Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh leis an teaghlach Aylward freisin. Cuirim fáilte roimh his wife Helena, his long-standing partner; his family, Triona, Bob and Mark; agus an Athair Eamon. Bobby often got a refuge for us in Dublin and sent many friends up to Fr. Eamon's house, where he looked after us well. I too want to say what a contrast there is in the weather. The sun shone so gallantly on Mullinavat on the evening of his wake and the day of his burial. Crowds turned out and they all wanted to tell us stories of the love they had for Bobby and the turns and efforts he made on their behalf. It is wonderful to see his grandchildren here, especially at this time of Christmas when they are all getting ready for Santa Claus.

There was more to Bobby than this House. The GAA was his love and he loved farming, the land and sport, including greyhounds and coursing. He fought gallantly on coursing and he had an understanding of coursing, the odd race and the odd flutter. Bobby was a man to argue his point strongly but you would go away then and have a deoch beag and a bit of craic with him and that was the end of it. Any bit of animosity was left behind in the Chamber or wherever and he socialised with everybody. Bobby is a tremendous loss to his wife Helena.

His late father and his brother Liam were here and his son is a councillor, so it is a legacy. The family has given to the community and the county of Kilkenny. We often had different words at a time of a Kilkenny-Tipperary semi-final or all-Ireland final. I know how much he loved his club, his family and the countryside. All the things that were really important to him were of and in the community - the land. I was aware of the new hedge-cutter and tractor he bought. He always had those chats with me about them. He loved the animals. When they did well and he sent them to the factory, you always got that from Bobby. You got an understanding of farming from Bobby if you had never farmed or had anything to do with farming because he was able to impart that knowledge. Ar dheis a lámh Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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