February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Reagan, who was 93, passed away Sunday from pneumonia and the effects of a decade-long battle against Alzheimer’s Disease.
Ahern, who is in the U.S. this week for the G8 economic summit because of Ireland’s current European Union presidency, is not expected to attend the state funeral for Reagan at the end of this week because of the elections being held that day in Ireland. President Mary McAleese is expected to represent Ireland.
Ahern said he had learned “with great sadness” of the death of President Reagan.
“I want to convey my sincere sympathies to his wife of more than 50 years, Nancy, and to his family,” he said. “I also extend my sympathies to the American people.
“President Reagan was proud of his Irish heritage and during his time in the White House, he celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with great ceremony.
In the U.S. the GOP activist and lobby group Irish-American Republicans expressed its sadness at the passing of the 40th president.
“We are deeply saddened at the death of our beloved president,” said IAR communications director Jeff Cleary. “He was a great influence in American politics and was our hero.”
Reagan’s pride in his Irish heritage, said Cleary, had been reflected when he said that he couldn’t think of a better place on the planet to claim family roots than Ballyporeen, Co. Tipperary.
“Our heartfelt prayers are with the Reagan family and our former first lady, Nancy,” Cleary said.
Meanwhile, Irish tenor Ronan Tynan is expected to sing at the funeral service for President Reagan at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., this Friday.