I think this deserves a thread of its own, given the importance of the deceased to the peace process.
Albert Reynolds did a great deal to bring about the conditions for the 1994 ceasefire, which set the wheels in motion that led to any subsequent progress. This concentration on the peace process probably distracted him from other issues and may well have contributed to his short tenure as Taoiseach.
He was a businessman, he did great work in the previous decade in bringing Irish telecoms into the modern era in part because he realised the important to business of this. I imagine that had he continued to have influence in more recent years that he would not have been so quick to build an economy on people building and selling houses to each other, but might have shown some concern for the real economy and so limited the damage caused by speculators.
Albert was a rough diamond and history will record him in a favourable light.
He had his political faults and at times was like a bull in a china shop e.g. (temporary little arrangement, that wimmin for ya, John Unionist, crap crap crap) but this attitude, sometimes, was vital in helping to give birth to the Peace Process.
My own personal memories are:
- gatecrashing the nomination convention in 1977 in Mullingar when he was chosen to run for FF. There was a free bar and I loaded myself up with Coke (I was 10 at the time). Longford News that following Fri moaned about "snot nosed kids from Edgeworthstown running about the place"
- helped us get a phone in 1982 having waited five years for one.
- ringing my Dad from San Fran when Albert was Taoiseach to 'congraggulate' local club on winning the County Championship (haven't won it since >:( )
- sadly talking to him at a function in 2009 and seeing that the lights were dimming.
RIP Albert.
Quote from: armaghniac on August 21, 2014, 10:02:58 AM
Albert Reynolds did a great deal to bring about the conditions for the 1994 ceasefire, which set the wheels in motion that led to any subsequent progress. This concentration on the peace process probably distracted him from other issues and may well have contributed to his short tenure as Taoiseach.
He was a businessman, he did great work in the previous decade in bringing Irish telecoms into the modern era in part because he realised the important to business of this. I imagine that had he continued to have influence in more recent years that he would not have been so quick to build an economy on people building and selling houses to each other, but might have shown some concern for the real economy and so limited the damage caused by speculators.
+1.
Another great Ros man gone from us.
Like others from or connected with our County he lead Ireland to being a better place.
His "one page man" approach was genius. It should be compulsory for all memos and reports.
Remember the time he was going to burst the party and Gerry Collins was appealing to him not to!
Is Syferus on holidays
RIP
IMO he was a decent man , unlike certain other FF leaders.
I couldn't believe it when they announced the peace process. It was so easy to think our Northern Correspondent Poilin ni Chiarain would retire talking about a bombing last night on the Falls Road. Took a lot of guts to engage and believe in the project.
I think he brought McCreevy in from the wilderness as well, not one of his better days.
Quote from: Rossfan on August 21, 2014, 10:47:57 AM
Quote from: armaghniac on August 21, 2014, 10:02:58 AM
Albert Reynolds did a great deal to bring about the conditions for the 1994 ceasefire, which set the wheels in motion that led to any subsequent progress. This concentration on the peace process probably distracted him from other issues and may well have contributed to his short tenure as Taoiseach.
He was a businessman, he did great work in the previous decade in bringing Irish telecoms into the modern era in part because he realised the important to business of this. I imagine that had he continued to have influence in more recent years that he would not have been so quick to build an economy on people building and selling houses to each other, but might have shown some concern for the real economy and so limited the damage caused by speculators.
+1.
Another great Ros man gone from us.
Like others from or connected with our County he lead Ireland to being a better place.
And look what happens when Rhus like P. Flynn and Enda get a sniff of power >:(
RIP to Reynolds, just don't let Bertie give the eulogy..
Yes a lot of respect for the man, obviously his tenure in the Dall would have escaped us up here but his role in the peace process was vital, he always came across as the quiet determined man, how he got those feckers to agree on anything is beyond me.
RIP
Came across as basically decent and down to earth and did so much for us up north. His type aren't easily replaced in politics. RIP
Quote from: seafoid on August 21, 2014, 01:25:08 PM
RIP
IMO he was a decent man , unlike certain other FF leaders.
I couldn't believe it when they announced the peace process. It was so easy to think our Northern Correspondent Poilin ni Chiarain would retire talking about a bombing last night on the Falls Road. Took a lot of guts to engage and believe in the project.
I think he brought McCreevy in from the wilderness as well, not one of his better days.
I suppose every hero has one black spot :-[
And the dogfood passports. I think that was Albert as well. By the way, is Bertie another Albert? Is that the most common name for a Taoiseach?
Bertie is short, in this instance, to Bartholomew.
Some Arab lads got passports for investing in the C&D Factory but, shur, t'was harmless aul craic.
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on August 21, 2014, 03:07:47 PM
Bertie is short, in this instance, to Bartholomew.
Some Arab lads got passports for investing in the C&D Factory but, shur, t'was harmless aul craic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq_tPH_ZBhs
I detest FF but I had a soft spot for Albert. He did a lot for the North and for Longford. He will be remembered fondly and that in itself is an achievement when you consider who was taoiseach before and after him. RIP.
Bet Dermot Morgan has already written a parody of Albert in the next life.
I've been hunting for the footage of the election TV debate between him and Bruton after the Labour/FF government collapsed, but can't seem to find it. God he pounded Bruton into oblivion! How anybody voted for that clown afterwards I do not know. Anybody remember it?
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/longford-man-who-brought-razzmatazz-to-midlands-ireland-1.1904172
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
He'll be remembered as being fairly central to the Peace Process and rightly so.
Not as corrupt as his predecessor or successor as leader of FF but not exactly squeaky clean either.
Quote from: mouview on August 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
That is class. He must have been talking to a heathen protestant
Ha ha. Albert's Entebbe.
