Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The reason I had chosen it is that so many children studied it and so many of us looked forward to the mid-term break. The images he imbedded in that poetry are many. I remember when my grandfather died it was during a mid term break. I heard neighbours saying, "Sorry for your troubles", and whispering to strangers all around, "That is the eldest, away at school". That is exactly what I experienced. That is the beauty of what he shared with us.

We are conscious to have known him, the people's poet. I acknowledge his links with Yeats and Thoor Ballylee. I am honoured at present to chair a committee for its restoration and the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, is definitely giving us a dig-out there. I think I can hazard guess that if he had something say about the referendum tomorrow that he may say that he would hope that hope and history would rhyme. I thank you for sharing him with us.