Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Táimid tagtha le chéile chun slán a ghabháil le cara agus comhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Kate Walsh. Tar éis di na blianta a chaitheamh ag troid i gcoinne an galair, theip uirthi ar deiridh, faraoir. Chaith sí a saol ag obair ar son mhuintir Celbridge, go mór mhór. Dhein sí obair den scoth ar son mhuintir na háite sin.

Watching the flag flying at half mast over Leinster House yesterday, I remembered the first time I met Kate, which was many years before she became a Member of this House. A friend of mine had written a history of Celbridge and Kate organised the book launch. He introduced me to her and she, in turn, always called him "the master". He was the local school principal and she insisted on using the old, politically incorrect term of address. By an amazing coincidence I met him last Saturday. He said he had just been in St. Vincent's Hospital, thought he might get in to see Kate, but unfortunately things had gone too far and it looked like it was finished. He asked me if I would be very sad and I told him that every single week in the House she had kept me up to date on his family and what they were doing.

On her first day in the new Seanad, I remember she said she felt it was a privilege and an honour to be a Member of the Oireachtas. I always believed she carried that honour well. In this House she was always courteous, calm, friendly and gentle and she was always ready to chuckle and tell a joke. She may have had different views from other people on certain issues but she had no political enemies. In recent days I have encountered people from all parties in both Houses who I thought might not have met her but they all knew her and had a kind word to say about her. This is a measure of the person she was.

I visit Celbridge regularly and I know she is a legend in her community. Local voluntary groups could not have survived without her support and, to my knowledge, every local voluntary group that sought her support received it. She was a Trojan worker who organised fundraisers at least three times a year for the elderly or for community action groups. She was very successful in this regard and always managed to fill the hall, sell the tickets and ensure the coffers of the relevant group were filled. It was no surprise that she did so well electorally in the area because everyone there voted for her. Friends of mine who live in the locality and who are diehard members of other parties voted for Kate when she stood as an Independent and when she stood for a party and this reflects the great respect people had for her.

Her great interests, especially the Garda Síochána, have been mentioned and her work for the elderly marked her out in recent times. She was courageously open about the battle she fought against the diseases that affected her. In an objective manner that informed, and without making people feel uncomfortable, she gave us running reports on her health and on how she dealt with her illness.

Today we bid farewell to an honourable Member of Seanad Éireann and in doing so we celebrate a life given to public service. I pass on my condolences to her family, colleagues and party. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.