Dr Garret Fitzgerald has passed away

efb

According to Q102 Dr Garret Fitzgerald has passed away this morning.

bren2002

Nothing on RTE

efb

I know. Q102 had it as breaking news on their 7:30 bulliten.

dvpower

http://www.q102.ie/news/news-item.aspx?ID=7e873166-de98-47fb-9939-8284cc9a37ad

giftgrub

bren2002 wrote: »

Nothing on RTE

Therefore?

There are other news outlets in this country

Its been confirmed by michael noonan

rorymcgrory

Whos Garry Fitzgerald?

Sundew

Just announced on radio 1 now. RIP!

dublinhead

its on tv3 now

dvpower

... And Newstalk

Lapin

Rest in Peace Garret.

shadowninty

That's really sad
I did think it was odd that he couldn't attend the state dinner last night

He seemed like a really intelligent man, sad to lose a man like that

My condolences to his family.

Iwannahurl

...and RTE.

RIP. Somehow poignant that he died during QE2's visit.

Joe10000

A good and honest man, RIP.

loldog

RIP Garret the Good.

Brón orm.
.

Fago!

Sorry, but who is he?

Fago!

Nevermind found out who he is. At least he lived till he was 85, nice oul age. RIP

Mr Velo

RIP Dr Garrett. True gentleman - great mind.

humanji

rorymcgrory wrote: »

Whos Garry Fitzgerald?

Fago! wrote: »

Sorry, but who is he?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garret_FitzGerald

_blank_

RIP Mr Fitzgerald.

I used to work for eircom Broadband tech support, I talked him through setting up his broadband at home once, very nice, courteous man.

drBill

RIP. A gentleman and patriot.

Wolfe Tone

Is this a thread merely for condolences etc, or can his political career be discussed and reflected on?


RIP

Kix

There are many here too young to remember Garret FitzGerald, but he was an extraordinary man. A politician who didn't act like a politician, he was more like a kindly academic in his manner. He radiated intelligence, honesty and integrity, a striking contrast to his main rival, the infamous Charlie Haughey.

Garret was a pioneer in supporting the concept of Unionist consent in any settlement in the North. He was also a a great liberalizing force, advocating the separation of church and state when it was not popular to do so.

When I look to my own core political beliefs I know I've taken much from him. He was truly a rare and great individual. RIP.

Fr Tod Umptious

Garret FitzGerald died this morning

I remember him very well when I was growing up in the '80s

Eventhough he and his governments could not solve the economic problems (left behind by jack Lynch and FF), I think his real legacy will be the negotiation and signing of the Anglo Irish Agreement, the real basis for the Good Friday Agreement.

During the '80s it was Garret v Haughey whne it came to politics and IMO Garret should be remember for doing far more for the country that Haughey ever did.

Opps saw another thread - Mods please close thanks

Scofflaw

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

Is this a thread merely for condolences etc, or can his political career be discussed and reflected on?


RIP

I think we'll go with condolences on this one.

moderately,
Scofflaw

UpCork

Rest in Peace, Dr Fitzgerald. A true gentleman and patriot. He must have been disgusted at what was going on in modern day Irish politics

achtungbarry

Dr Fitzgerald was a true gentleman with a wonderful sense of humour. I met him when he presented with a medal at NUI Maynooth. He told me how he had won the same award himself which was a small cup at that time. He then described to me that while cycling home he ended up going over his handlebars and into a ditch and that he still had the little (now crooked) cup at home.

A lovely and decent man and a liberal ahead of his time. RIP.

jfk75

May he rest in peace. He was a genuine, honest, decent man who's insights and forethought into our society will be sorely missed in these dark economic days.

JP Liz V1

RIP

DeVore

RIP.

The mods here and I were invited to Brussels a while back as you might recall and Mr Fitzgerald was on that trip. I was privileged enough to share a few meals with the man and we talked about Ireland of the 80s when I would have been a teen/student and he was Taoiseach.

I was staggered by the mans simple humanity, humility and his considerable intellect. He covered topics from economics to history to logic with consummate ease and grace. He was vibrantly alive and took joy in everything around him. I remember vividly we we deep in conversation about the impact Margret Thatcher when the soup arrived, and he looked at me with real joy in his eyes and said "ohhh, I *love* soup!" like a schoolboy who'd gotten a jelly & icecream desert.

I remember thinking "I hope when I'm 85, I've had a life like yours and can still take joy in the simple things in life, like soup."

God rest your soul Mr Fitzgerald, you were an astonishing man.

Tom.

gandalf

RIP Garrett!

