Fr Alec Reid (1931–2013) was a Redemptorist priest and a pivotal figure in the Northern Ireland peace process. Born at Leonard’s Corner in Dublin on 5 August 1931, he grew up in Nenagh, his mother’s hometown. A keen hurler, he captained Nenagh CBS to victory in the Dr Croke Cup in 1948 and represented Tipperary minors in 1949 before joining the Redemptorist Order that same year. He was ordained in 1957 and spent most of his ministry at Clonard Monastery in Belfast, where he became deeply involved in efforts to end sectarian violence.
Reid’s quiet but determined diplomacy helped open secret channels between Gerry Adams and John Hume, leading to the Hume-Adams talks and ultimately the Good Friday Agreement (1998). He witnessed some of the Troubles’ darkest moments, including the 1988 killing of two British soldiers at an IRA funeral, when he administered last rites. His work extended beyond Ireland,advising on peace efforts in the Basque Country and Sri Lanka.
Honoured with awards such as the Tipperary Peace Prize (1994), Reid retired to Rathgar, Dublin in 2005 and died on 22 November 2013.
Sources:
https://www.dib.ie/biography/reid-alec-alexander-a10095
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/24/father-alec-reid
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/ni-peace-process-began-with-question-from-fr-alec-reid-to-gerry-adams-1.3110454
