Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the members of Rory's family, those who served with him and those who serve today in both Houses. As has been said on numerous occasions, it is a testament to Rory that there is such a great turnout today, the largest I have seen since I entered the House. Unfortunately, I never served with Rory. As people know, I only came in here three years ago but I got to know him particularly well through horse racing. As Senator O'Sullivan mentioned, he was involved in the Royal Alliance Racing Club. The horse, Tulsa Jack, won the Midlands National on my own track in Kilbeggan, of which I am chairman. It was on that day that Brian Cowen introduced me to Rory. I acknowledge Mary Cowen and send my good wishes to Brian. When Rory heard I was a Senator on the Agricultural Panel, we struck a chord and built a relationship. Our paths kept crossing on the racetracks of Ireland. With that in mind, we usually say on days like this that the person we are honouring is probably up there looking down on us but if there is racing on up there at this particular time, I imagine that we are on "Record" to be viewed later. Senator O'Sullivan struck a chord with me when he said that Rory would always take a young politician under his wing and advise him or her. Based on the relationship I developed with Rory in a short time, I got the impression that I may have been one of these young politicians - young in the political sense, not chronologically.

I have a share in a horse being trained by Paddy Neville in Rory Kiely country. We were down there a couple of weeks ago. I mentioned that there would be tributes to Rory today to a couple of his friends who were talking about him and they said they would like to be here so I extend a special welcome to good friends of Rory - Donie Nestor, Jim Enright and Eamon Leahy - who are here today. The lads told me some stories. We all have an impression of Rory being laidback and placid but two of the lads played hurling with and against him and they will tell you he was anything but when he had the camán in his hand. Donie told me another story that epitomises the Rory that I knew. He was coming to Dublin with him one day to visit somebody in hospital and they ran out of diesel. Rory was driving. Donie started panicking a bit but Rory took out the newspaper and started reading. Lo and behold, somebody just stopped, which Rory had predicted by laying back. The person who stopped happened to have diesel in the car. The colour of the diesel might have been questionable but it did not bother Rory. The man filled the car with diesel and they continued on their trip. Donie said that he thanked the man but never got his name but Rory got the registration number of the car and later tracked down the man who owned it and made sure he was looked after. That says it all about the kind of man Rory was. His involvement in the GAA has been mentioned a lot. It would probably be safe to say that Croke Park had Micheál O'Hehir and Leinster House had Rory Kiely. Go neirigh Dia trocaire ar a anam uasal.