McGuinness 'gave of his all'

'As an Irish Republican he was a man of total commitment. As a volunteer, as a political activist, as an elected representative, he gave of his all as times required,' Cavan-Monaghan Dáil Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said in tribute of his late Sinn Fein party colleague and long standing comrade Martin McGuinness (66).

The former member of the IRA's Army Council, and later Sinn Féin's chief negotiator in the Northern peace process, died following a short illness yesterday (Tuesday) morning, March 21, at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital. He had been diagnosed with a rare heart disease last December.
Mr McGuinness retired from politics for health reasons in January and resigned as First Minister in the wake of the 'Cash for Ash' scandal triggering an election in the North.
At the time of the Bloody Sunday killings by the British Army in Derry in 1972, Mr McGuinness was a senior figure in the local IRA.
He was released from Portlaoise Prison in 1974 after serving a sentence for a membership conviction.
Mr McGuinness later led the Sinn Fein party into power-sharing with the DUP in 2007, serving as Stormont's Deputy First Minister alongside a succession of Unionist leaders including Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and most recently Arlene Foster.
In 2011, Mr McGuinness contested the presidential election in the Republic of Ireland, which was won by Michael D Higgins.
'He was a man of conviction, whose life’s service was dedicated to the cause of Irish Freedom, Justice and Peace,' said Deputy Ó Caoláin describing Mr McGuinness, who he also considered a dear friend, as 'an exceptional leader of Irish Republicanism and a pivotal figure in the Irish Peace Process'.
Deputy O'Caolain recalled, among various times, travelling to America as part of a Sinn Fein deputation with Mr McGuinness, where they also attended the White House, meeting with then President Bill Clinton.
He also remembered fondly celebrating his election in the Cavan-Monaghan constituency in 1997, joined by McMcGuinness and party leader Gerry Adams.
'Martin was a man of exceptional qualities but, like all of us, he was an ordinary man with the same ordinary challenges, concerns, loves and interests that we all know and share. He was easy company, a good conversationalist, a family man. He had a passion for all sports and his great private joy was in fly fishing.'
He concluded by extending his sympathy on behalf of the people of Cavan and Monaghan to Mr McGuinness' wife Bernie, to his sons, his daughters and his grandchildren. 'I measc Laochra na hÉireann go raibh a anam dílis,' said Deputy Ó Caoláin.
In his decade as Deputy First Minister, Mr McGuinness consistently championed reconciliation, as recognised by local Fine Gael Senator Joe O'Reilly, who also joined in the tributes.
'We have to admire the leadership he showed in embracing change and leading his supporters into the peace process. He was an excellent leader in that he showed the capacity to adapt and embrace new realities. I offer my sympathies to his family and supporters,' Sen O'Reilly added.