IN PICTURES: Dr Martin Mansergh remembered for courage and optimism at Tipperary funeral

Dr Martin Mansergh, a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, was laid to rest at St Mary’s Church in Tipperary Town this morning, with a service attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Comdt Brian Walsh for President Michael D. Higgins, Fine Gael TD Michael Murphy representing Tánaiste Simon Harris, and other politicians past and present.

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His son, Danny, spoke movingly about what family life was like while his father was deeply involved in secret talks to bring peace to Northern Ireland. He said that at the time, “the prevailing view was that you did not talk to terrorists.” The Enniskillen bombing, which happened only months before his father’s first meetings with senior republican figures, had only hardened that attitude.

Danny said his mother, Liz, knew about the talks and served as a highly discreet sounding board for his father. The children, all aged between two and seventeen, were not supposed to know, but they did. They took phone calls from people who would not give their names, saying only that they were “a friend.” Those friends, he said, were often the benign and saintly Fr Alec Reid, though as children their mental image was “very much of an IRA man.”

He said his father was acutely aware that if his clandestine contacts with the republican movement had been exposed, it could have ended his career instantly “with a lot of finger pointing, blame and outrage.” Yet, Danny added, “a lesser person would have struggled to cope with such pressure, but his father was able to deal with it because of his optimism, courage and conviction.”

Dr Mansergh died in Morocco on 26th September while on a trip with former parliamentarians. He is deeply mourned by his wife Liz, children Fiona, Lucy, Danny, Alice and Harriet, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family.

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A senior civil servant in the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mansergh was a trusted adviser to several taoisigh before entering politics with Fianna Fáil. He later served as a senator, TD, and junior minister at the Departments of Finance and Arts.

His behind-the-scenes negotiations with Fr Alec Reid and figures within the Republican Movement proved a cornerstone in securing peace in Northern Ireland. Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams described him as “a key figure in the efforts to build the peace process with the success of the negotiations leading to the Good Friday Agreement.” In recognition of that work, he was awarded the Tipperary International Peace Award in 1995 alongside Rev Roy Magee and Fr Alec Reid.

His sudden passing shocked family, friends, and colleagues. Dr Mansergh had continued to write and research, working on several projects including a family history he was partway through. His daughter Alice told mourners her father lived his life with “bravery, resilience, enthusiasm and integrity.” Speaking of his unfinished work, she added, “Dad best told the story of his life by living it.”

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