Fine Gael leader notes Hillery's 'political nobility'

ENDA KENNY:PADDY HILLERY was "political nobility, which he personified with flawless integrity, extraordinary empathy, the utmost probity, impeccable standards and as a consequence, impeccable standing", according to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

In his Dáil tribute to the late former president, Mr Kenny said his remarkable qualities "were never qualified because they were always, absolutely and truly his own. These were conviction and not convention, principle and not pragmatism and loyalty to the country and his people before all else."

The Fine Gael leader said that "in a profound way, Paddy Hillery's patriotic choices gave Fianna Fáil a life unlived. Many, including within Fianna Fáil, believe the party might possibly have had a richer, better and prouder life if led by Paddy Hillery than the life it had when led by others, but this was not to be.

"In many ways this is because it would have benefited who Paddy Hillery was, a man of high honour, a man of ideas and a true patriot as opposed to having to constantly bend and comfort itself as to the 'what', the limiting, permissive 'what' of sheer pragmatism and party loyalty. He would never and did never masquerade pragmatism as principle."

Dr Hillery, who lived in Spanish Point, Co Clare, often spoke of the Spanish armada, whose unrelenting advance "exasperated the English" until they sent in a few "huge and terrifying fireships".

"Paddy Hillery learned well the lesson of those fireships. When political elements launched their fireships against him in the form of whispering campaigns there was neither panic nor terror. He held his dignity, nerve and honour against them and against the odds."

Mr Kenny said he "lived his public life bound not by any political or party obligation but by moral and national obligation".

His move to the EU Commission and then to Áras an Uachtaráin were "clearly distinguished yet personally difficult moves", at "great personal and political cost to himself".

His "plain and flaming patriotism made him an exemplary man, politician and servant of Ireland and the Irish people". He was "a Clare man and a proud member of Fianna Fáil. He was a man of the highest integrity, the utmost probity and signal patriotism. He did not talk much about his patriotism - instead, he lived it."

The Fine Gael leader added: "Many years after he left Áras an Uachtaráin he said to me over a cup of coffee in Ballyconnelly one windy evening, 'do you know I was up there for 14 years cutting tapes and planting trees and they never knew I was in the place'."

It was "a testament to his connection with the people that over four-fifths of the electorate voted for EC accession on his say so and that of many others because he engaged . . . with them and brought Europe to their door in an a way in which they believed".

In the Dáil "we mourn a colleague, friend and a president, but his wife Maeve and son John miss a man who loved family life, with a sureness. . . which takes their breath away. Thank you Paddy Hillery and . . . may the fairways in the sky be broad and open."