Former minister and Fine Gael TD Tom O’Donnell passes away aged 94

TOM O’Donnell, one of the last survivors of the government led by Liam Cosgrave, has died.

Mr O’Donnell, a native of Limerick, was a major figure in Irish public life for 30 years, and was one of just two surviving links to a Fine Gael-Labour coalition led by Liam Cosgrave from 1973 to 1977.

The last surviving member of Mr Cosgrave’s “government of all the talents” is Patrick Cooney of Westmeath who was Justice Minister.

Against the odds Tom O’Donnell overcame profound deafness and resultant speech difficulties to forge a highly successful career in politics.

Aged 94, he was a successful TD, Euro MEP, and minister, who continued with considerable voluntary community service long after his retirement from electoral politics in June 1989.

A charming and generous man, he was popular across all parties and he brought a genuine concern about people to his politics.

After studying at St Patrick’s College, Thurles, and UCD, he became a teacher, securing employment in Dublin.

He then returned to his parents’ home at Dromin, near Kilmallock, where he threw himself into local activism and politics.

He worked for the trail-blazing community organisation

Muintir na Tíre and for a time edited their magazine, Landmark.

In 1961, Mr O’Donnell was elected Fine Gael TD for Limerick East, holding that seat in eight subsequent general elections.

In February 1973 he was expected to be appointed to Liam Cosgrave’s cabinet but the surprise was that he was made Gaeltacht Minister. At age 46 he had to quickly re-learn Irish, a subject he had not studied since he was at secondary school.

He was extremely successful at re-mastering the language and soon became known as a dynamic minister who visited every corner of the Gaeltacht and the off-shore islands.