Thousands of supporters, politicians and members of the public gathered at Dublin’s Mansion House today to pay homage to former taoiseach Dr Garret Fitzgerald.
Many appeared to appreciate the opportunity to say farewell to man they considered “one of us” and expressed gratitude for his achievements.
“Garret Fitzgerald was a true statesman,” said Vincent Raffety from Athlone. “He set the foundations and went beyond territories so that all the people of Ireland could come together.”
“I’m here to thank Garret for everything he has done for Ireland,” said Tom Ryan from Leixlip.
“He had an ambition for peace in Ireland, for consent in Ireland, long before people even knew what he was talking about and he continued on that road until his wishes came true.”
Bríd Buckley from Artane in north Dublin described the former taoiseach as honest. “I felt I could trust him. I haven’t seen a politician like him since he was taoiseach.”
Travelling long journeys and acting on behalf of their families, many of those who came to the Mansion House did so because they felt it was their duty.
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” said Tom Leahy. “I want to be able to tell my grandchildren that I said goodbye to Garret. I believe he was the greatest Irishman of my time and I had to thank him for everything,” he said.
“I came from Sligo as a representative of my family,” said Noel Jacob who travelled from Enniscrone in County Sligo.
“Years ago, when I was in young Fine Gael, I had the privilege of meeting him at Liberty Hall in Dublin.”
Teary eyed after leaving Mansion House, Cork native Susan Eades spoke of her respect for him.
“I always read his column in The Irish Times because he was the only politician I could follow, his articles were so clear” she said.
“I felt that I had to be here today, I’ve never done it before for another public figure but that’s the measure of respect I carried for him.”
“Garret was ahead of himself when he was in politics. He changed a lot in our society and made us ask questions of ourselves that we’d never asked before, “said Michael Collender from Longford. “ Being here today to pay our respect was the least we could do,” he said.
Those with personal connection to Dr Fitzgerald spoke of his integrity and pride in his family.
“I was an extremely good friend of Garret’s as a young lad and I can safely say that everyone was mad about him,” said Fine Gael party member Dan O’ Mahony, from Caheragh in west Cork.
“I joined politics because of him and his work for the Irish cause. He was a genuine Irishman and represented everything that a person could hope to be.”
Labour Party deputy leader and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said she was very fond of him. “He and his wife Joan had a very vibrant marriage and he was hugely proud of his children and grand children, he was a very striking man to be with,” she said.
“He was always very conscious that he came from both traditions on this island, his mother was from the North, I think she was Presbyterian, and his father was a republican and member of the Free State government.”
“So, in many ways, he had all the different strands that go to make up the island of Ireland and I think that was one of the things that made him invest so much in the Peace Process.
Many mourners mentioned the symbolism of the day on which Dr Fitzgerald passed.
“It was a sad day but it’s significant that he died when the Queen was in Ireland,” said Nora Ryan. “He did so much to promote North-South relations and to bring about peace in the country. He was someone who we thought would be around forever.”
“I’d say Garret would have loved to meet the Queen and she would have been very honoured to meet him too,” said Cyril Stephens, Dublin. “I think if the Queen was still here she would go to the funeral.”
Ms Burton said in many ways the success of the visit by Queen Elizabeth II was a “a tribute to Garret Fitzgerald’s life’s work”.