John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join others in welcoming Bobby's family: Helena, Bob, Triona, Mark, Fr. Eamon, his siblings and his grandchildren. I think nearly half of Fine Gael Deputies have made contributions. I welcome Bobby's family to the House today and the opportunity to say a few words about Bobby. He was the worst type of political opponent you could have because, as Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said, everybody genuinely liked him, so much so that when it came to my own campaign, all the members of my team loved him. The campaign was made all the harder because of his gentleness and kindness. He was a big, warm, kind person. We fought nearly every election together. His first local election was in 1999 and his first general election was 2011, as were mine. The by-election was in 2015 and the general election was in 2020. As the Taoiseach said in his comments earlier, not being from a massive population centre makes it hard to get elected.

As the crow flies, there are a few miles, and mostly cows and trees, between Knockmoylan and Smithstown, where I am from. I echo Deputy McGuinness's comments about the Aylward family campaigning. They were a sight to behold. Deputy McGuinness mentioned the Aylward siblings. There were eight or nine of them, along with their mother, Kitty.

She always canvassed on our road. Everyone loves an Irish mother and Kitty was a doughty campaigner herself. They all had that warmth and way and that sense of place, which I always envied from an opposition party perspective but I grew to love when I got to know them all so well over the years. I, too, was beside Deputy McGuinness at Paul Shefflin's funeral. While the end was no surprise when it came, it was still greeted with tremendous shock and sorrow for somebody who epitomised all that was good about the old style of Irish politics.

I remember being in Andy's Bar in Ballyhale after the local elections and European elections of 2014. The European Commissioner had not been appointed. Bobby looked over at me, obviously knowing far more than I did about who the European Commissioner was going to be and the likelihood of a by-election coming up in Carlow–Kilkenny. He was the epitome of the perfect candidate for a big two-county rural constituency in that his name was known and he had such a warm way with people. That was a vital election for him and his party after the 2011 election defeat. He was the perfect person to take it on and win it.

I remember my early days as an opposition Senator in the other House when Bobby was a new Deputy. I had a very difficult query that I had to solve for a prominent Fine Gael family in my area. I went to Bobby and the then Minister, Mary Coughlan, and the problem was solved. He knew he would never get a vote when he helped but the problem was solved; they were his friends too. The abiding memory I will have of him is his gentle way and support for people. Regardless of what colour you wore in politics, Bobby respected people who were elected and helped them as best he could.

On behalf my family and I and, indeed, the Fine Gael members and supporters in Carlow–Kilkenny, I express to Helena and all the Aylwards our very sincere sympathy with them on their loss and share with them our remembrance. We will not forget that he was really good man who left his mark here and in other places. I attended the county convention of the GAA last night in County Kilkenny and he was mentioned again, as he will be in places like Irish's Bar in Hugginstown. I never heard it referred to as English's Bar; there will be talk in Hugginstown tonight about that. He represented Carlow–Kilkenny and, in particular, his part of south County Kilkenny, with distinction and honour all of his life. We will never forget him for it.

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