Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is a great honour and privilege for me to have this opportunity to say a few words this afternoon about the late, great Noel Treacy. It was an honour and a privilege to serve with him in this House. I had great admiration and respect for Noel. I always worked very well with him and it was an honour to be able to call him a friend. Noel was a remarkable person, with a real gift for remembering people's names. It was a useful talent for someone in politics; I wish I had it. All he had to do was walk into a room, take a quick look around and when he stood up to speak, he would be able to name nearly everybody in that room. He had a real gift.

Noel gave great service to the State as a county councillor and then as a Deputy for Galway East for almost three decades. During his time in the Dáil, he had a long and distinguished career serving as a Minister for State in nine different Departments, having first being appointed as a Minister for State in the Department of Finance in 1985. He was also, as the Tánaiste said, the Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

Noel had another great love, the GAA. It was a great honour for him to be elected chairman of Galway county board, a position he held for five years. I remember one Friday night, when I was chairman of the Carnmore hurling club, the convention was on the following Monday and I was a bit disappointed Noel had not canvassed me. I was back in the local bar having a pint with Malachy Hanley, who was the delegate to the county board, when at 11.10 p.m., I got a phone call from Noel to ask me where I was. I told him I was out having a pint. He asked me where and I told him I was in Grealish's bar - he hung up. That was it. Ten minutes later, he came in the door. He was still out canvassing at 11.20 p.m. on a Friday night, for the position as chairman of the county board. I remember he gave a great speech at the convention. It was a long speech, but it was great. He covered every issue of concern within the GAA in County Galway. That is why he was elected. He served five great years as chairman of the county board and he was an excellent member of the Connacht council.

I offer my condolences to his wife, Mary; his children, Joan, Emer, Lisa and Rory; his sisters, Marian and Nóirín Byrne; his beloved grandchildren, some of whom are here today, and his extended family. He was a great and popular man who was liked by everyone.

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