Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today described the late taoiseach Charles J Haughey as a political leader of "peerless acumen and commanding talent".
In a graveside oration at Mr Haughey's funeral in Dublin, Mr Ahern said the former Fianna Fáil leader was "blessed with a strong intellect, natural charisma and driving spirit which was to make him the dominant public figure in the late 20th century Ireland."
Firing party from the Naval Service firing three volleys over the grave of former taoiseach Charles Haughey in St Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton
While often contentious, Mr Ahern said his career was "full to the brim" of achievements which benefited immensely his constituents and our country.
He told over 1000 mourners at St Fintan's cemetery in Sutton that his political career was controversial at times because "this was someone who did not ride the winds and tides, he sought to change them".
"If the definition of a patriot is someone who devotes all their energy to the betterment of their country, Mr Ahern said: "Charles Haughey was a patriot to his fingertips."
"Despite the controversy, even political opponents acknowledge that he had indeed done the State some service," he said. "The ultimate judgement of history will be positive."
Mr Ahern spoke of how he remembered as a teenager canvassing for "Charlie" at election. "He was one of us, he was larger than life," he said.
The Taoiseach compared Mr Haughey to the poet WB Yeats whom he said was a great but complex man, "impatient for the progress of our country".
When Yeats wrote "I am of Ireland", Mr Ahern said he could not have penned a better description of Mr Haughey.
He described the former leader as a "consummate politician, who exhibited grace under pressure, incisive mind and superb parliamentary skills proud identity with all of Ireland and a profound respect in victory and defeat for our democratic instutions."
"As one of Mr Haughey's successors I want to acknowledge that he left a huge legacy of last achievement that this generation has based its own progress upon," Mr Ahern.
"History will favourably record that from 1988 Charlie Haughey took the first steps on the long road to peace."
"His courageous decision to open a secret channel of communication with the Provisional IRA paved the way to banishing the bomb and bullet North and South in our time.
"Abroad Mr Haughey put Ireland at the forefront of a developing European community."
"He led Fianna Fáil through a volatile and tumultuous of Irish politics. Undoubtedly his tenacity, his courage and will to win served him well during a number of political crises and setbacks," Mr Ahern said.
He said that Mr Haughey would ruefully acknowledge to him that he enjoyed the proverbial nine lives.
"Charlie, Boss the last of those lives has now been extinguished. Today the most agile and instinctive of our political leaders is still," he said.
