Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Aylward family is synonymous with Fianna Fáil. Through farming politics, I became very friendly with Liam when he was an MEP in Brussels. My first contact with Bobby on a personal basis was campaigning on the 2015 by-election. I had recently got the nomination in Tipperary to stand in the 2016 general election. We were marshalled to go across the border to canvass for Bobby. I remember we canvassed on a very wet day in Urlingford. We were very wet when we came in about 4 p.m. to get some refreshments and we definitely had a very enjoyable evening thereafter in Butlers. That was one of my first intimate encounters with Bobby.

Fianna Fáil had a very successful general election in 2016 and a number of people were elected. Very quickly, a group of Members started to meet on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the Dáil bar. It included Margaret Murphy O'Mahony - all five foot of her as Bobby used to refer to her, John Curran, Kevin O'Keeffe, Eamon Scanlon, Dara Calleary, Michael Moynihan and myself. The banter would be fairly vicious and the scuds would be flying low and hard. There was great craic and camaraderie and we really miss it. He was the cornerstone of that conversation - sitting in the corner with his back to the wall - and was definitely the chairman of that group. As a Tipperary man, the pulling was often low and hard during the hurling talk between us. I really enjoyed coming back in 2016 and 2019 after the summer recess and us winning two all-Ireland championships and beating the oul enemy. We had had a lot of reverses in previous years but they were two very enjoyable encounters when I came into the bar. He would be sitting there when I came in and I can still see him in the corner with a scob waiting to congratulate me and get the ordeal over with. I see Laurence in the Gallery. He was more than his PA. He was an exceptionally loyal friend to Bobby and was always looking out for him and was always there throughout Bobby's illness.

Myself and Bobby were cut from the same cloth. Both of us came from farming stock. We had an awful lot in common. It was a privilege to call him a friend and may the sod of his beloved Kilkenny rest lightly on him.

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