Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the Mulroy family on the loss of Jimmy. As a fellow Louth person, I welcome Deputy Seamus Kirk to the House for these tributes. I did not have the good fortune to know Jimmy Mulroy personally but anybody from County Louth will have grown up knowing his name and reputation.

Senator Mooney's lovely tribute highlights the exacting world of politics and how one can be a Member one minute and not the next. Had Jimmy not entered politics, perhaps his life would have taken a different path. When one reads all the tributes, one realises that wherever Jimmy Mulroy went he was most deeply respected, not only by the people in his native Drogheda but also those in Dundalk and the rest of the county. We all know of the friendly animosity between people from Dundalk and Drogheda but everybody is unanimous in acknowledging the respect that Jimmy commanded in the county.

When I read some of the tributes, I noted that one councillor said Jimmy had always made sure political opponents never became his personal enemies. That is the sign of a true gentleman, a man who knows his own mind and does not let political life, ambition or other factors take over.

Jimmy was one of the most respected people in Drogheda. He played a leading role in business, politics and sport within the community. He made an immense contribution to Drogheda and the rest of the county, bringing his business from Dublin to provide employment to people within the Drogheda area. He dedicated his life to improving the lives of people locally and nationally.

I have heard it said that Jimmy was a true champion of the people. That is a lovely tribute to anybody. If it could be said of us all, it would be wonderful. It is the mark of a man to call him a true champion of the people.

We should remember Jimmy's sporting life with Newtown Blues. I refer to the craze for GAA in County Louth. The county might not have been so successful, but Jimmy was certainly very successful with the Newtown Blues.