Ambassador Dan Rooney
By Ray O’Hanlon
Dan Rooney, a champion of Irish causes, former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has died aged 84.
Mr. Rooney died on Thursday, April 13, after being in declining health in recent weeks.
Rooney served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland from July 2009 until his resignation in December, 2012.
His links to Ireland ran deep, not least because he was a co-founder of the The Ireland Funds, an international organization that includes the American Ireland Fund.
Rooney was born in Pittsburgh, the son of Kathleen (née McNulty) and Pittsburgh Steelers owner and founder, Art Rooney.
Though he was a lifelong Republican, Rooney supported then Senator Barack Obama in his presidential bid.
Obama subsequently nominated Rooney for the Irish ambassadorial post.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the relationship between Mr. Rooney and Mr. Obama began late on a cold January night in 2008 when Mr. Rooney — a lifelong Republican — saw Mr. Obama deliver a speech following his victory in the Iowa caucuses.
“This is the greatest speech I’ve seen since John Kennedy,” Mr. Rooney told his son, Jim, in a midnight phone conversation.
“He convinced me that this is more than just a good politician. I want to stand up and say something for this guy. I want to be involved in this.”
Added the Post-Gazette report: “Despite his lack of political experience, few questioned Mr. Rooney’s qualifications for the (ambassador’s) job.
“His family came from the Northern Ireland border town of Newry, and he had long been an advocate of Irish causes.
“In 1976, he and Tony O’Reilly, then president and CEO of H.J. Heinz Co., co-founded The American Ireland Fund, raising hundreds of millions of dollars to further peace efforts and other charitable Irish causes. Mr. Rooney and his wife, Patricia, also created the annual Rooney Prize for Irish Literature to recognize young Irish writers."
Confirmed as ambassador in July 2009, Mr. Rooney, the report continued, “tackled the job with enthusiasm, becoming the first U.S. ambassador to visit all 32 counties in Ireland, including the North, with his wife, Patricia, by his side. He held a town hall meeting during each visit, and in May 2011 accompanied Mr. Obama during the president’s visit to Dublin.
“Upon leaving the foreign service office in 2012, Mr. Rooney called the time in Ireland ‘a tremendous experience.’
“I have had a lifelong commitment to advancing the relationship between the American and Irish people and building peace on this beautiful island, but came unexpectedly into politics and diplomacy,” Mr. Rooney wrote in an op-ed piece in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Ours is not a foreign relationship between two countries; our relationship is a shared kinship between two great peoples.”
Mr. Obama, in paying tribute to Mr. Rooney, said he had known that the Pittsburgh man would do a wonderful job.
“But naturally, he surpassed my high expectations, and I know the people of Ireland think fondly of him today.
“And I know the people of Pittsburgh, who loved him not only for the Super Bowl championships he brought as the owner of the Steelers, but for his generosity of spirit, mourn his passing today,” said the 44th president.
“Michelle and I offer our condolences to the Rooney family, some of the most gracious and thoughtful people we know, even as we celebrate the life of Dan Rooney: a championship-caliber good man.”
Taoiseach Enda Kenny paid tribute saying: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dan Rooney. Dan was a personal friend of mine and the proudest Irish supporter of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“During his time as American Ambassador to Ireland Dan visited every county in Ireland and his work brought both the United States and Ireland closer together.
“Dan was a founding President of the Ireland Fund. He leaves a massive legacy which will benefit many people for the years to come.
“My deepest condolences go to his wife Patricia and his entire family at this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
Mr. Rooney is survived by his wife, the former Patricia Reagan, and a large and extended family. The Rooneys, who were married in 1952, had nine children.
