Veteran FG TD receives OBE for services to reconciliation

Former Fine Gael Donegal TD Paddy Harte was awarded an honorary OBE for his services to promoting reconciliation in Ireland at the British ambassador's residence in Dublin yesterday.

British ambassador David Reddaway, sporting a pin in his lapel of the Union Jack and Tricolour flags together, presented the award at Glencairn, in Sandyford.

The citation, read by British defence attaché Col John Steed, in navy, red and gold uniform complete with silver spurs, said that Queen Elizabeth had bestowed the award in recognition of Mr Harte's "dedication to promoting reconciliation in Ireland" and for his contribution "to improving knowledge of the shared history that links our peoples from East and West and North and South".

Mr Harte was the driving force behind the erection of a round tower, inaugurated in 1998, at Messines in Belgium in memory of the Irishmen who died in the first World War.

He also inspired the production of the Books of Honour Project, which lists on a county-by-county basis the people who died in battle during that war.

Over 20 members of Mr Harte's family attended the event in the drawing room of Glencairn, including his wife, Rosaleen, and his six-week-old granddaughter, Maisie, the 21st of his grandchildren.

He quipped as he posed for photographs that his newest grandchild had more hair than himself, said he was honoured to receive the award and thanked his family and friends for their support.

"If there is ever going to be a united Ireland, which is an ambition of mine, it can only be done in an atmosphere of peace and harmony," he said.

"What has been dividing us is simply a misunderstanding of our feelings for Ireland."

He said that one of the proudest moments of his life was standing at the round tower with his family and realising that he had "done this".

A toast of champagne, with orange juice for Mr Harte who is a pioneer, was raised to the former deputy and his wife and to absent friends.