Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----Mr. Paisley shouted in, "Will you give up drinking that devil's buttermilk?" Undaunted, Mark responded, "Come in and have one [yourself]." That was the nature of the banter and relationship between the two.

Mark always said that he could never have become a politician without his friendship and partnership with his beloved wife, Anne. They worked extremely hard as a team for their community. At times when elections did not work out for them, they worked even harder and kept going with the support of their large and extended family. Mark and Anne would canvass as two separate teams in some respects. We know the feeling. Anne would take her team to different parts of the constituency. They believed in knocking on doors and meeting people. Mark was unlucky with boundary changes, with his constituency changing three times, which posed significant electoral challenges for him. He and Anne were always best friends in that regard. He spoke on radio about this support during their 53 years of marriage. He said how he "would of course get the odd dressing down but overall our marriage was very satisfactory". They met and married at a young age and had eight children: Éidín, Niamh, Deirbrin, Niall, Donagh, Medbh and Eimhín. Of course, we remember that Mark and Anne lost their son, Mark, who was taken from them in a tragic car accident. I remember Medbh describing her father as a man who taught them all to love politics, farming and food, that last being particularly important. He also taught them how to "live life with great common sense, a positive attitude and a twist of humour." I am delighted to hear that the wife of Councillor Donagh Killilea, Mark and Anne's son, of whom Mark was particularly proud, gave birth to a baby yesterday. He has been named Mark. It is good to know that the dynasty continues.

All of the Killilea family will remember Mark as a great husband, a devoted father and grandfather, and someone who brought great love and fun to their lives. He was also a great public servant from our perspective, one who worked all his life for his community. He is sorely missed by all. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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