Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge Nick, Nicola, Ursula, Nicholas and Seán from the Jackman family along with nephews Ray and Brian. Also in the Gallery are her friends, the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, Deputy O'Dowd, the Minister of State, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, Deputy Frankie Feighan, and the former Deputy and Senator, Michael Finucane. I also have apologies from former Senator Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, who was a great friend of Mary's and wished to be here today. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, she could not be.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for hosting this tribute to the former Senator and councillor, Mary Jackman. It is a great pleasure and honour for me to be here. My friendship with Mary dates back to 1985. My father was on the council at the same time as Mary. While he was on the city council and she was on the county council, they were great friends and did so much throughout the years. I was in Young Fine Gael in 1985 and, as Senator Cummins said, Mary was so interested in all that going on not only in Fine Gael but in Young Fine Gael as well. She was a great friend and mentor to many of us. When I first ran for election in 1999 Mary was elected cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council. When I decided to let my name go forward, Mary was one of the first people to pick up the phone and encourage me to go all the way. She was so delighted that another female was possibly following in her footsteps. At that stage it was predominantly male councillors and Deputies who put their names forward. She was so encouraging and I am ever so grateful for that. Mary was on the county council and I was on the city council but we did so much together. We met at meetings and events. It was mentioned that she served as chairperson of the vocational education committee, VEC. In 2012, when the city and county VECs merged, Mary was our chair. She was so inclusive. I am thinking of her whole history in education and all she did for the lives of so many people.

Mary narrowly lost out in the 1997 general election and in the by-election after that. Being out on those canvasses, I know it was heartbreaking to come so close but not quite make it. Mary was so gracious in defeat. She was encouraging of those who were elected. That was what she was about, she was so encouraging of so many people. When I was out canvassing with her and met her former students, they all spoke so highly of her and her contribution. She touched the lives of many of her students and did a lot of things for them in the background that people did not know about. Families were so grateful for all that Mary Jackman did, not just as a councillor and Senator but also as a teacher, in the lives of so many people. Her sporting career was referred to. She captained the UCC camogie team to win the Ashbourne cup in 1965. She was also in the UCC choir when it won the all-Ireland championship. Right up to a few years before she passed away, she was involved in a choir in Castleconnell. She loved to go singing and loved a sing-song. She took an interest in everything she was involved in. She got me involved in the Women's Political Association which later became the women's federation in Limerick. Many other people served in that organisation but Mary was one of its drivers. Over the years when she was chairperson we had many inspirational speakers. Mary was often involved in bringing them forward and proposing the names. She encouraged people to get involved in politics. She always felt that we had to make a contribution.

On Christmas Eve every year, Mary always arrived to our house. It did not matter if it was 10 o'clock in the morning or 10 o'clock at night. Christmas Eve did not go by but she had to call in to wish us all a happy Christmas. That was the person Mary Jackman was. She was so thoughtful. She really loved Fine Gael and she loved politics. She would have gotten involved back in Garret's FitzGerald's time and served under many leaders. When the by-election was on, Mary was so grateful for all those who came to support her and canvass with her. It is all about the Jackman family today and it is lovely that we are here in this Chamber where Mary served to pay tribute to her warmth and kindness and to acknowledge all that she did for everybody, both in this Chamber and outside it. Mary Jackman's legacy will go on forever and a day.