Lord Killanin, former president of the International Olympic Committee, died at his home in Dublin yesterday, aged 84.
In a varied career, he worked in journalism, film production and business, but is perhaps best remembered for his associations with sport.
Leading the tributes, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said: "Lord Killanin always represented Ireland at home and abroad with style, distinction and integrity. He was a charismatic and dynamic individual who was passionate about every task he took on."
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, said Lord Killanin's "status and the worldwide esteem in which he was held in Olympic circles was a source of pride for all Irish people. He played a notable part in the development of Irish horse racing and the Galway Race Festival."
At school, Lord Killanin boxed, rowed and played rugby. Such interests led in 1950 to an appointment as president of the Olympic Council of Ireland, a position he held until 1973. He was elected a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1952, becoming president in 1972. On retiring in 1980, he was made an honorary life member and awarded the Olympic Order (Gold).
Born on July 30th, 1914, Sir Michael Morris, third Baron Killanin, was the son of Lieut Col the Hon George Morris, Irish Guards, and Dora Wesley Hall of Mount Morgan and Melbourne, Australia.
He was educated at Eton; the Sorbonne, Paris; and Magdalen College, Cambridge, graduating with a BA in 1935 and an MA in 1939. On leaving university, he joined the Daily Express, subsequently moving to the Dail Mail. In 1937, he covered the Chinese/ Japanese war. The following year he volunteered and served through the second World War in the Queen's Westminster (King's Royal Rifle Corps), Brigade Major, 30th Armoured Brigade 1942 - 1945. He took part in the Allies' landing in Normandy in 1944, for which he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) and earned the Territorial Decoration and campaign stars.
In 1945, he returned to Ireland where he had spent his boyhood and had rebuilt the family home at Spiddal, Co Galway, after he succeeded his uncle in 1927.
Lord Killanin was associated with the film director John Ford in the making of The Quiet Man. He was producer on a number of films, including The Rising of the Moon, The Playboy of the Western World and Gideon's Day.
Lord Killanin edited and contributed to Four Days (1938), a book on the Munich crisis. He wrote a biography of Sir Godfrey Kneller (1947), the 18th century painter. With the late Prof Michael Duignan, he wrote the Shell Guide to Ireland (1962). With John Rodda, he wrote The Olympic Games (1975). Lord Killanin's autobiography, My Olympic Years, reflects the importance he attached to his presidency of the International Olympic Committee. He served as director or chairman on a number of boards, including Beamish and Crawford, Aspro Nicholas of Ireland, Bovril (Ireland) and Chubb Ireland. He was also on the board of Fitzwilton, Gallaher (Ireland), Irish Shell, Northern Telecom, Syntex (Ireland), Ulster Bank and Lombard and Ulster Banking Ireland.
In addition, Lord Killanin served on a broad range of State bodies, including the Cultural Relations Committee (1947/72) and the Government Commission on the Thoroughbred Horse Breeding Industry (1982/86). In 1987, he was nominated by the Government to be chairman of the National Heritage Council.
He was a member of the Irish Turf Club since 1971 and of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.
He was chairman of the Dublin Theatre Festival during 19581970. In 1950, he was among the founder members of An Taisce.
He served as Honorary Consul General of the Principality of Monaco in Ireland between 1961 and 1984.
In 1945, Lord Killanin married (Mary) Sheila (Cathcart) Dunlop MBE, daughter of the late Canon Douglas Dunlop, rector of Oughterard, Co Galway. They had three sons and a daughter.
Mr Redmond Morris was born in 1947 and is a film producer. He is married with two children.
Mrs Deborah Bryden was born in 1950. She is an artist and is married with two children. Mr Michael Morris was born in 1951. He is a racehorse trainer and former National Hunt jockey. He is married with two children. His twin brother, Mr John Morris, is a photographer and is married to TV presenter Thelma Mansfield, and they have also two children.