Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

It is kind of the Ceann Comhairle to allow me to say a few words. It is good in any debate to hear Tallaght mentioned so often but we are thinking and talking about Larry McMahon, my friend and neighbour from Tallaght. It is sad on this special religious day that we also remember that he and his colleague Ruairí Brugha were both elected for the Tallaght area in 1973. It is a long time ago and we remember them both.

The first time I met Larry was during the by-election which he won in 1970, a time when Fine Gael had three Deputies representing the Tallaght area, as was also the case in 1973. Much has been said about Larry and his political legacy so I will not repeat that. However, the local newspaper, the Tallaght Echo, summed up all our feelings a couple of weeks ago when it stated: "Tallaght says goodbye to Larry McMahon."

We all remember what he achieved as a Deputy, a Senator, a member of the Council of Europe and a member of Dublin County Council. All of us valued his friendship and valued the great work he did. He loved Tallaght and lived in Bohernabreena from 1932. He often reminded us that he was educated in Firhouse. I got to know him and his family over many years. They were always polite and civil to me. I miss Larry already. His wife Ursula died on my son Robert's birthday on 12 June last. She and Larry will be remembered.

Larry made many impressions on me but one in particular remains. He was the man who told me that politics was about being in the right place at the right time and being ready. He was ready in 1970.

I never served in the Oireachtas or on the council with Larry but I served with him on a number of school boards. One of the VEC boards of which he was a member was the board of Tallaght Community School, a famous institution. He served an amazing 32 years on that board. The board chairman, Myles Berkeley, reminded me recently that when we were discussing difficult issues in the school and difficult pupils that needed assistance, Larry would always wait until the end of the discussion and try to save the situation for the pupil. That showed his caring outlook.

I join colleagues in expressing my deepest sympathy to Lorcan, Ronan, Claire, Ciarán, Conor and Niamh, who I always felt should be a politician — perhaps there is time yet. I also sympathise with Larry's sister, Sister Pascal, his 11 grandchildren and the wider McMahon family, and also with the Bohernabreena community, who will miss Larry for a long time. I offer my sympathy to Deputy Kenny and the Fine Gael party, particularly my friends in the Fine Gael organisation in the Tallaght region. It is a sad occasion. It is good that we would pause on this special day to think about Larry McMahon. I offer my deepest sympathy.

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