Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not know where to start. I have had so many great experiences with John Bruton. I look today at Deputy Howlin, at John Farrelly and at Deputy English and I think about many stories. Some of them I will keep for the book. To be honest, I could not repeat some of the things that happened.

I will just go back to the beginning. Finola came from Westport, County Mayo. It was ironic today that we had a school visit from the Sacred Heart school in Westport. They just happened to be here today and that is the school that she went to in Westport. She was very proud of that town. I got to know John before I became a TD, and I will tell you about that in a moment. I was a town councillor and a county councillor. He made many visits to Westport and we had many nights. Deputy Durkan touched on this but I will not. When John was having difficulty in the Fine Gael party, he rang me and Phil Hogan came to see me. He came to my house on a Sunday, himself and Finola, and got a few people around Westport for me to stand in the by-election. I will not give the history of why I was not going to stand. I am keeping that for the book because it would not be right on some of my colleagues. I will some time put it into a book.

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