Tributes paid to Brian Crowley on his retirement from European role

WITH just months to go ahead of the European Elections, the popular Ireland South MEP Brian Crowley has announced he will not be contesting this year’s European elections, due to ill-health.

At a press conference last week, he said his health in recent years meant that he would not be able for an election campaign and for this reason would not be seeking re-election.

Mr Crowley, who topped the poll in the 2014 European Election when he got 180,329 first preference votes, many from Kerry, has missed all parliament sittings since his re-election.

The 54-year old has said that he will attend the final sessions of this term in the coming months.

Mr Crowley has, in fact, topped the poll in every European Election since 1994, when he first won a seat as an outsider, proving his popularity in the Southern region. This region will now have five seats instead of four in the forthcoming elections because of Brexit.

Senator Mark Daly paid tributes to Mr Crowley.

“The way in which he has faced, and continues to face, all the challenges life has thrown at him is an inspiration.”

“Brian represented Munster and his constituency, and indeed Irish society with distinction in Europe. I am grateful for his dedication and his service to Fianna Fáil and to Ireland, and I wish him well with whatever he does in the future.”

MEP Brian Crowley.