Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I express my thanks to Brian Friel for having lived his life and shared his great intellect and work with the rest of us. Like many others, I saw many of his plays during the decades and the one I valued the most and that spoke to me the most was "Translations". It had the capacity to draw in so many difficult strands, so many parts of our life, culture and history. To be able to create something engaging and lasting was quite an achievement. We are deeply at a loss for his passing. He was a great friend and colleagues of Seamus Heaney who we also recently lost and they were wonderful and inspiring men.

During the years so many people have written so much about Brian Friel and his work. He extended around the world, as his works have been translated into many languages and performed in many places. His work brought a piece of Ireland wherever it went but also a piece of humanity. That is his greatest legacy and gift. I know that his work will sustain and be remembered and performed for a long time to come into the future. I know that the Sligo Drama Circle is opening its year of performances this year with one of his plays. I simply wish to thank him and say we are all the richer for his great contribution. I never had the pleasure or honour of meeting him, but I feel as if I did. I feel part of what he said, what he said for all of us, will stay with me and I hope I am the better for it.