Madam, - In a world of constant "spinning" and self-promotion we mourn the passing of Paddy Hillery, a quiet, unassuming man who shunned publicity but whose place in history is nevertheless guaranteed.
I have often felt that President Hillery, or "Dr Paddy" as we Miltown people affectionately called him, did not get proper credit for his contribution to Ireland. His iconic performance while defending Fianna Fáil at the turbulent 1971 ardfheis was a crucial intervention, but there was more to Dr Paddy than that.
He was a reforming Minister for Labour, setting up the forerunner of Fás, a courageous Minister for Foreign Affairs, venturing North when it was dangerous to do so. He signed us into Europe.
He was an innovative European Commissioner for Social Affairs who introduced a raft of worker protective legislation and a President who, despite the restrictions of his office, will be fondly remembered in the parishes and the communities he visited while the flashbulbs and the microphones were elsewhere recording one-day wonders.
But those of us involved in education have good reason to appreciate that Doctor Paddy was Minister for Education for some time. He introduced the mould-breaking comprehensive schools which in no small way helped to break down the class-ridden academic-versus-practical culture which pervaded Irish society at the time.
He initiated Gaisce/The President's Award which currently involves up to 15,000 young people every year. He laid the foundation stones for free secondary education which subsequently was followed through by Donogh O'Malley .
And while the public Dr Paddy will be remembered, one of my abiding memories will be of the day Anthony Daly lifted the McCarthy Cup for us success-starved Clare supporters in 1995 . I was fortunate to have a seat near the presentation and I glanced over at Dr Paddy to see the tears streaming down his face. And that is why his passing is sad, particularly for all us Clare people. He was quintessentially one of our own.- Yours, etc,
JOHN HURLEY, (Member of NUI Senate and former president of the ASTI), Ferrybridge, Clarina, Co Limerick.