Tributes to the late Jack Lynch pour in

Throughout the day many warm tributes were paid to the late Jack Lynch. At the opening of business in the Dáil this morning, deputies stood for a minute's silence in memory of the late Jack Lynch. As a mark of respect, the Dáil will adjourn at the close of business this evening until November 2.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said that Mr. Lynch would always be associated with his great feats of sportsmanship and his unique political charisma. Mr. Ahern said that Mr. Lynch's firm leadership saw the nation safely through a period of great political tension and turbulence, and his outstanding work to gain Irish membership of the EEC changed forever the way we see ourselves as a nation.

Mr. Ahern added that his gentle and courteous demeanour, even in the midst of great adversity endeared him to the public, and his great political triumphs were in many ways a tribute to the great personal esteem in which he was held. The Fianna Fáil National Executive has said that Jack Lynch was the epitome of all that is honourable in Irish politics and Fianna Fáil. A statement said that, as a legendary sportsman, he brought great joy, not just to his native Cork, but every fan of Gaelic hurling and football. As leader of Fianna Fáil, it added, he brought the party to unprecedented heights of success, especially in 1977 with a landslide victory of 84 seats, the largest ever obtained by any party.

Martin Mackin, the party's General Secretary, said that, as leader of Fianna Fáil and as Taoiseach, Jack Lynch displayed remarkable qualities of leadership, vision and commitment and to the Fianna Fáil organisation, he leaves a great legacy of achievement, dignity and love of his country. In a statement, former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave said that Jack Lynch was a gentleman. "At one time, he was the most popular politician in the country since Daniel O'Connell. My wife Vera joins me in extending sympathy to his wife Máirín. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."

President McAleese spoke about the "awesome sense of loss" at his death and described him as a gentleman. Mrs. McAleese said that his towering integrity stands out and characterised everything in his personal relationships and political life. Regarding Northern Ireland, the president said that Mr. Lynch had brought the language of gentleness and gentility, which she believes has seed-bedded the kind of peace process we now are hopefully are going to see coming to fruition in the coming weeks.

The Tánaiste, Mary Harney, praised his modesty and integrity and said that he had worked only in the public interest. The Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, said that Mr. Lynch epitomised politics as the service of the public. He said that he was, in the truest sense of the word, a servant of the public. Mr. Bruton described Mr. Lynch as somebody who had a great sense of patriotism and a sense of belief that the nation is greater than the individual.

The former Fine Gael Taoiseach, Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald, said in a statement that Mr. Lynch commanded the respect and affection of all who knew him. Deputy Austin Currie paid tribute to Jack Lynch's handling of the first Northern crisis in 1969 and his later stance on the North.

The leader of the Labour Party, Ruairí Quinn, has said that Mr. Lynch's death represents the passing of an era. He said that Mr. Lynch was not just one of the outstanding statesmen in the history of the State, he was also one of the most loved and respected figures in Irish politics. Mr. Quinn added that Jack Lynch made an outstanding contribution to Irish public life, not just to politics, but also to sport.

The SDLP leader, John Hume, said that he is very saddened to hear of the death of Jack Lynch and that he expresses his deepest sympathy to his wife. "Jack Lynch was an outstanding Taoiseach who was highly respected by all shades of opinion. We in the North owe him a deep gratitude for laying the foundations for a very constructive approach to our problems by successive Irish governments."

The Green Party chief spokesperson Trevor Sargent said that Jack Lynch would always be remembered with much affection as a Corkman of fine integrity.

In a statement this morning, the GAA President, Joe McDonagh, said that Mr. Lynch was renowned as one of the great hurlers and was the inspiration for a generation of young Corkmen and was never happier than amongst his own, in Glen Rovers clubrooms talking about the games and the people.

The Director General of the GAA, Liam Mulvihill added that Jack was a unique person in Irish history. "He remained passionate throughout his life about the fortunes of his beloved Glen Rovers and Cork, but he was always generous in his appreciation of all teams." The President of the GAA and the Director General expressed the sympathy of all GAA followers to Mr. Lynch's wife, Máirín and to his brother and sisters.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Damian Wallace, said that there is a deep sense of sorrow among all Corkonians at the passing of one of its favourite sons.