I FIRST became aware of Nelson Mandela during the anti-apartheid demonstrations in the late 1960s and 1970s. As a young person I was very conscious of the antiapartheid movement and I attended a number of rallies and demonstrations as did many of my peers. I had become interested in the political situation in South Africa because of this character called Nelson Mandela who had been accused of treason among other crimes, and sentenced to life in prison I reported on the infamous Dunnes Stores workers' protest in July 1984. This story began as a small protest involving 10 members of staff but it quickly became international news when it emerged that the workers were taking a stand against the supermarket's sale of South African produce. The strike went on for almost three years until the government introduced sanctions banning the importation of all South African agricultural produce.

I was also very aware of the opinions of Kadar Asmal, founder of the Irish AntiApartheid Movement. He was a very highly regarded spokesman and was also Dean of Arts at Trinity College and President of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. He was at the forefront of the anti-apartheid campaign in Ireland until he returned to South Africa to become a member of Mandela's cabinet.

In response to the campaigning by Kadar Asmal and the anti-apartheid movement, the City Council of Dublin gave Mandela Freedom of the City in 1988 and erected a number of monuments dedicated to him during the mid 1980s. He had a huge profile at this time because the anti-apartheid movement had gathered so much momentum all over the world.

I distinctly remember the day he was released from prison in 1992. A colleague of mine, Donal Byrne, was in South Africa covering the story. I was in Iraq because it was only months after the end of the first Gulf War but I remember watching his release on television and it felt as though we were all part of history in some way. I subsequently went to South Africa several times as a journalist and I was fortunate enough to meet him and it is definitely one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. We were introduced by someone and we exchanged pleasantries, nothing more, but I remember feeling the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

We visited Robbyn Island where he was imprisoned for 18 of his 26-year sentence and I actually sat in his cell. The atmosphere was incredibly moving. I also reported on his presidential election, I was there that day in Pretoria when he made his inaugural speech and the atmosphere was remarkable. At last the people of South Africa had democracy. I remember walking around among the crowds of people and the atmosphere was charged with something I had never encountered before; joyous is the best word to describe that day. It was almost as though they could breathe again.

During Mary Robinson's presidential visit I was fortunate enough to meet him again.

It was quite remarkable because I was standing in a room containing over 200 people and his presence was palpable. Just to be near him and to hear him speak, to utter a few words is an experience I will Inever forget.

I believe Nelson Mandela is one of he most charismatic and influential figures of the last century and I think those who write our history books will agree. His influence stretches beyond the politics of South Africa; he has worked to improve the lives of Aids sufferers and people living in poverty.

People talk about what a saint he is and I suppose he is the embodiment of a living saint. He seems to have devoted himself to working for others. He was born out of violence and struggle and there is no doubt he has a "past" but he is now a man that stands for what is 'good'.

I have often been struck by how humble he is; he never appears arrogant or selfimportant and when he talks of how he has forgiven the white men who imprisoned him for 26 years he is totally sincere.

I believe if you were to gather pictures of Tony Blair, George W Bush and Nelson Mandela, Mandela's face would be the most recognised and undoubtedly the most popular. I think he represents dignity, humanity and democracy.