Some years ago I recall our late Taoiseach Mr Jack Lynch being interviewed on television about his life and times. His choice of heroes was quite interesting and almost predictable.
In order of preference he chose president Eamon DeValera, Christy Ring the great Cork hurler, Seamus Murphy the sculptor from Cork and my teenage hero Dag Hammarskjöld, secretary general of the United nations from 1953 to 1961.

When Hammarskjöld was elected to the post it was described as the most impossible job on earth. The crises facing him included Suez, Hungary, Korea and the Congo (Zaire). He was known as a quick thinking economist and a master of the art of compromise. His strengths were high proficiency, mental and physical endurance, and the ability to analyse a situation quickly, get the facts in order and propose a course of action.

Many people disagreed with some of his methods but few questioned his dedication to his job. When Krushchev launched his famous shoe-banging attack on him at the UN General Assembly demanding his resignation Hammarskjöld’s reply was greeted with thunderous applause. “I won’t resign, it is not my future but that of the United Nations that is at stake, it is not a question of the man but of the institution,” he declared.

Dag Hammarskjöld was born in Jönköpping, Sweden on 7 July 1905. He received degrees in law and political economy from Sweden’s Uppsala University and taught economics for a time at the University of Stockholm.

It was once said of him that he was a solitary figure with many acquaintances and admirers but probably only a few close friends. He was devoted to his job and in time of crisis worked day and night. He spoke fluent French, English and German as well as his native language.

Hammarskjöld had great admiration for the Irish diplomatic team at UN headquarters led by Mr F.H Boland, president of the General Assembly. Being from a small nation himself, the UN leader had a deep understanding of Ireland’s part in international politics. When he discovered the diplomatic abilities of Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien he made personal representations to Mr Frank Aiken in the Department of External Affairs for Dr O’Brien’s transfer from the UN Secretariat to become UN representative in the Congo.

On several occasions Dag paid a warm tribute to the Irish Military contingent serving in the Congo. His faith in the Irish was abundantly displayed when he appointed General Sean McKeon as UN Supreme Commander in the Congo.

At the height of the Civil War in the Congo in 1961, Hammarskjöld decided to fly to Ndola (Zambia) for direct talks with Moise Tshombe, leader of the Belgian-supported breakaway province of Katanga.

On 18 September he flew out with staff members including his permanent bodyguard. At 12.10am the plane reported seeing the airfield lights of Ndola– after that contact was lost. There are numerous theories about what caused Hammarskjöld’s plane to crash. The simplest explanation appears to be the most reasonable: the plane which was about to land came in too low and struck the treetops.

Ten days after the crash, Hammarskjöld’s body was flown home to Sweden. Sweden was in a state of shock. A few weeks later the Norwegian parliament announced the posthumous award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Dag Hammarskjöld.