In The News

Former Irish Prime Minister to be given a State Funeral

Former Irish Prime Minister to be given a State Funeral

Former Irish Prime Minister Dr. Garret FitzGerald will be given a State Funeral this weekend in Dublin. 

Dr. FitzGerald, who was 85, died following a short illness.

His remains will lie in repose at the Mansion House in Dublin on Saturday (May 21) from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Members of the public will be able to file past the coffin and sign a Book of Condolence. 

The former Taoiseach’s remains will then be removed to the Sacred Heart Church in Donnybrook, Dublin, where a Service will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The Funeral Mass will take place on Sunday (May 22) at 2.30 p.m. with burial to follow in the city’s Shanganagh Cemetery.

Dr. FitzGerald was a former leader of Fine Gael and as Taoiseach had signed the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985 with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

It was this agreement which laid the foundations for a peace process in Northern Ireland which, eventually, led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the power-sharing Government at Stormont.

Dr. FitzGerald was always destined to enter Irish politics. His father, Desmond FitzGerald, was Minister for External Affairs from 1922 to 1927 in the Government of W. T. Cosgrave.

He was a Fine Gael Senator in the mid-1960s, during a period when he was an economics lecturer at UCD.

He entered Dáil Éireann in 1969, and became Minister for Foreign Affairs in the coalition government with Labour in 1973 under Liam Cosgrave. 

When this government fell in 1977, Dr. FitzGerald became Fine Gael leader.

He was to head two coalition governments (1981-1982 and 1982-1987).

Taoiseach Enda Kenny led tribute to Dr. FitzGerald.

He said: “Garrett FitzGerald was a truly remarkable man who made a truly remarkable contribution to Irish politics.”

Irish President Mary McAleese said she was saddened by the death, describing Dr. FitzGerald as a “Renaissance man of our times”.

Former Irish President Mary Robinson said Dr. FitzGerald was a “giant” of Irish politics.

She added: “His death will result in a great sadness in the hearts of people across the country.”

 

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