
@Neal, not Neil.: no need for that Neil,
@Joe O’riordan: Go away out of that. There is no need for scores of dead children, either.
@Dilly Dong: it may have escaped your closed mind but the IRA was a symptom not the disease.
@Neal, not Neil.: where did you get your history from back of rice crispy box. You want to look at injustice bigotry killings and burning communities from there homes by Scottish descendents waving union jack flags that got so bad UK had to send its arm in. Who shortly turned on the catholics and start murdering them.
Who in their right mind could blame those with no where to turn to take up arms and defend themselves.
Even to this day the bigotry and contempt shown by loyalist is staggering. Yet you have the gal to condemn a man who brought IRA the table and lay down their arms.
@tom: oh dear, it’s like you are still hankering for revenge for Culloden… Let it go.
@Neal, not Neil.: both spelling of you name is wrong (KNEEL) that’s more suitable
@Neal, not Neil.: Really Neil ?????
@Neal, not Neil.: now now Neil
A true son of Ireland. Rest in peace Martin.
R.I.P Martin McGuinness.
Not the news I wanted to hear this morning. Rest In Peace Martin. A Proud Irishman.
Genuinely sad to hear of his passing.
Martin McGuinness was involved in bringing peace to Northern Ireland may he rest in peace
May Martin McGuinness Rest in Peace. I am intrigued by the bad man becomes a good man analogy especially by those who were not directly impacted and by a lazy media. The bad man experience was borne out of a set of circumstances which saw him and his community oppressed and suppressed by a largely authoritative body. Before we criticise, we need to reflect on why he and others reacted in the way they did. And how would each of us have turned out had we been raised in such an environment. There was terrible violence on all sides. If we are to learn anything it is to ensure that the circumstances which breed inequality, indifference and hate must never be enabled again. So let us start with the true beginning of the story. He was not a bad man becomes a good man. He was a man who reacted to an oppressive set of circumstances. Please do not insult the NI community for behaving badly or being feral, who finally grew up or were tamed by the authorities. These were people who refused to accept that they were secondary or third class citizens, who resisted and fought and who strove to bring about a better life for the future. Derry has to deal with the deaths of two fine men this week who showed remarkable leadership in their very different lives. May you rest in peace martin. And ThanK You and to all others like you for leading people to this place.
@ARIS: well said
@ARIS: Very well said..if you dont mind I will copy this post?
@Lord Clanricarde: you can of course
He led a truely extraordinary life. So much of which we will never know, but he left the north a better place. RIP.
He converted to peace and stepped down from a place of fury. Not an easy thing to do, and led quite a few after him. That’s a real peacemaker. I hope his legacy is lasting peace and co operation.
R.I.P Martin
Mcguinness had that quiet, self assured masculinity that is rare in politicians these days. Most of our lot are flouncing flip flippers. He led his people into battle when the need was there. He led his people into peace when the opportunity arose. Rip Martin McGuinness
Truly saddened to hear this . He never got to see the United Ireland he fought so hard for .. Rest easy , Martin .
Ireland has lost a true leader. RIP Martin. Ar Dheis De go raibh a anam.
Absolutley horrible news to wake up to today. Martin devoted every bit of himself totally to Ireland. A soldier when soldiers were needed, a peacemaker when peacemakers were needed. His political life was never about careerism, about self-service nor about cronyism. It was a career and a life totally and selflessly devoted to making Ireland free and peaceful. An icon to me and countless other Republicans. While it saddens me that he never lived to see Irish Independence, we can be certain that that day will most certainly come, largely due to his efforts. It genuinely is amazing the number of people from all sections of the community who have come into contact with Martin, who have stories to tell of the sort of lengths he went to in order to help them or even just to show some respect to them. Stories that the wider public will never hear a fraction of. One such story this morning did come to light that typified the mans generosity of spirit and that was in the tribute paid to him by Charlotte Caldwell, mother of the seriously ill Omagh boy Billy Caldwell. She remarked in her tribute to him how he went above and beyond in helping her family get the support it needed and how in their campaign for funding for their medical costs, Martin privately donated a large amount of personal items of his own to auctions run in aid of Billy. Which was just typical of the man. Such a sad day. RIP Martin.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: You need better icons if you think blowing up towns and villages and civilians is something to aspire to. I don’t buy the “but the other side are doing it too” argument, they were both dispicable.
