McAleese leads tributes to late Conor Cruise O'Brien

Conor Cruise O'Brien with his wife Máire Mac An tSaoi in 2003

President Mary McAleese has paid tribute to former minister and scholar Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien, who died yesterday aged 91.

Mrs McAleese conveyed her condolences to Dr O’Brien’s wife, the poet Máire Mac an tSaoí on his death.

The president acknowledged the “immense breadth and longevity of Dr O’Brien’s career as a public servant, politician, writer and academic which was widely recognised both at home and abroad”.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Dr Cruise O'Brien, who was minister for posts and telegraphs in the 1973/77 Fine Gael/Labour coalition, had been "a leading figure in Irish life in many spheres since the 1960s and had contributed to politics, in academia and journalism.

"Conor's talents later saw him make a contribution in politics and he served as a minister in the government of Liam Cosgrave. His political views were not always in accordance with those of my own party over the years but I never doubted his sincerity or his commitment to a better and more peaceful Ireland.

"As a journalist Conor was prolific. He has written thousands of articles on a wide range of subjects which highlight a great intellectual versatility. His articles were always challenging and passionate, which is a measure of the man he was," said Mr Cowen.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said Dr O'Brien "made a remarkable contribution to Irish life over many decades".

"He was a scholar and writer of international distinction, an outstanding diplomat in the service both of Ireland and of the United Nations, and a robust and highly influential participant in the politics of our island. He was a man of undoubted courage and brilliance."

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said Dr Cruise O'Brien "had a towering intellect and was a fierceless defender of his principles and of his political views. He was a provocative and committed politician who loved the cut and thrust of weighty political debate as much as he enjoyed the stories of ordinary people."

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said Ireland "has lost an intellectual giant and one of the most remarkable Irish public figures of the 20th century who marked up a huge range of achievements during his long and varied life. He excelled as a diplomat, an author, an historian, an educationalist, a journalist and a politician.

"Conor was a man of immense political courage. He was never afraid to take up unpopular positions, with the result that few ever agreed with him all the time."

The EU’s ambassador to the US, John Bruton, said today he had learned with “immense sadness” of the death of Dr O’Brien.

“Conor was one of the outstanding international diplomats, writers and historians of his generation. His clarity and depth of thought and of expression were without equal,” the former taoiseach said.

Mr Bruton said it was his privilege to serve with Dr O’Brien in the Cosgrave government between 1973 and 1977.

“He had remarkable moral courage born of deep reflection on the issues he addressed. His writing helped the people of varying heritage, who live in Ireland, to come to a better understanding of their history and of who they really are.

“This made a vital contribution to enabling all the people of Ireland to live in greater harmony with one another now, than at any time since the 16th century.”

A leading unionist who said Dr O’Brien’s death was a loss to Ireland.

Bob McCartney led the UK Unionist Party which opposed the formation of the Belfast Agreement and surprised observers by recruiting Mr O’Brien to its membership.

“My thoughts on hearing of his death were, first of all, that Ireland has lost a great Irishman and the world has lost a great citizen,” Mr McCartney said.

Dr O’Brien joined the UK Unionist Party in 1996 and was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum. He left the party after publishing a book in which he urged unionists to consider the merits of a united Ireland.