I first became aware of Albert at some election nonsense outside the parish church preceding some election in my childhood when a FG-hack called Gerry L'Estrange announced 'if Albert Reynolds could suck as much as he could blow, he'd drain the Camlin himself', to great applause.
I 'saw' the great man in my teens, at what I had anticipated would be a low-key funeral - he and his impressive entourage swooped in for a spontaneous outpouring of sympathy.
I finally met the man when, in my twenties, I was 'awarded' a sizeable educational grant for research - I was hustled from the award ceremony to the Ministerial Office (as a Longfordman of some repute for 15 mins) to get my photo taken with his eminence. He seemed as bemused with the event as myself.
Me and Albert - a life!
In the movie version of the tale above.
Liam Neeson to play Albert
Domhnall Gleeson to play Young Billy
Jason Statham to play young Shamrock Shore in a cameo role.
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on August 22, 2014, 02:12:05 PM
In the movie version of the tale above.
Liam Neeson to play Albert
Domhnall Gleeson to play Young Billy
Jason Statham to play young Shamrock Shore in a cameo role.
You calling me a ginge??
"Name the Movie" competition.
Dog Food Afternoon
Quote from: Hardy on August 22, 2014, 03:07:42 PM
"Name the Movie" competition.
Dog Food Afternoon
Sheiks on a plane
Quote from: seafoid on August 22, 2014, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: mouview on August 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
That is class. He must have been talking to a heathen protestant
Brilliant! Jaysus I d forgotten about that.
Charlie ordered Albert in to sort out the hijacker because he was minister for Transport and Communication ???
Quote from: moysider on August 22, 2014, 09:31:54 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 22, 2014, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: mouview on August 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
That is class. He must have been talking to a heathen protestant
Brilliant! Jaysus I d forgotten about that.
Charlie ordered Albert in to sort out the hijacker because he was minister for Transport and Communication ???
And because he knew Rossies get the job done.
Quote from: Syferus on August 22, 2014, 10:06:55 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 22, 2014, 09:31:54 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 22, 2014, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: mouview on August 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
That is class. He must have been talking to a heathen protestant
Brilliant! Jaysus I d forgotten about that.
Charlie ordered Albert in to sort out the hijacker because he was minister for Transport and Communication ???
And because he knew Rossies get the job done.
Yeah, like Seán Doherty. That big wall around his house built with public money was a job well done.
Quote from: Syferus on August 22, 2014, 10:06:55 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 22, 2014, 09:31:54 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 22, 2014, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: mouview on August 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
That is class. He must have been talking to a heathen protestant
Brilliant! Jaysus I d forgotten about that.
Charlie ordered Albert in to sort out the hijacker because he was minister for Transport and Communication ???
And because he knew Rossies get the job done.
Except in the big matches
Chap on rte news said it all.. The greatest politician since eamon devalera.. 8) :o
Albert could be the last FF taoiseach to lie in state.
Quote from: seafoid on August 23, 2014, 07:33:52 PM
Albert could be the last FF taoiseach to lie in state.
Oh I think they'll manage to lie for some time to come
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/reynolds-remembered-as-man-of-passion-and-courage-1.1906379
"Also there were: businessman Ulick McEvaddy; Former Fianna Fáil minister Michael Smith; Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley.
Former secretary general of Fianna Fáil Pat Farrell, currently head of communications with Bank of Ireland was there.
Also: Dermot Gallagher, former secretary general at the Departments of Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach; former Fianna Fáil minister Aine Brady; Fr Brian Darcy"
Say a politician does a big favour for a real big hitter like Goodman or Desmond or OBrien- would they be expected at the funeral or is it much more low key - how does it work ?
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/to-pull-down-one-government-was-extraordinary-to-pull-down-two-is-inexplicable-1.1904271
Quote from: moysider on August 22, 2014, 11:02:40 PM
Quote from: Syferus on August 22, 2014, 10:06:55 PM
Quote from: moysider on August 22, 2014, 09:31:54 PM
Quote from: seafoid on August 22, 2014, 10:31:55 AM
Quote from: mouview on August 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Following the plane hostage drama where he spoke to the perp., he was interviewed by an English TV newsman. Albert had to explain that the hijacker was a 'pioneer', a teetotaller. When Albert mentioned that the perp wanted the third secret of Fatima revelaed, the newsman asked him "And what on earth is that?" The look Albert gives him is priceless! "It's a religious secret. It's not for me to say." Look here at 3 minutes in;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Q6Z1xmoSY
That is class. He must have been talking to a heathen protestant
Brilliant! Jaysus I d forgotten about that.
Charlie ordered Albert in to sort out the hijacker because he was minister for Transport and Communication ???
And because he knew Rossies get the job done.
Yeah, like Seán Doherty. That big wall around his house built with public money was a job well done.
Jaysus, I sat on that famous wall too and ate a pakahatayto as well. Scary.
I see that D'Arcy is celebrating the funeral mass.
WTF!
Ara D'Arcy is usually there at the drop of a hat.
Prob no room in Donnybrook for the great unwashed of Longford/Roscommon/Westmeath.
Great to see some serious Shinners in the pew behind Major. Jazes, rewind 20+ years and to think Shinners could be that close to the likes of Major.
On RTE on the interwebs.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/albert-reynolds/what-made-reynolds-as-a-politician-also-undid-him-1.1904277
"During that time, two other crises erupted.
The first was the X case, which concluded with a Supreme Court decision that a 14-year-old girl who was a suicide risk could have her pregnancy terminated. The second was the controversy surrounding delays within the attorney general's office in relation to the handling of the extradition of a paedophile priest, Brendan Smyth."
Hardly Albert's fault. 20 years on Ireland still has enormous problems with those 2 issues
RIP Albert. I wonder how many people are still alive today as a result of his achievements in helping to bring about peace