Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Shinn Féin, déanaim comhbhrón le mac, iníonacha agus garpháistí Paddy Lalor, a fuair bás i mí Iúil. Tá sé deas go bhfuil na garpháistí anseo inniu ag éisteacht leis na focail flaithiúla ón Teachta Micheál Martin agus ón Taoiseach faoina ndaideo. Deputy Martin has paid elegant tribute to Paddy Lalor as has the Taoiseach. On my own behalf and that of Sinn Féin, I extend sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the family and loved ones of the former Teachta, Paddy Lalor, following his passing in late July. I also extend condolences to Fianna Fáil.

I did not know Paddy personally but I have heard of his exploits both as a politician and as a GAA man and it is clear he excelled at both.

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As has been noted, Paddy Lalor was a member of the Laois team that reached the all-Ireland hurling final in 1949, the year after I was born. His was the last Laois team to have reached an all-Ireland final so Laois and Antrim have much in common in that regard. Laois were beaten soundly by Tipperary on the day that was in it. Although Paddy Lalor did not get his hands on the Liam McCarthy Cup, he enjoyed county championship success with the Abbeyleix GAA Club. His talent on the pitch was recognised when he was named on the Laois hurling team of the millennium in 1999. My good friend, Snitchy Ferguson, another stalwart of the GAA, always tells me that hurlers are sound and I am sure that applied to Paddy Lalor.

Paddy Lalor served as a Teachta Dála for two decades representing Laoighis-Offaly. He also served as a Cabinet Minister in the Departments of Posts and Telegraphs and Industry and Commerce and as a Minister of State. He was a Member of the European Parliament for 15 years and served as its vice-president from 1982 until 1987. He had a long and distinguished career in public office.

Given the day that is in it, I am sure Paddy's children are also thinking of their mother, Myra, who passed in 2014. I extend my sympathies to Paddy's children, Joe, Frances, Helen and Veronica, his grandchildren, friends and relatives and his colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party and Cumann Lúthchleas Gael. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

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