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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Apr 2004

Vol. 583 No. 5

Expressions of Sympathy.

I would like to express the deepest sympathy of the House and the Fianna Fáil Party on the passing of a much loved actor supreme, Maureen Potter. Though a quintessential Dub, she touched the lives of generations of Irish people and others in every corner of the country. There is nothing more precious than being able to make people laugh, and Maureen Potter did so during many dreary times and good times by her wonderful acting in the theatre, and people had the opportunity to hear her on radio and see her on television. Our sympathies to her husband, Jack, and to her two sons, Hugh and John. Maureen Potter has made an indelible mark on the lives of so many people who are extremely grateful to her. We all mourn her loss.

I join the Minister for Defence in expressing the nation's sorrow at the passing of Maureen Potter. She was an institution in Ireland as someone who was a supremo in theatre, pantomime and humour generally. She touched the lives of millions of Irish people and brought a smile to their faces through good times and bad times. As a child, I always thought — I know her family will forgive me — she also had a child called "Christy", because he was a central part of the radio programmes I used to listen to prior to television. In her Dublin way, she epitomised all that is good about Irish humour and Irish nature. The nation will be poorer for her passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

I would also like to express my sympathy to the family of Enda Colleran who died last night. He captained two winning All Ireland Galway teams, was the scourge of Mayo in the 1960s and a wonderful person to know. He epitomised all that is best in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.

I would like to be associated with the remarks of the Minister for Defence and Deputy Kenny on the passing of Maureen Potter. I suppose to some extent we are showing our age; I am a member of the Duran Duran generation. It is true that Maureen Potter brought pleasure to hundreds of thousands of Irish people in a very long and distinguished career on the stage and in the media. She was a very active member of Actors Equity. She was known to be very kind to young people coming up in the business. In many ways it is an end of an era.

I join Deputy Kenny in expressing shock at the news we heard this morning about someone I knew very well, Enda Colleran, who apparently passed away in his sleep at the early age of 63. He will be forever immortalised as the two times captain of the Galway team of 1964-66 that won three All Ireland championships in a row. To his family I offer the condolences of the Labour Party.

I join in the expressions of sympathy to the bereaved family and friends of Maureen Potter and the tributes to her tremendous contribution to Irish theatre over many decades. She was a great Irish entertainer who preferred to live and work here than to seek the fame she would undoubtedly have gained had she gone to England or America. She gave the gift of laughter to Irish children in the theatre and on the radio. I remember from my own childhood Sunday dinner entertainment on RTE radio and my first exposure to the Dublin accent. Years later I would meet my elected colleague on Dublin City Council and try to imitate how Maureen Potter would say "Christy".

She was one of the greatest personalities in the history of Irish theatre and entertainment. One of her favourite closing lines in her shows in the Gaiety Theatre was, "If you liked the show, tell your friends and if you did not, save your breath to cool your porridge." Those words are good advice to many of us in the House and after this morning's exchange with the Minister, we will save our breath to cool our porridge. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

I wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the families of Enda Colleran and Maureen Potter.

It was with great sadness that I learned of the death yesterday of Maureen Potter in her home in Clontarf in my constituency of Dublin North-Central. Maureen was a very special person to many Dubliners and she entertained us over many years in a special way, giving us many hours of laughter through her professional work. As a relatively young person, I have fond memories of family outings to one of the big events of the year, a day in the theatre with Maureen Potter. She is truly a legend in Ireland's theatrical heritage and her legacy will live on and be celebrated for many years to come. My thoughts and prayers are with her husband Jack, her sons Hughie and John, her stage colleagues and her many, many friends.

I also express my sympathy to the family of the late, great Maureen Potter. She was a constituent of mine and I join the Minister of State in extending my condolences to her family. Many of us were deeply saddened to hear of her death because of her background in the entertainment world and the joy she brought to many people.

Maureen was born in Fairview in 1925. She was a great northsider and even though she had a broader audience, north of the Liffey people were very proud of her, particularly in Fairview and Marino. She was a great artist and entertainer with a warm heart and Jack, Hugh and John must be very upset at this time.

There are many fond memories of Maureen. She was a great supporter of those with disabilities and a strong advocate of those with intellectual disabilities. Anyone who saw Maureen interacting with people with intellectual disabilities would see she had no baggage and that they understood her great warmth. She was a supporter of animal rights and had a particular grá for the elderly. I was involved in a project for the elderly in Marino and we were stuck for a famous entertainer to open it. I rang Maureen and she had no problem doing it and refused all offers of money for the gig. These are the sides to Maureen Potter that people might have missed.

As a Galway man living in Dublin, I am absolutely shocked by the death of Enda Colleran, a fantastic footballer, a former captain of Galway, a great player and a great leader on the field. To Enda's family I extend my deepest sympathies, as I do to Jack, John and Hugh on the death of Maureen Potter.

I wish to be associated with the words of sympathy to the Potter family on Maureen's death. She entertained the nation with good, clean fun for many years.

I also express my sympathy to the wife and family of Enda Colleran who passed away early this morning. Enda captained Galway to All-Ireland victory in 1965 and 1966 as part of the team that won three All Ireland championships in a row. Enda led by example on and off the field and not only will his sporting prowess be missed but his wit and good humour as well. I offer his wife Anne and his family my condolences.

On behalf of Fianna Fáil and on my own behalf, I extend sympathies to the Colleran family on the sad and untimely death of Enda Colleran, a teacher, a footballer and a great football analyst on television. I had the honour of knowing Enda Colleran very well, I was a pupil in St. Enda's College, Galway, when he came in as a young teacher. He was held in the highest regard by everyone, particularly by the students. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal dílis.

Members rose.

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