Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. It is hard to follow on from the really good contributions of colleagues, especially Senator Doherty's outline of Mary's contribution as a Senator and as a woman in politics. Most speakers have touched on that. There are many people in County Tipperary, especially in the Cappawhite area, who mourned Mary's passing last year. I am sure they are listening to the contributions here today. She was Limerick through and through but she had strong connections to Cappawhite and to Tipperary.

Colleagues have spoken about Mary's incredible career, during which she ran in four elections and was elected twice to the Seanad. She was first elected to this House in the same year my mother was elected to the Dáil. There were many similarities in their experiences. It was very hard for women to get elected at the time and almost impossible for women from rural Ireland. However, they both got elected to the respective Houses in 1989 and served together. While a number of speakers mentioned that it was really difficult for women in politics back then, which it was, most of the women who got elected looked after each other. There was a great bond and friendship between most of the women who were elected in the late 1980s and early 1990s. My mother and Mary were very good friends. They had a background in education, both being teachers, and they brought that expertise to their role as parliamentarians in this House and in the Dáil. If my mother were here, she would be speaking extremely highly of Mary. Just as they soldiered together as new Members in the Oireachtas, I have no doubt Mary and my mother are in heaven now, looking down and hoping we follow on in the tradition of the trailblazing path they set back then.

I offer my condolences to Nick, Mary's other family members and the people of Tipperary.