Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

Like other Senators, I speak with a heavy heart. I am, however, proud and privileged to have known the late Willie Farrell. The former Senator's great achievement in politics, from the time he was elected to Sligo County Council in 1967 until he stood down to facilitate the co-option of Councillor Patsy Barry, who is present, has been placed on record.

Willie Farrell had a habit of never losing. He got what was best out of people. A story told about Willie on the Seanad trail is that he usually asked for a number three or four when he came knocking on doors. When asked about number ones he would say it was the number threes and fours that would elect him. There is a lesson in that for all of us.

While Willie Farrell was a proud, loyal Sligo man, he was also a proud, loyal north Sligo man. There is a difference. Willie always said the creature in a Sligo man changed from the moment he came in to the area around Teesan and that townies and north Sligo men and women were breeds of their own.

I entered the Seanad in 2002 when Willie retired and would not have been elected without his support and encouragement. He was a wonderful mentor and although he did not travel the country with me, he certainly made telephone calls. When I knocked on doors, people knew of me through Willie.

In sympathising with Willie's family, I also sympathise with Patsy Barry, Mattie Brennan, who was Willie's great friend for many years, and Senators Ellis and Mooney who soldiered in the House with Willie in difficult times. As someone who has been living in County Sligo for 30 years, I know that the four men in question came to every Comhairle Ceanntar and Comhairle Dáil Cheanntar. Sadly, this may be what is lacking in political life today. The likes of Willie Farrell are no longer around.

Willie died on 8 April 2010. When I visited him around 5 April his daughter, Helen, was also visiting. I knew at the time that Willie did not have many days left. Even in his lowest, darkest hour, however, he continued to think of others. The newspaper on the day in question featured a report on a death and Willie gave out to me for coming in to see him when I would have been better employed down the country at a funeral looking after my vote, as he would have said.

Willie would never fail or let anything flop and a lovely story is told about a big concert he had organised in Grange. I believe it was held in the village hall rather than Barry's pub. On the night in question, the musicians who had been booked let Willie down and he was awfully knocked about. No one could get the better of him, however, and he decided he would work something out. He went on to the main street of Grange, a village people are inclined to speed through quickly, and flagged down a car approaching from Cliffony, which is near Bundoran. Maisie McDaniels and her two sisters were in the car and whatever chat Willie put on the three women, they were brought into the hall and entertained all night long. Willie was still on a winner and no one was any the wiser as to who had let him down.

As everyone knows, Willie's family were very important to him. He used to say to me that he was blessed to have the love and support of two great women. His first wife, Mary, was the mother of Seamus, Liam and Helen. He used to say that he could not have been where he was without that support. When Mary died, he met Breda with whom he shared a few very good years until her death. He was immensely proud of his children and even more proud of his five grandchildren of whom he spoke lovingly. When his eldest grandson graduated and went to work abroad, Willie thought that young people like that had a wonderful chance today. He was proud to see his grandson going so far afield.

As Senator MacSharry said, Willie Farrell left his legacy in Grange. In fact, I would say that he made the town. When I went there 30 years ago there was a small café called Willie's Café, but now there is a small industrial estate on the main road with some of the finest supermarkets and pharmacies, together with SF Engineering which holds its head high in world markets.

Today we are joined by Willie's three children, Seamus, Liam and Helen, as well as Siobhan, Pauric and their five grandchildren. We are also joined by a man of whom Willie thought an awful lot, Paddy Smith, who is a great Fianna Fáil man in Sligo. He is also a proud Cavan man, as I told my Cavan colleague, Senator Wilson.

I certainly miss Willie Farrell. If there was any trouble - and for the past few years there has been plenty of trouble in Fianna Fáil - he would always lift the phone and give some advice to be passed on to the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen. Willie Farrell will be sorely missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.