Dáil tributes to Brendan McGahon
TAOISEACH SAYS TD’S CAREER WAS ‘DEFINED BY POLITICAL COURAGE’
Tributes were paid to the late Brendan McGahon in Dáil Eireann last week, as his daughters Jill and Adele, son Conor, brother Johnny, and other family members and friends sat in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery.
Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Feargail noted that the Dundalk TD, who died on February 8 2017 ‘struck up many seemingly unlikely associations and friendships during his time in this Chamber, finding common cause with equally committed public representatives which transcended personality and tribal politics.
‘Brendan McGahon’s career of public service was defined by his political courage,’ said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. ‘ The history books record how Brendan McGahon stood up to the Provisional IRA and shone a dark light on their dark deeds and cruelty. He famously refused to close his newsagent’s shop in Dundalk during the funerals of hunger strikers in 1981, despite threats to his life and limb. Throughout his career, he excoriated the Provisional IRA for its violence and hypocrisy, and he gave voice to its victims.
The Taoiseach added that ‘Brendan showed the same tenacity and determination in the Dáil as he did on the football pitch, at an earlier time in his life playing for Dundalk F.C. For nearly 20 years between 1982 and 2002 he represented the people of Louth with distinction and he was a tireless advocate for the economic development of his county.’
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin noted that: ‘During his 20 years in this House, Brendan McGahon established a reputation as a colourful and very straight-talking Deputy.
He was, he said ‘a man of great courage, both moral and physical’ who was not just a ‘vocal critic’ of the IRA but also of the British Government and its policies
He had also placed a great emphasis on law and order and was a self-proclaimed member of the ‘ hang them and flog them brigade’ and made no apologies for it
Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin said that Brendan ‘came from a long and distinguished lineage of democrats.’ He also recalled that Brendan was a cousin of Ruairí Quinn. ‘ Two more disparate perspectives on normal political discourse or issues would be hard to find, but they were best mates. They loved presenting themselves as cousins, with each often saying, ‘Have you heard my cousin’s view on that...’
Louth Fianna Fail TD Declan Breathnach described Brendan McGahon as ‘a man of his people’, who was certainly colourful and outspoken and often held controversial views. ‘He did not care what others thought if he knew and believed what he said was right.
Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick recalled Brendan as ‘a gentleman, a politician, a family man and a friend.
‘I remember visiting Brendan in Beaumont Hospital shortly before he died. I only intended to stay a few minutes but ended up staying two hours. The knowledge, the respect and everything else Brendan had was unbelievable. He was a great character.’