@Scundered:
Some of us understand that things were not as pathetically simplistic as you believe/would like people to believe. You ought to get your head around that.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: why don’t you pop around the corner to Joanne Mathers husband and tell him that uplifting story? You remember her, the young mother that (according to IRA whistleblowers) McGuinness personally ordered to be made an example of for the heinous crime of collecting census forms. Tell him and his son that how Martin worked hard for the constituency, and how she was just a “war participant”. In the spirit of the day, why don’t you tell him how you “forgive him” for his anger. Sickened at this stage of the revisionism.
Chuid eile i síocháin
I’m abroad and have watched the reports on BBC breakfast. I don’t like the IRA or Sinn Fein, what they represent and their obfuscation but can understand how so many became radicalised. I’m the same age as McGuinness. There has been no mention of Bloody Sunday, discrimination, gerrymandering, and state sponsored terrorism. They all existed. This has been completely omitted. It’s as if he was born radicalised.
Move on with the peace process. Let history write the truth…..
His like we will not see again. Martin will go down in the history pages alongside Ireland’s other patriot dead such as Collins and Casement. A United Ireland is only 5 to 10 years away now and I truly wished he would be alive to see it.
RIP to an Irish legend. A freedom fighter, a peacemaker and a revolutionary statesman. He gave his life to Ireland. RIP Martin you will be sorely missed
RIP
A real statesman who worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation.
He was who he was we all know that. But remember this.How many more people’s life’s would have been lost if Mr Mc Guinness didn’t bring the Ira to the table. And another thing it’s very easy for people here in Dublin to call him this and that. But remember this! we didn’t have to live in there community’s. We didn’t have to see the British security forces break up homes and shoot innocent people dead. The way some of you go on you would think it was all one sided.Until you’ve walked a mile in another mans shoes don’t Judge him for you know not what has happened to him on his journey. I by no means support violence but I am not going to sit back and take it either by any side. Let the man rest in piece.He has payed his toll.
Whatever way you want to look at it you would be a fool to believe that any remotely like the peace process would have ever come about had Martin not militarized himself at a time when protestations were merely laughed at
Two things are for certain, without mcguinness their would have been violence in the north and without mcguinness we would not have peace in the north
@Dilly Dong: Sunningdale offered much less than the Good Friday Agreement except that Sinn féin forced the unionists and the brits to agree to respect the rights of nationalists. Something the SDLP couldn’t do
and Sinn féin forced the unionists and the brits to agree to respect the rights of nationalists. Something the SDLP couldn’t do
A double blow for the city of Derry
He spent his whole life in one way or another fighting for Ireland, a true patriot.
Rest in peace Mr mcGuinness.
What a journey and what a man. A huge loss to the island of Ireland. RIP.
Im sorry he never got to see a united ireland.
To be honest anyone who refers this issue to an IRA story is only interested in cheap shots. This man was amazing. He had real courage and so did those on the other side of the divide who worked for peace. But the sad thing is if Kenny and his ilk had been in the North they would have caved in to every and any pressure and handed over the north for lack of courage. It sickens me to see Kenny hanging on just to be handed another useless prize in April to be the longer Fianna Gael prime minister. He is only interest in self glorification like his so called lauded speech in the White House. Does anyone remember the part where he said Trump represents a New Era?? What new era is that. Oh yes Free Capital Liberalism. The Era that has thrown 70 billion of Debt onto the back of the Irish People and allowed the banks and housing market to recreate a bigger property bubble than the one that broke the country’s back. Thats Kennys legacy. He should hang he’s head in shame and his party. They represent the vultures picking over the carcas of a dead Ireland. Martin McGuinness was an honourable man because he made the real tough choices to stand up for his convictions and join an organisation which at the time and now is hated by the media. But people like him make peace in the world not the Kennys. Kenny is a yes man. He bows easily which is something McGuinness refused to do not matter the consequences for his reputation. It was amazing hear the praise that Ian Paisley Jnr said about him. Its more than Kenny or Noonan ever did in case they offended their Gods in Europe the ones that must be grovelled to. Thats the difference you see. McGuinness didn’t grovel he stood up. Its a sad day for Ireland when you see Kenny get millions of hits because they mistakenly think he stood up to Trumps Immigration policies. That would take courage which he never had. And anyway, who wrote the speech? You can be sure it wasn’t kenny who can’t even string two sentences together. Rest in Peace Martin McGuinness. If we had you as leader Ireland would work for the most vulnerable in society but unfortunately we have a vulture and a vulture party for leaders.
