English-born and of unionist stock, dedicated peacemaker Martin Mansergh was the most unlikely Soldier of Destiny

"Reclusive and shy Fianna Fáil politician was the party's wordsmith, played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process and loyally advised Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern I last met Martin Mansergh at the end of June in the coffee shop of the National Gallery in Dublin. It was one of his regular haunts and where, almost 40 years ago, he first met the Redemptorist priest Fr Alec Reid, in a dialogue that became pivotal to the Northern Ireland peace process."

"It was one of his regular haunts and where, almost 40 years ago, he first met the Redemptorist priest Fr Alec Reid, in a dialogue that became pivotal to the Northern Ireland peace process. In more recent times, Martin had been advising on the archiving of Reid's papers and had completed a history of his own Mansergh family. He was mulling writing his memoirs."

Martin Mansergh was a reclusive and shy Fianna Fáil politician who served as the party's wordsmith and loyal adviser to Charles Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Bertie Ahern. He played a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland peace process and first encountered Redemptorist priest Fr Alec Reid at the National Gallery coffee shop nearly forty years earlier. He later assisted with archiving Reid's papers, completed a history of the Mansergh family and contemplated writing his memoirs. He frequented the National Gallery coffee shop in Dublin and remained involved in historical preservation and political memory work.

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