Ba mhaith liom, thar cheann an Rialtais, comhbhrón a dhéanamh le clann an iar-Aire, Donnchadh Ó Gallchóbhair, a fuair bás an tseachtain seo caite.
The late Denis Gallagher was buried yesterday in his native Achill, County Mayo. He was surrounded on his final journey by the family he loved and the people he served all his life. As I stated when I heard the sad news on Saturday, he was a giant of the west.
Denis was born in Achill and was a teacher by profession and a politician by vocation. His whole life was dedicated to serving his community. He was an active member of the INTO, chairman of the Connacht council of Cumann Luthchleas Gael and vice-president of the GAA. He was elected to Mayo County Council in 1967 and to Dáil Éireann in 1973 where he served the people of west Mayo with distinction and dedication until his retirement in 1989.
During his time in the Dáil, Denis served as Minister for the Gaeltacht, for which he is best remembered. He also served as Minister of State at the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and the Department of Social Welfare.
Denis had a deep love of his native place and an abiding concern for the welfare of his community. He was an authentic voice of the people who elected him and served them diligently all his life. He was passionate about the Irish language and the sporting life of this country.
I spent almost a full day with him last September and, even though he was 79 years of age, he told me he was as active as ever and listed nine or ten organisations in which he was still actively involved. These organisations were not political, but were involved in community issues regarding Leader, western and tourism programmes and so on. He still enjoyed attending meetings and remained involved in three or four national bod ies into which he put enormous effort and interest.
On my behalf and on behalf of Fianna Fáil, I extend my deepest sympathies to Denis's wife, Hannah, his seven daughters, Máire, Caitríona, Áine, Nóra, Síle, Margaret and Breege, his five sons, Brendan, Denis, Micheál, Pádraig and Terry, and his 30 grandchildren. Like the people of Achill and west Mayo, we have lost a dedicated colleague and a wise friend who enjoyed visiting us and offering advice to the very end.
D'aithnigh Donnchadh Ó Gallchóbhair an pháirt lárnach a ghlacann an Ghaeilge inár bhféiniúlacht náisiúnta. Bhí grá mór aige don Ghaeilge, do Chondae Mhuigheo agus, go háirithe d'oileán Acla, an áit a rugadh é. D'oibrigh sé go dian dícheallach chun an Ghaeilge a cur chun cinn agus chun saol phoball na Gaeltachta a fheabhsú. Molaim an obair íontach sin agus creidim gur ceart dúinn leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair thábhachtach a thosaigh sé ar son mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus ar son na Gaeilge freisin. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.