Hewas the leading technologist ofhis day, and aman who was intimately familiar with the top media technology ofhistime and in building social networks.
Once we have gotten the glitz and bling of recent years out of our eyes, we will see Stirling as the innovator he really was, aman towering over his contemporaries, far ahead ofhistime.
It wasa fitting and appropriate end for aman who says he spent 70% ofhistime as Taoiseach dealing successfully with Northern Ireland matters and the evolving peace process.