Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

I welcome Noreen, Mary and Kitty to the House and extend my sympathy to them on the death of Liam. Liam Burke and I represented Cork North-Central together from 1981 to 2002, although he represented the constituency long before I was elected. In 1981, when I ran for the convention preceding the election of the same year, Liam gave me an opportunity to represent the Fine Gael Party. He had the votes at the convention and ensured I secured a nomination on the day, a decision for which I have always been grateful. Despite the rivalries that exist in multi-seat constituencies, Liam and I got on well and co-operated, although we had a few cross words from time to time. We were regarded as an effective team in the constituency and took the first two seats at the 1997 election, a tribute to the manner in which we worked as constituency colleagues.

Although Liam officially retired in 2002 and was dogged by ill health, he devoted his attention to his great love of sport, particularly greyhound racing. As Deputies have noted, his victory with Henrietta in the Waterloo Cup was celebrated well beyond the north side of Cork. In Bantry recently, I learned that he and some friends had spent many nights celebrating in the town. I also believe the cup was brought to every pub and coursing club in Cork city and county in the months after the victory. Throughout this period, however, Liam suffered a great deal but his love of sport and the love of his family were a great consolation to him.

There was another side to Liam which he never discussed and about which most people are not aware, namely, his great charitable work behind the scenes. From time to time, especially during the Christmas period, people would come to my clinic asking how they could contact Liam Burke.

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