Ruairí Ó Brádaigh Dies

Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, a president of Sinn Fein fro 1970 to 1983, and who also served on the Provisional IRA's army council over the same period, has died aged 80 after a long illness.

Born into a republican family his entire life was steeped in the republican tradition. His was relentless in his dedication to the cause of Irish republicanism and was also unwavering in his support of the physical force dimension of that tradition. His lack of equivocation on this matter led to him being effectively marginalised in media discourse for much of his life.

A biography of O'Bradaigh was written by US professor Robert White. Mr O'Bradaigh will be buried tomorrow in St Colman's Cemetery, Roscommon.

Ruairí Ó Brádaigh speaking at the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis in dublin October, 1976.