THERE is little doubt for Irish Americans who the man of the year in Ireland for 2007 was. The Reverend Ian Paisley confounded critics and became the major peacemaker of the era when he agreed to go into government with Sinn Fein in May of 2007. As a result we have an incredible opportunity for peace on the island of Ireland for the first time since the beginning of the Troubles in 1969.

Such a scenario still looked unlikely just a year ago, which makes it an even more precious opportunity. Ten years ago it would have been dismissed as fanciful and the product of a fevered imagination.

Without Paisley it simply could not have happened. He alone among Unionist leaders commanded the support and political bargaining power to cut the deal with Sinn Fein, who had made clear that the deal had to be cut with Paisley or no one else.

We saw the chaotic consequences with David Trimble when an Ulster Unionist leader refused to fully commit to a power-sharing agenda and tried to pacify opponents within his own party with hardline and often contradictory statements.

Once Paisley made the call, however, he remained resolute as only he could despite the opposition. His decision confounded many Irish Americans who had become used to a different Paisley, the Dr. No of legend who refused every move towards power-sharing governments and galvanized his hard core supporters against any and all compromise.

The recent Irish and British Cabinet papers released under the 30 year rule reveal just why Paisley was the dark star of Northern Irish politics for a generation.

He was at the forefront of efforts to force a return to majority rule in 1977 after a constitutional convention of all Unionist parties demanded it. The call for a general strike, similar to the one which brought down the first power sharing government in 1974, was orchestrated by Paisley even though it was unsuccessful on this occasion.

From being a destroyer to a creator of prospects for peace is perhaps the greatest single journey any Northern Ireland politician has ever made, yet Paisley handled it with aplomb and class that confounded his critics, including many here in Irish America.

On his recent visit to New York and Washington, D.C. the new incarnation of Paisley was evident to everyone. He spoke movingly of his desire to see generations in Northern Ireland grow up with peace rather than war, and he made absolutely clear his intent to continue on the current path with Sinn Fein.

The sight of Paisley and Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness jointly seeking economic investment in Northern Ireland was a powerful reminder of how things have changed. Were there ever two men who were so diametrically opposed in Irish politics, who joined together to find a common cause? Probably not.

So the coming together of Paisley and McGuinness will give hope to everyone involved in conflict resolution issue everywhere that the twain can meet and seemingly irreconcilable differences can be ironed out with goodwill and political courage.

For that reason alone, Paisley deserves to be considered a true peacemaker by all Irish Americans. While there are many who will find it hard to forgive him for much of what he espoused over the years, there is no question that he, in the end, found a way to make peace happen and inject powerful hope for the future of Ireland north and south.