Former Irish Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald will be buried following a state funeral in Dublin on Sunday. The Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin have expressed sympathy on behalf of the members of the Church of Ireland to his family.
Mr Fitzgerald died on Wednesday after a short illness. He was 85 years old.
He was Fine Gael taoiseach (Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland) at the time of the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement in 1985.
His body will lie in repose in Dublin’s Mansion House on Saturday. He will be buried following a funeral Mass in Donnybrook on Sunday.
A book of condolence will be opened and members of the public will be able to pay their respects at the Mansion House on Saturday.
Archbishops Harper and Jackson stated, “Dr FitzGerald had a unique and inspirational spirit for public service. He took significant steps in many aspects of political life. He invested much of his energy and intellect in establishing the New Ireland Forum and the Anglo Irish Agreement. He was also an adept polemicist.
“Dr FitzGerald showed integrity and sincerity in all aspects of his long career. His passion for peace and his towering intellect were lived out in a humble and accessible personality.”
Mr FitzGerald served twice as taoiseach between 1981 and 1987 at the head of two coalition governments.
The Queen described him as a “true statesman” who would be greatly missed.
He retired from the Dail in 1992, but still took part in political campaigns, particularly on the Nice and Lisbon Treaties.
He lectured in economics before he was elected to the Seanad (the Irish Senate) in 1965 and the Dail in 1969.
When Fine Gael entered government in 1973 he was appointed foreign affairs minister.
He also played a leading role in the Sunningdale Agreement negotiations which led to the short-lived power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
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