The President has led tributes to leading maritime historian Dr John de Courcy Ireland, who died in a Dublin hospital last night after a long illness. He was 94.
Dr John de Courcy Ireland, pictured in 1997.
Dr de Courcy Ireland was accomplished author, linguist and teacher. He received a number of international awards for his work on maritime history.
He was also a founding member of CND in Ireland.
An honorary research officer for the Maritime Institute, which he joined in 1943, he was one of the founders of the Maritime Museum in 1959. He was also decorated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for his 25-year association with the Dun Laoghaire lifeboat.
Mr de Courcy Ireland penned many historical books, including The History of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, The Admiral from Mayo, Ireland's Sea Fisheries, and Ireland and the Irish in Maritime History.
He contested the 1982 general election as a member of the Democratic Socialist Party, supported Democratic Left and latterly the Socialist Workers' Party. He was recently involved in the Irish Anti-War Movement and the Save Our Seafront Campaign in Dun Laoghaire.
President Mary McAleese extended her sympathies to the family of Dr Courcy Ireland saying he had "achieved much in his long life" and had "championed many causes with passion and commitment".
"The international recognition of his work was a tribute to his unique expertise as a maritime historian and his great love of Ireland's maritime tradition," Mrs McAleese said.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described Dr de Courcy Ireland as "a man of great principle" and a committed socialist all his life.
"A man of great independence of thought, he never flinched from taking unpopular positions," Mr Ahern said. "He also had a great quality of gentleness and all those who came in contact with him, whether they agreed with his politics or not, were impressed by his considerable intellect and dedication to the things he cherished."
The Labour Party's Eamon Gilmore said his former Democratic Left colleague was a "great champion" of the sea.
"More than any other individual he reminded this country that we are an island and that we should never neglect the sea and our maritime tradition," the Dun Laoghaire TD said. "John was a socialist activist all his life, campaigning for equality, peace and human rights. He was a regular, passionate speaker at many political events."
Richard Boyd Barrett of the Socialist Workers Party said Mr de Courcy was "truly inspiring and incredibly energetic" and his death would be a great loss for the many important causes he championed throughout his life.
"John was particularly heartened at the huge outpouring of anti-war sentiment and protest against the Iraq war in 2003 but horrified by the war itself and Ireland's involvement as a result of the use of Shannon by US troops," he said. "John De Courcy Ireland was also one the greatest and most eloquent public speakers this country ever produced. He always inspired and moved those that heard him speak."