President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins has led tributes to the late Liam Cahill, who passed away yesterday.
Cahill served as an economic and political correspondent with RTE, while he was the author of several books - including a popular recent release, 'From Suir to Jarama'.
He served as a political advisor, media professional, and historian - while he was also a renowned gaelic games enthusiast.
Originally from Waterford and a former student of Mount Sion CBS, the life-long trade unionist and Labour activist died suddenly at his home in Drumree, Co Meath, on Monday.
In tribute, President Higgins remarked that Cahill was a man of humorous and passive spirit.
" People throughout Irish media, politics and beyond will have been saddened to hear of the death of Liam Cahill. The contribution Liam made to Irish society was a wide and varied one. It included his work, his research, and his writing as a journalist, historian, and as an adviser across political and public affairs. To all of this he brought a well-informed, humorous and passionate spirit. To all of his many endeavours he brought, and has left, a particular personal legacy. His work in seeking to bring greater attention to the Limerick Soviet of 1919 reflected a particular interest in the cosmuintir, and the excluded or neglected. He presented a copy of his book on this to me in Áras an Uachtaráin."
The President revealed that Liam was due to visit him in the coming weeks, and spoke of his sadness to learn of his sudden passing.
"I had the privilege of engaging with Liam many times over the years. Indeed, he was due to visit the Áras again in the coming weeks to present me with a copy of his most recent book, ‘From Suir to Jarama’, which shed light on the story of his cousin Mossie Quinlan, a volunteer in Spain with the British battalion of the International Brigade. It is a great sadness that we will not get the opportunity to have that meeting. May I express my deepest sympathies to his daughter Susan, his son Eoin, to all of his wider family, and his many friends across the political spectrum.”
Liam is survived by his children Susan and Eoin, his sister May and his extended family. He is predeceased by his loving wife Patricia.
May he rest in peace.
