Former minister David Andrews had long-standing links to Mayo

Councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have offered their deepest sympathies to the family of former Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Foreign Affairs David Andrews following his passing on Tuesday, June 30.

Cllr Damien Ryan extended the council's sympathies to Mr Andrews' wife, Annette, his sons David and Barry, and his daughters, Mary, Sinead and Claire. He said Mr Andrews and his family were regular visitors to south Mayo, particularly to Cong, and paid tribute to his political career.

“As Minister for Foreign Affairs, he was a colossus on the national stage. He was one of the main architects of the Good Friday Agreement,” Cllr Ryan said.

Mr Andrews served as a TD for Dún Laoghaire between 1965 and 2002.

Cllr Ryan, who is the Fianna Fáil whip on Mayo County Council, noted that Mr Andrews served under five Fianna Fáil Taoisigh - Seán Lemass, Jack Lynch, Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern.

He also reflected on Mr Andrews' 13 years on the backbenches after backing George Colley's unsuccessful leadership challenge against Haughey in 1979.

“He spent 13 years in the political wilderness. That is what really gave him the stature and ability to do things,” Cllr Ryan said. “Those 13 years were not spent in the wilderness without many good things going on. He was returned every time in Dún Laoghaire as an active and prominent TD. He took a firm role in relation to the Birmingham Six, the Guildford Four and in the release of Brian Keenan. Some of those things, as a backbench TD, are things he will be greatly remembered for,” he said.

“In relation to peace on this island, he was one of the main architects as Minister of Foreign Affairs when the Good Friday Agreement came around. I have no doubt he was instrumental in making that happen.

“To his wife and family, our deepest sympathies,” he concluded.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.