Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I, too, express my sympathy to the family of Sam McAughtry and welcome his daughters, Marion, Elaine and Angela, to the House.
As we know, Sam McAughtry was an acclaimed writer, broadcaster and encourager of peace. He was an accomplished and unique individual who crossed borders in a way only few have managed in the recent tumultuous decades which have thankfully become peaceful. We are here to pay tribute to former Senator Sam McAughtry who passed away in March last at the age of 91 years. Personally, I did not have the pleasure of knowing Sam but his voice was certainly familiar to me from radio broadcasts. I remember him, in particular, for his contributions to the "Sunday Miscellany" programme on Sunday mornings. He had a calm voice, which was great for radio.
Sam McAughtry's place in our shared history is well secured. Leaving school at age 14 years, he joined the Royal Air Force and, subsequently, the civil service, before becoming a regular on our airwaves and in our newspapers. He was a columnist forThe Irish Times and could be regularly heard on BBC and RTE radio speaking on both political and personal issues. Sam's voice was different in a time of trouble and difficulty. He painted pictures with words on the effects the Troubles had on ordinary people, highlighted their difficulties and the way in which their lives were affected. His thoughts and statements on radio programmes and his columns in The Irish Timesover the years provided an interesting social history for generations to come.
Sam McAughtry was an accomplished writer whose works included On the Outside Looking In, A Memoir, Blind Spot,Play it Again Sam, Sam McAughtry's Belfastand McAughtry's War. In addition to the many achievements I have listed, Sam also led a very important public life. As a member of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, he was passionate about trade unions and deeply committed to fighting sectarianism. He also led a public life through his election in 1996 to Seanad Éireann on the industrial and commercial panel. He promoted peace and reconciliation against a backdrop of violence and called for a change in understanding, while some still wished to engage in and promote violence as a means to an end.
Before becoming a Member of the Seanad, Sam was a founding member of the peace train organisation. As Senator Mooney noted, its members protested against and stood up to the threats of bombs on the Dublin to Belfast rail line. As someone from Dundalk who lived alongside the line, I remember only too well the frequent disruption to services on the route. As a founding member of the group, Sam helped to bring people together against the fear and threats. He and his colleagues provided a train station platform for people to come together, say "No More" and refuse to allow fear to reign.
Sam McAughtry made contributions to many parts of Irish life and we are thankful to him and remember him for them. He passed away in March at the age of 91 years, having made contributions to the political, cultural and social fabric of his time. Importantly, he connected with an audience through his writing, speeches and work in a way that few others can match. He was a man of many hats who contributed greatly to Irish life. I express my gratitude for the path he paved.