Former President Hillery Dies In Dublin, Aged 84

Former Irish president Dr. Patrick Hillery died after a short illness, aged 84, the government announced on Saturday.

On Tuesday afternoon in Dublin, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and hundreds of dignitaries and friends attended a state funeral for Hillery, who served two consecutive seven-year terms as president from 1976 to 1990.

Hillery, who was originally a medical doctor from County Clare in the west of Ireland, served as a lawmaker for 21 years in Fianna Fail.

He served as external affairs minister from 1969 during which time he negotiated Ireland's entry into the European Economic Community, now the European Union, on January 1, 1973.

He became Ireland's first EEC Commissioner, serving from 1973 and 1976, having special responsibility for social affairs. Laater he became vice president of the Commission.

Irish President Mary McAleese described him as an "absolutely wonderful and outstanding patriot."

"We owe this man such a debt," she said.

"He was an extraordinarily humble man who never, ever looked for any kind of recognition or thanks but certainly was deserving of all of those things because of a long, long career in so many different areas.

"He was involved in every facet of policy-making that paved the way to a new, modern Ireland."

"He was a great patriot, a great public servant, an extraordinarily humble man, a man who never, ever looked for any kind of recognition but certainly was deserving of all of those things because of a long, long career in so many different areas. The other day when I talked to him about the great changes over Ireland in recent times, he was so proud of them and so proud to have been part of the fabric of building those things up."

The Taoiseach said Hillery's entire life summed up what was best about politics and public service: ""For 40 years, Dr Patrick Hillery was at the cutting edge of Irish public life and set an unsurpassable standard of integrity and delivery. He was a true and unassuming patriot who in his time made a noble contribution to the well-being of our country. He will be sadly missed."

Hillery was first elected to the Dail in 1951.

He served as minister for education from 1959 to 1965, industry and commerce from 1965 to 1966, labour from 1966 to 1969 and finally in external affairs which later became the foreign ministry.

He is survived by his wife Maeve and son John Hillery.

Former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald described the late President as "one of the most constructive politicians of the second half of the last century."