Page 3 - Dick Spring News Today

He had a greater understanding of the unionist position than most politicians in the Republic and for that was dubbed ‘John Unionist’ by Albert Reynolds

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has died, aged 76.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton has died, aged 76.

John Bruton, who has died aged 76, was Fine Gael prime minister of the Irish Republic from 1994 to 1997, as peace in the North remained frustratingly out of reach. Apparently in sight when Bruton took office, it would only be achieved on Good Friday 1998 under his Fianna Fail successor, Bertie Ahern.

Mr Bruton, who was Taoiseach from 1994 until 1997, died on Tuesday at the age of 76

Former Irish premier John Bruton’s role in the Northern Ireland peace process has been praised following his death at the age of 76.

The former government minister says the late Taoiseach was intellectually curious, committed to public service, and without pretension.

I always loved doing clinics, it was one of the things I enjoyed about politics — Peace-builder and architect of rainbow politics, John Bruton was a ‘big farmer’ who understood ‘ordinary people’ 

Former taoiseach had a sense of obligation and service that was a deeply Christian part of being a Christian Democrat

Jimmy Somers, who has died aged 84, was a leading figure in the trade union movement and four-time Labour candidate for Dáil Éireann. Born in Cabra, north Dublin, on November 2, 1939, he was from a family of six boys and two girls. His father, Jimmy Sr, who worked for CIÉ, was a life-long labour activist whose values were shared from an early age by his son of the same name.