I grew up when he was in his prime in the 1980's, a wonderful intelligent man and a great loss to Ireland.

eagle eye

RIP Dr. Garrett. A truly great man, a very intelligent man and, in whats very odd for a politician, a very honest man. He gave decades of great service to his country.

Like DeVore I had the honour of meeting the man and I wasn't disappointed.

I don't think there has been a good Taoiseach since he was in office, and possibly not even for a while before he was in office either and yes I include the current one.

sink

RIP

I was too young to remember his time in office, but I have developed a great respect for him through his considered opinions in the media. He is a great loss to the country.

Skyrim

He took part in an interview down in U.L only about 3 months ago, was amazed at all the notes he brought with him, very intellectual guy, just shows how quick things can change. R.I.P.

Sir Oxman

RIP Garret FitzGerald 1926-2011

Revolution9

Was he in Dublin Castle last night for the Queen's dinner?

RIP

jmayo

RIP Dr Garrett Fitzgerald.

A man who tried to drag the country into the 20th century.

He may not have been a great politican, but that was because he actually stood for something and had principles so unlike his long time nemesis.

rorymcgrory wrote: »

Whos Garry Fitzgerald?

Fago! wrote: »

Sorry, but who is he?

It pains me that one of our most forward social thinking taoisigh is not known.
So much for our civic and political education.

DeVore

Can I ask people to keep politics (positive and negative) out of this. There will be time enough to consider his political impact in due course... but the man died this morning and in my honest opinion, every person's passing should be respected. Thank you.

DeV.

mprgst78

DeVore wrote: »

Can I ask people to keep politics (positive and negative) out of this. There will be time enough to consider his political impact in due course... but the man died this morning and in my honest opinion, every person's passing should be respected. Thank you.

DeV.

I respectfully disagree. Why should the man not be judged? I believe he would be insulted if people were prevented from expressing their opinions.

Mr. K

I actually drove him briefly back in late February, lovely man. RIP.

Sir Oxman

mprgst78 wrote: »

I respectfully disagree. Why should the man not be judged? I believe he would be insulted if people were prevented from expressing their opinions.

There's a thread already setup for discussion of FitzGerald's politics and legacy:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056273370

It's called "Garrett FitzGerald's Career & Political Legacy"

mprgst78

gambiaman wrote: »

There's a thread already setup for discussion of FitzGerald's politics and legacy:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056273370

It's called "Garrett FitzGerald's Career & Political Legacy"

Thanks

henryporter

RIP Garret - A great patriot and a great leader. It is genuinely a sad day.

bmaxi

Truly sad to hear about Garret, a real gentleman and a reminder that politics wasn't always the murky business his successors have made it.

Lemming

Very sad to hear; RIP.

nesf

RIP, a great loss.

caseyann

rorymcgrory wrote: »

Whos Garry Fitzgerald?

Fago! wrote: »

Sorry, but who is he?

What in world are they teaching in schools these days :eek:



R.I.P condolences to all his family and friends.A true gentleman, i was lucky enough to meet him a few times.

InigoMontoya

RIP.

I wish we had more politicians of his calibre.

Sully

Rest in Peace, Garret Fitzgerald. Truly a big loss, and will be greatly missed by us all.

Heard this little quote today and gave a little chuckle inside;

Garret couldn’t tell a lie, Charlie couldn’t tell the truth and Bertie couldn’t tell the difference.

RIP Garret, and thanks for everything.

wazzoraybelle

R.I.P.

A politician with real integrity, a scarce attribute these days.

applejam

Rest in Peace Dr Fitzgerald

leincar

DeVore wrote: »

RIP.

The mods here and I were invited to Brussels a while back as you might recall and Mr Fitzgerald was on that trip. I was privileged enough to share a few meals with the man and we talked about Ireland of the 80s when I would have been a teen/student and he was Taoiseach.

I was staggered by the mans simple humanity, humility and his considerable intellect. He covered topics from economics to history to logic with consummate ease and grace. He was vibrantly alive and took joy in everything around him. I remember vividly we we deep in conversation about the impact Margret Thatcher when the soup arrived, and he looked at me with real joy in his eyes and said "ohhh, I *love* soup!" like a schoolboy who'd gotten a jelly & icecream desert.

I remember thinking "I hope when I'm 85, I've had a life like yours and can still take joy in the simple things in life, like soup."

God rest your soul Mr Fitzgerald, you were an astonishing man.

Tom.

What a lovely post.

I had the honour and pleasure of meeting Dr Fitzgerald on a number of occassions over the last fifteen years, he never forget who I was, always remembered that I had worked at Wembley on Live Aid, always suggested it was time to come back to Ireland and always said I had my hands full with five daughters.

He will be greatly missed. I do already.