Tributes have been paid to former Concern chief executive Fr Aengus Finucane, who died earlier today.
The Limerick-born priest set became involved with the aid organisation with fellow missionaries in 1968 after working in war-torn Biafra and became its chief executive in 1981.
Concern Worldwide’s chief executive Tom Arnold said the 77-year-old had been an inspirational leader whose work saved countless lives.
“He had an absolute commitment to the poorest of the poor,” Mr Arnold said.
“There can be few Irish people of his generation or of any other generation who have contributed as much to improving the lives of so much of humanity.” Fr Finucane worked extensively in Bangladesh, South East Asia and Rwanda as part of his work with Concern.
Fr Finucane served as chief executive of the charity from 1981 until his retirement in 1997, when he was made honorary president of Concern US.
Fr Finucane was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and died at the Spiritan nursing home in Kimmage, Dublin.
Mr Arnold said the former teacher had a keen interest in improving educational standards, particularly for females, in the countries he visited.
“He saw from his early days in Bangladesh the benefits of girls’ education and how if they were educated their status just changed and they were going to have more opportunities,” Mr Arnold said.
“He saw education as a kind of liberation of potential and his legacy has lived on in the education projects Concern has established in many different countries.”
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Fr Finucane "a great humanitarian and his life’s work was to helpalleviate the suffering of the poorest of the poor".
"He has made a truly impressive contribution to improving the quality of life of people in the
Third World and his courageous efforts saved a huge number of lives."
He said Fr Finucane would be remembered as "a selfless and brave man who travelled to many of the world’s most dangerous places to help the poor".
Fine Gael spokesman on foreign affairs, Billy Timmins, said the passing of Fr Aengus Finucane marked "the passing of one of the giants of Irish overseas volunteerism".
He had been a "true champion of the poor".
He said his "charisma and boundless energy saw the light of hope being brought to the lives of many people across Africa and Asia and his selfless contribution to their cause will be felt for generations to come".
“Aengus worked across the globe in an effort to improve the lives of the poor and hungry, often with scant regard for his own safety and welfare. He braved the Nigerian – Biafra civil war of the late 1960’s working tirelessly to counter the effects of the devastating famine that was raging in the region."
PA