Tributes have flooded in from political figures in Ireland and Britain for former deputy first minister Seamus Mallon.
The 83-year-old died at home yesterday after a short illness.
He served as deputy first minister between 1998 – 2001 and was a long-standing deputy leader of the SDLP.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood last night said “Ireland has lost one of its most fierce champions for justice, equality and peace”.
“Seamus Mallon was a force of nature,” he said.
“His passion for peace underpinned by truth, justice and reconciliation came from a lifetime as a proud son of Markethill where he was born, grew up and raised his own family.
“It didn’t matter who you were, where you worshipped or what your politics were, there was always help to be found at Seamus’ hearth.”
In a statement John Hume, who led the SDLP when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, and his wife Pat said they were “deeply saddened”.
“Seamus was fearless in his condemnation of violence regardless of its source and was a rock of integrity throughout his career which spanned some of our most difficult days,” they said.
Bertie Ahern, taoiseach at the time of the Good Friday Agreement said he had been "very lucky" to have known the former deputy first minister, who he visited last week at home.
"He was a good parliamentarian, a good legislator and a good person who I always considered a good friend," Mr Ahern said.
Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan said on Twitter that Mr Mallon “called it as he saw it but held (a) vision for better ways and better days”.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald he said played a key role in reaching agreement in the north.
“Seamus will be remembered for his contribution to Irish politics over many decades as the SDLP deputy leader and the key role he played in achieving the Good Friday Agreement,” she said.
Former UUP First Minister David Trimble, said his former deputy “was committed to peaceful, democratic politics”.
"He was a stubborn man but at the end of the day he was prepared to make an agreement, which we did and implemented,” he told the BBC.
Tony Blair, who was British Prime Minister when the Good Friday Agreement was signed said: “Seamus Mallon was one of the most important architects of peace in Northern Ireland.
“Brave, blunt, often prepared to swim against the tide if he felt it right, he was someone deeply respected and admired across the troubled landscape of Irish politics.”
Archbishop Eamon Martin said the former SDLP man was “a person of global stature”.
First Minister Arlene Foster offered her sympathies to his family.
“Very sorry to learn of the passing of Seamus Mallon.,” she wrote on social media.
“My sincere sympathies are extended to his family and friends.
“As Seamus said: ‘We have two stark and clear choices. We can live together in generosity and compassion or we can continue to die in bitter disharmony.’”
Alliance Party leader and Stormont justice minister Naomi Long said Mr Mallon was “not afraid to speak his mind and his integrity stayed with him to the end”.
President Michael D Higgins added that “few people have influenced the peace process in Northern Ireland more than Seamus Mallon”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar “History will remember Seamus as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, a committed peace builder and a tireless champion of an inclusive Ireland:
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin was “by any credible measure, a truly great Irishman”.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "Seamus Mallon made an extraordinary contribution to democracy and peace in Northern Ireland.
"I want to express my sincere condolences to his daughter Orla, to his family and friends and to the SDLP."
Tony Blair’s former chief of staff Jonathan Powell described Mallon as a “wonderful mix of curmudgeon and very wise”.
Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell said Mr Mallon was “one of the great guys when it came to the peace process in Northern Ireland”.
Ulster Unionist Peer, Lord Empey, who briefing served alongside Mr Mallon as Acting First Minister, said: “I don't believe the Good Friday process could have succeeded without him. He understood the practicalities and realities of politics and government, something that some of his colleagues failed to appreciate ... “He always felt let down by both governments for their failure to uphold both the letter and spirit of the Agreement and was furious at times when deals were done behind our backs. I think all of us have lost a champion of democracy and justice today.”
Ulster Unionist leader, Steve Aiken added: "I was very sad to hear this news. His passing is a massive loss. While we didn`t agree on some things, there is no doubt that Seamus Mallon was a great Irishman."
Former West Belfast MP Joe Hendron said Mr Mallon was "central to the peace process".
"He was a good friend and a true giant of politics," he said.
