Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It now falls to me to say a few words. If I go with the script I have before me I will lose the real thrust of what I knew about my late friend, Tom Fitzgerald. He was a friend, colleague and mentor to me for many years. The first thing he would say to me if he was here is "what in the name of God are you doing in that chair?" The Cathaoirleach and Senator O'Sullivan, who are currently abroad on Seanad business, would love to be here to pay tribute to Tom. Senator O'Sullivan rang me to ask whether we could reschedule our statements but, unfortunately, the plans had already been made.

I was appointed to the Seanad by the then Taoiseach, Charles Haughey, on 27 October 1989 but I knew Tom previously because he canvassed me for a vote in the Seanad election of 1985 while I was a member of Cork County Council. We got on well from the outset. He was a mentor to me and was Government Whip. Coming from Dingle, he had a great knowledge of fishing and, as all those who belonged to me were fishermen, we had a lot in common. We used to discuss the rising tides and tell seanchaí stories.

For my sins, I was in Gael Linn in the townland of Fahan, out beyond Ceann Trá, with the Long family. I was only a child then, in 1966 or 1967. I will not go into the story of how I got there. The address was Fahan, Tralee, County Kerry. A neighbour with a transit van picked up my late mother and father and I, along with another fellow, and we ventured off to find the Long family. We travelled first to Tralee, which is a roundabout way from Bantry, and we went over the Conor Pass and into Dingle at 10.30 p.m. on a Sunday evening. My father refused to leave Dingle without going into Paddy Bawn Brosnan's pub. He took down the four all-Ireland medals - I will never forget those memories. By the time we reached the Long household, the family had gone to bed. We were lucky that we did not have to return the way we came. I often regaled Tom with that story. There is a bit of Dingle blood in me still because I went to school in Chill Mac an Domhnaigh for three months. One of the girls of the Long family now runs a pub in Dingle.

To be a Whip in the Seanad, one must be not only stern and strong but also a mighty rogue. Tom was a bit of a card in that regard. Senator Coghlan is the finest rogue Kerry every produced and Senator Wilson is not far behind him. On one occasion nobody on the Government side was in the Chamber and all hell broke lose. I had been asked by the then Cathaoirleach, the late Seán Doherty, to travel in his stead to a three day meeting in Rome. I had never been out of the country as a Senator and my bags were all packed. The aforementioned incident caused huge embarrassment for the Government and the Taoiseach, Charlie Haughey, was irate. He called a special meeting of the Seanad group at 3 p.m. the following Sunday. As I was just about to travel to Dublin to take the flight, I rang Tom for advice. I was not happy at what he told me, which was that I would attend the meeting if I had an ounce of sense because it was a critical meeting.

He said to forget about the trip to Rome and the Pope or whoever else I was going to see. I took his advice and I was glad I attended the meeting. Changes were made and, as a result of that debacle, Tom was appointed as Whip in the Chamber. There are many more stories but because of the sensitivities of the House and Tom's position on the censorship board, the Clerk and the Seanad officials would not allow me to regale Members with them. Some of them are of a funny nature and some are set in hostelries outside this establishment.

We were very good friends. He was a great family man and he always spoke of his wife Bridie, his two sons, Breandán and Tomás, and his daughter, Michelle. I remember the affection and love for Dingle and Kerry. We would have a rumpus during the Munster final but when it was over we were the best of friends. He was a proud Kerry man and he had a great interest in rural Ireland and where he came from, Dingle, Kerry, and in the fishing industry. Many people in this House and in the Lower House believe there is not enough representation of rural communities such as the one I come from in the Sheep's Head peninsula or in Dingle. There is not enough being said for the support of rural Ireland in either Chamber but Tom was very strong on that issue.

I will not go through the various elections he stood for, which include standing in council elections in 1979. He was a Member of this House on many occasions and he stood unsuccessfully for the Dáil on one occasion. I wish I had only one unsuccessful attempt. I have fond memories of him. It was deemed that I am in charge of these proceedings as Leas-Chathaoirleach. I extend my sincere sympathy officially to Bridie, his sons Breandán and Tomás, his daughter, Michelle, and to his extended family. I am also proud to see that they have adopted a man from Cahirkeem Urhin in Corca Dhuibne and I am delighted to see him here. We will rise to say a prayer and I have no doubt Tom is looking down upon us.