Born on July 26, 1931, Paddy Harte grew up in comfortable circumstances on a farm between Lifford and Raphoe, Co Donegal....
Former Donegal TD Paddy Harte dies, aged 86
Tributes have been paid to the former Donegal TD and Minister of State Paddy Harte, who has died at the age of 86.
Born in Lifford in 1931, Harte set up his own butchering businesses in Lifford and Raphoe before pursuing a life in politics.
Born in Lifford in 1931, the Fine Gael politician had been battling ill health for a number of years.
He was first elected to the Dáil (Irish parliament) in 1961 for Donegal North-East, and retained his seat until 1997.
In the 1980s, Mr Harte served as Minister of State at the Department of Posts and Telegraphs as well as Spokesman on Northern Ireland.
When the Troubles erupted he was one of the few politicians from the Republic of Ireland prepared to meet all sides in the conflict.
It was a visit to the cemeteries of the Somme and Flanders in 1996 that was to change his life.
Struck by the thousands of Irish names on headstones, he was determined to create a lasting memorial to the forgotten soldiers.
Along with former Ulster Defence Association (UDA) leader Glen Barr, who died last y