FORMER Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness was yesterday remembered at a memorial Mass in Washington DC as a man who took risks for peace and learned how to say 'no' to his friends and supporters.
Tributes to the IRA commander-turned-politician were led by Congressman Richie Neal, a close friend of Mr McGuinness and co-chair of the Friends of Ireland in Congress group.
The former Sinn Féin MP, who resigned as Stormont's deputy first minister in January, died in March aged 66.
His sons Fiachra and Emmett joined Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams - who also spoke during the service - for yesterday's Mass at St Peter's Catholic Church on Washington's Capitol Hill.
The pair did not speak during the Mass but participated by bringing up the gifts for the priest during the service.
Later Emmett tweeted: "Beautiful memorial service for my father in St Peter's Church, Washington DC.We are very proud of him and he is always in our thoughts."
Beautiful memorial service for my father in St Peter's Church, Washington DC. We are very proud of him and he is always in our thoughts. pic.twitter.com/YEDO6iEW0V
— Emmett McGuinness (@emmettmcg18) July 25, 2017
In his eulogy, Congressman Neal said Martin McGuinness had "passed away far too soon".
He said Sinn Féin's one-time chief negotiator had undertaken "extraordinary work... to bring peace, reconciliation and justice to the island of Ireland".
The Massachusetts representative said Mr McGuinness was tireless in encouraging Irish America and the Irish diaspora "to take risks for peace".
"Many in this room worked closely with him to change the course of history in Ireland, and help bring an end to the longest-running political dispute in the western world – after decades, and against great odds, we saw the gun permanently taken from Irish politics," he said.
"In what seems unthinkable today, we witnessed watchtowers taken down, checkpoints removed, a police service reformed, a border virtually disappear."
Mr Neal recalled how he spent time with the former deputy first minister on both sides of the Atlantic, including the congressman's hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts and in Derry. Their final encounter was in Dublin last year as they marked the centenary of the Easter Rising.
"And on every occasion, following every conversation, I always came to the same conclusion – Martin McGuinness was a leader," he said.
"He knew who he was, where he came from, and where he was headed. He had strong convictions, values and
beliefs."
The congressman said the former MP learned one of hardest lessons in politics – "how to say 'no' to your friends and supporters".
"It easy to tell people what they want to hear in life, but it is much more difficult to challenge the conventional wisdom and
tell people hard truths," he said.
"Martin knew what he wanted to accomplish for the people of Ireland and he inevitably chose to pursue those goals through the crucible of politics. It was not easy decision, it put him at great personal risk, but it was the right thing to do."
Mr Neal said he remembered Mr McGuinness as a "man of his word" and person who "loved his family, was a proud resident of the Bogside, spoke Irish, wrote poetry and was a passionate fly fisherman". He also recalled how he "cheered for Derry City football at the Brandywell" and was a "great fan of cricket".
The former deputy first minister's "outreach to both traditions" was described as "nothing short of remarkable".
"I recall the image of him appearing next to Peter Robinson to condemn the shooting of Constable Stephen Carroll; we all remember his historic handshake with the Queen," the congressman said.
"Martin understood the importance of both reconciliation and forgiveness."
