Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I take the opportunity to pay tribute to the writer Dermot Healy who is being buried today in Sligo. Anyone who knows his writing will know that references to "the physicality of his language" are most appropriate. He was very much inspired by living in Sligo, having been born in County Westmeath and lived in County Cavan and, for a long time, London. He came to love the rugged coast of County Sligo and always spoke about the solitude of the place inspiring his later works. He was a friend and someone who cared very much about his work, albeit he is said to have said, "I know that I write, but I still don't see myself as a writer." He was a member of Aosdána and the best way to describe him would be as a "literary genius". His loss is our loss. I pay tribute to his work and express my condolences to his family, wide circle of friends and the literary community.