Tributes are being paid today to the late Michael Tighe from Longford who died yesterday.
Michael, who was 83, was one of the last surviving members of the Siege of Jadotville which was immortalised in film a few years ago.
The story of the Siege in the Congo during a Peace Keeping Mission in 1961 took several decades to be officially recognised.
Michael Tighe who was originally from Elphin wrote a book of his experience called "Tiger of Jadotville" and he campaigned tirelessly in recent years to have the record on the siege set straight.
Leo Quinlan whose father Pat was the Officer in Charge at Jadotville says Michael's character and determination was admired by anyone who knew him.
My father had great respect and admiration for Michael.
I know that from reading, from what my father told me.
Michael manned the Bren light machine gun, and he did, a terrible way to say it I know, but he did tremendous damage to the enemy with the machine gun and is credited for saving two of his comrades lives.
He was just a rather exceptional man and I'm privileged to have met him.
Tiernan Dolan who came to work with Michael on the campaign around 2015 also paid tribute today to his eloquence and advocacy on behalf of the soldiers involved in the Siege of Jadotville.
Speaking on Let's Talk today he said that even in his final days, Michael's Tighes's spirit and charisma was evident.
He had a presence even in ICU last week. One of the nurses says to me, that man has a presence and I wish I could wrap my arms around him and make him better.
And some of the final words were no white flag, no towel, I'm not throwing in any towel, no white flag.
He was determined to fight on, and indeed, he would love to have been able to go to Ukraine to help the war there.
That's the sort he was. He was a warrior right to the end. A great man.