@Christopher Gardiner: Do you think the families of the disappeared would agree with that analogy?
Rip Martin Mcguinness a very good politician.
A massive loss to the 32 counties,history will be kind to him,R.i.p Martin mcGuinness,peacemaker.
I feel report is too limited it doesn’t due justice to the man’s life and struggle….
He lived his life for a 32 county Ireland and died just when it looked possible.
Martin McGuinness a true leader of the people of Northern Ireland RIP.
Very sad news..a huge figure in the peace process-he had d credibility to convince d militants to stay d course in d face of unionist intransigent non-cooperation.
More evidence,if any was needed,that working with/alongside Arlene Foster is bad for your health.
May he rest in peace
A true statesman unlike the traitors we have now. He fought for the irish people. May he rest in peace.
Can’t say I’m surprised. When he stepped down recently, He looked terrible, You could tell from his interview that he wasn’t well. The way he spoke, his body language, the look in his eyes, He looked like a man at deaths door.
Rip martin,he done alot to bring peace in the north to where it is today and like alot of politicians ,dont do today(enda comes to mind)he stood up for his beliefs and was very consistent throughout his time in stormont.
@Damien McGrath: Well said.
So so sad…
Rip I liked him he fought bravely to turn things around and could have done differently
RIP Martin McGuinness.
I fear peace in Northern Ireland has become that little bit more fragile now that Martin has passed away. I hope I am wrong. Rip.
Like many great people who has been taken before their time. May he rest in peace. His passing is not only a great loss to the peace in Northern Ireland but also to the whole of the island as a man who was willing to establish common ground and provide an example to us all with his humanity, integrity and generosity. Martin you will be sadly missed.
@Neal, not Neil.: idiots like you are a disgrace to our ancestors who fought for YOUR freedom.
The commentary for people in the UK is horrible, yes Martin was no Saint. But he was a great man and great Shinner
@The Edge: you forgot a murderer also
@Lorraine Gardiner: And so was Mandela, he is was not a saint but he did a lot for the betterment of all in NI.
You don’t have to like the man to appreciate the work he did. The morals he held are another matter entirely
IRA member turned queen arse kisser. Does it get much worse? I for one won’t be mourning this man.
@FPL Thommo: wonderful news to wake up to
Even Ian Paisley saw the good in the man. RIP.
RIP Joanne Mathers and Mary Travers.
R.I.P. MR McGuiness.
“War and Peace”
McGuinness and the republican movement generally used Bloody Sunday to justify the intensification of their armed struggle, but the deaths of innocent nationalists was only a concern when it could be exploited for political ends. That armed struggle saw the Provos murder more nationalists than the Paras ever did, yet there wasn’t one expression of remorse from these hypocrites. Even after the ceasefire the murders continued. Garda Jerry McCabe, Paul Quinn, Robert McCartney and others were all murdered by an organisation whose raisin d’etre was supposedly the protection of Irish nationalists. In the case of the latter, it was the south Belfast IRA unit who’d just returned from Derry following a Bloody Sunday commemoration that decided a totally innocent man should die. It takes hypocrisy to a whole new nauseating level.
A true son of Ireland
A man who led the way from the bullet to the ballet box
History will tell you that its easy to judge the worst in us. Hard to acknowledge the good done by us. Let he who is without…..
In peace may he rest
I travel to ni Ireland daily there are no checkpoints no army it’s a beautiful place all because of peace people are happy that’s what counts
When it’s all over bar the shouting our sun wil swallow us up and there wil be nothing left
The whole history is damned unfortunate. He did dedicate his life for what he believed in, whether he was a patriot, a coward or evil terrorist, I won’t judge. I never could understand why violent republicanism is always communist leaning. None of the IRA supporters I ever knew were communists. In Tyrone the nationalists he fought to protect are now the victims of industrial wind turbines, forced to leave their homes and no one seems to mind.
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