Dan Wallace (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I wish to be associated with the words of sympathy to Noreen, Catherine, Emma, the extended family of Liam Burke and the Fine Gael Party. My first contact with Liam Burke was in 1967 when he stood for the Fine Gael Party in the north-west ward in Cork City. He subsequently moved to the north-east ward where he remained a public representative until he retired prior to the recent local elections. In 1979, when I stood for Cork City Council, he and I became good friends. Although we differed politically, we worked for people at local level. The saying, "All politics is local", could be applied to Liam Burke whose interest in the local community was well documented. He served as Lord Mayor for the first six months of 1985, the year of the Cork 800 celebrations, and offered me helpful advice when I succeeded him for the second half of the year. I have very fond memories of my contacts with Liam Burke. I extend my sympathy to Noreen and to his extended family on this sad day for all of us.

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