Seamus Mallon, one of the key architects of the Good Friday Agreement in the late 1990s, passed away on Friday.
Seamus Mallon, the former first deputy of Northern Ireland, passed away on January 24 in Co Armagh at the age of 83.
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Mallon, a native of Co Armagh, became involved in the civil rights movement of Northern Ireland in the late 1960s after witnessing instances of discrimination in his hometown of the predominantly Protestant Markethill.
He once recounted: "The family of one of my pupils was trying to get out of a horribly dilapidated home and into a council house.
"At that time, councillors had the power of allocation. That family was turned down by a [unionist] councillor who said: 'No Catholic pig and his litter will ever get a home in Markethill while I am here!'"
In 1973, Mallon was elected to the first-power sharing Assembly in Northern Ireland, and in 1975, he was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention as a representative of Armagh.
In 1979, when John Hume became the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Seamus Mallon became the deputy leader. In that position, Mallon emerged as a key architect of the Good Friday Agreement.
Read More: Gerry Adams slams SDLP, says they are irrelevant since John Hume retired
In December 1999, Mallon became Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, serving alongside Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble. The two, technically political rivals, were soon dubbed the “odd couple."
Trimble told BBC Radio Ulster that Mallon's legacy was huge: "He was committed to politics and he was committed to peaceful democratic politics, that was why he was such a good parliamentarian. He was a stubborn man, yes, but at the end of the day he was prepared to make an agreement which we did and we implemented it.
"His legacy will be bound up by the agreement and the institutions and that is something that his family can feel proud of."
While Mallon was a nationalist “to the core,” he said last year that a larger majority should be sought for Irish reunification.
Mallon said: "You have a border poll, 50% plus one. Is that a victory?
"Is it a result that can sustain the tensions that will be in this island?
"How long would peace last in those circumstances?"
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On Friday, politicians paid tribute to the former Deputy First Minister:
Colum Eastwood, the current leader of the SDLP, said in a statement: “In the darkest days of conflict, when hope was in short supply, Seamus represented the fierce thirst for justice that ran through the SDLP and through communities that had lost so much to political violence.”
Seamus Mallon was an Irish Patriot. He lived for our country and has left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone who enjoys the peace he helped forge.
I'm proud to have called him a friend. My prayers are with Orla, Mark and Lara. https://t.co/aU9mJRJwB6 pic.twitter.com/QO7Dy3Fi9S
— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) January 24, 2020
Julian Smith, the current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said Mallon’s “leadership with David Trimble of the first Executive in 1999 set Northern Ireland on a new democratic course.”
Seamus Mallon dedicated his political career to making Northern Ireland a bette
r place. His leadership with David Trimble of the first Executive in 1999 set Northern Ireland on a new democratic course. I want to express my sincere condolences to his family, friends and @SDLPlive
— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) January 24, 2020
Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, said Mallon was "one of the most important architects of peace in Northern Ireland".
Tony Blair: Seamus Mallon was one of the most important architects of peace in Northern Ireland. Brave, blunt, often prepared to swim against the tide if he felt it right, he was someone deeply respected and admired across the troubled landscape of Irish politics. (1/3)
— Tony Blair Institute (@InstituteGC) January 24, 2020
Alastair Campbell, who worked as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman in the late 1990s, said Mallon was “one of the nice guys. And one of the great guys when it came to the peace process in Northern Ireland.”
So sad that Seamus Mallon has died. He was one of the nice guys. And one of the great guys when it came to the peace process in Northern Ireland. He did not always get the biggest headlines because he didn’t shout the loudest. He had commitment and intelligence to match 1/3
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) January 24, 2020
Arlene Foster, head of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland, recalled a quote from Mallon: “We have two stark and clear choices. We can live together in generosity and compassion or we can continue to die in bitter disharmony.”
Very sorry to learn of the passing of Seamus Mallon. My sincere sympathies are extended to his family & friends. As Seamus said “We have two stark and clear choices. We can live together in generosity and compassion or we can continue to die in bitter disharmony.” https://t.co/YaFRC9fJuK
— Arlene Foster (@DUPleader) January 24, 2020
Mary Lou McDonald, the President of Sinn Féin, said in a statement that Mallon will “be remembered for his contribution to Irish politics over many decades as the SDLP deputy leader and the key role he played in achieving the Good Friday Agreement.”
.@MaryLouMcDonald extends condolences on death of Seamus Mallon https://t.co/5B8SZAlnci pic.twitter.com/FLV5tQPPdS
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 24, 2020
Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said history will remember Mallon as “a committed peacebuilder and a tireless champion of an inclusive Ireland:”
History will remember Seamus as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, a committed peace builder and a tireless champion of an inclusive Ireland: Former NI deputy first minister Seamus Mallon dies via @RTENewsNow https://t.co/eq3J2ZUAyg
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 24, 2020
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Tanaiste, noted how Mallon was “always working for peace and reconciliation.”
Very sad to learn of passing of the great Seamus Mallon. He has made an extraordinary contribution to politics & people on this island. He was tough, intelligent and passionate, always working for peace and reconciliation.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) January 24, 2020
My sincere condolences to his family and friends. RIP pic.twitter.com/q9waXGamwE
President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins said in a statement: “Few people have influenced the peace process in Northern Ireland more than Seamus Mallon, a formidable opponent and, a tough negotiator in speech and act, but always honest and honourable.”
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Seamus Mallon, former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, former member of Seanad Éireann, and lifelong civil rights campaigner."
Full text of the statement by President Higgins on the death of Seamus Mallon:https://t.co/SZttJokoBh
— President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) January 24, 2020
Micheál Martin, head of Irish political party Fianna Fáil, said Mallon was “a true patriot and gave all his working life to achieve the peace we enjoy today.”
The passing of Seamus Mallon is a very sad day for our country. He was a true patriot and gave all his working life to achieve the peace we enjoy today. He was also my friend and I will greatly miss him. My sympathies to Orla, his family circle and our colleagues in the @SDLPlive
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 24, 2020
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