Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I extend my sympathy on the very sad death of their dear Seán to Mary Keegan, her family and his extended family. He contested the 1965 general election and he entered the Dáil in 1977. He was a committed member of Westmeath County Council for a long number of years and he was a committed representative of the constituency, Longford-Westmeath, between 1977 and 1982. I was elected to Westmeath County Council and I remember Seán best as the whip of our party. He gave many wise advices to me and other new members who were straining at the leash because we wanted to get moving, we wanted to condemn everything and we wanted to be up and at it. His wise advice was often heeded on reflection as being exactly what it was. He continued long after he had retired from public life to be very active in the administration of our party at comhairle Dáil ceantair level. His offered wise advice and was able to summarise issues that often cause great tension within political parties at local level. He would always utter a remark that would lead a person away from conflict and lead to more reflective thinking about an issue.

His greatest legacy is his wonderful family. His wonderful wife, Mary, throughout his public and private life, was a source of huge comfort to him. She is a woman of great dignity and bearing who carried many burdens but never spoke about them, particularly when Seán fell into ill-health, which he bravely bore. She is a stalwart and she was such a help to him. All the members of their family distinguished themselves in the calling they followed with strong personal character. While it is correct to remember those who served in public life who have passed away, they are often remembered on a personal basis. Seán and Mary Keegan's greatest achievement is the wonderful family they have and what they, in turn, have committed to the often public roles they perform. Many of them remain strong within the Fianna Fáil organisation locally. I offer my very sincere sympathy to the Keegan family and I hope these expressions of sympathy will be a source of comfort to them.

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