Seanad Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 2005

Vol. 179 No. 19

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.

Ms O’Rourke

On behalf of my party and as Leader of the Seanad, I pay tribute to a former Member of the House, the late Pól Ó Foighil. He was a former Fine Gael Senator but also ran for election as an Independent. He was very well known throughout Ireland for his community work and was a community activist in the true sense of the word. He worked for Gaelic affairs and the islands and he invigorated the co-operative movement throughout Connemara.

Pól Ó Foighil was always called "Báinín". The formation of this title provides an interesting anecdote but it is only one little episode in a very crowded life. He lived his life for the public. He began his career as a teacher when he moved to Connemara over 50 years ago and he and his family ran a large guesthouse in Indreabhán near Spiddal. He was very interested in the Aran Islands and set up a wind farm on Inishmaan. He established Irish language schools throughout Connemara and set up group water schemes in the west.

I met Mr. Ó Foighil when he was campaigning for a cable car service from the mainland to Inishbiggle. At the time there was one pupil left in the school on the island. Mr. Ó Foighil and others were seeking to keep the school open and retain its teacher.

Mr. Ó Foighil became a member of Galway County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta. In 1989 he was elected to the Seanad as a Fine Gael Member on the labour panel and he tried to obtain a Fine Gael nomination to run in 2002. He did not receive the nomination but ran as an Independent. He received many votes and was nearly elected. The Independents are always with us.

Mr. Ó Foighil believed anyone who applied for planning permission in the so-called Gaeltacht areas should be an Irish speaker. I always believed this was a good idea. His view was that the Gaeltacht should not just be a suburban area in which people could live. Mr. Ó Foighil had this planning clause added to the Galway county development plan in so far as it applied to south Connemara.

The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, has paid tribute to Mr. Ó Foighil. It is interesting that Mr. Ó Foighil was ahead of Deputy Ó Cuív in much of the work he did for his own area and the whole western region. He served the Seanad with great distinction. Everybody knew of him and I remember him so well being around the House.

The Cathaoirleach will be interested to note that there was a row in which Mr. Ó Foighil was to be suspended from the House or disrobed of his báinín jacket. Senators who were in the House at the time will know about this. The then Cathaoirleach had to intervene and I believe a compromise was reached. He was allowed to wear the jacket. I know the then Cathaoirleach had some trying times while Mr. Ó Foighil was a Member. However, for Mr. Ó Foighil, working in the Seanad while wearing his báinín jacket epitomised what he was about. As I stated, this is only one aspect of a vast career. He served the public and the community in which he lived and set up his business so well. On behalf of the House, I express our deepest of sympathy to his family.

Mr. B. Hayes

On behalf of my colleagues in Fine Gael, I express our sympathy to the family of Pól Ó Foighil on their terrible loss. I feel quite inadequate because I cannot address my remarks to the House as Gaeilge. Every time former Senator Ó Foighil spoke to the House, he did so in Irish, the language he loved. He was one of those colourful characters we all meet going around the country. I remember going to conferences, on the Seanad trail in particular, at which I met Mr. Ó Foighil. Regardless of whether I asked him for advice, I received it from him. Usually it was well worth listening to. Mr. Ó Foighil was very encouraging, particularly of younger members of our party, in terms of persevering and doing one's best in politics.

Mr. Ó Foighil was brought into Fine Gael by Tom O'Donnell, who was Minister for the Gaeltacht between 1973 and 1977. Down through the years, Mr. Ó Foighil had what might be described as a truculent relationship with the party. Sometimes he was in and sometimes he was out, but more often than not he was right and we were wrong. He stated anyone who has a mind is entitled to change that mind. I believe that was one reason constituting his defence when, for some reason or other, he was being expelled from the parliamentary party. He definitely took his stances very seriously and independently. He was able to say awkward things to the party from time to time.

One of Mr. Ó Foighil's greatest and lasting achievements was the introduction of simultaneous translation into Irish in the House. I understand that as a Member of the House from 1989 to 1992, he initiated a campaign to secure the automatic right for all Members to hear debates through Irish. He was a Tipperary man, although as the Leader noted, he moved to Connemara in the 1950s. As she rightly observed, he did much community work in the west, particularly in and around Connemara, in establishing co-operatives and Irish colleges which were attended in the summer months by many jackeens, myself included. It is ironic that we pay tribute to him in the middle of an Údarás election campaign as he was a long-standing member of Údarás na Gaeltachta as well as of Galway County Council.

My great memory of Pól Ó Foighil is a programme I saw on TG4 some years ago, where he courageously described the tragedy of suicide. His own son was a suicide victim. He had been a medical student and a bright person with great opportunities for the future. Pól Ó Foighil had seven children and it greatly affected him. In the programme, Senator Ó Foighil decided to tell his story and describe the implications for himself and his family in a very public way. He did a great service to the thousands of people throughout the country affected by suicide. I distinctly remember watching the programme and admiring his ability to speak out in public about this terrible problem affecting so many people.

We offer our sympathy to his wife Chrissie and to his six surviving children. We thank him for his work, not only as a Fine Gael parliamentarian, but as a politician of real conviction and standing. The country and Connemara in particular is at a loss on hearing of his death. His memory will live on in this House for many years to come.

Mr. O’Toole

On behalf of the independent Senators, ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá chomh maith chun cur leis an méid atá ráite ag an gCeannaire agus Senator Brian Hayes. Is dócha gur cheart tosnú lena rá gur dhuine den scoth ab ea Pól Ó Foighil, duine go raibh i gcónaí sásta an fód a sheasamh le haon grúpa nó aon rud a raibh creidiúint aige féin ann. B'shin mar a bhí sé i gcónaí.

Sheas Pól go mór le muintir na Gaeltachta ar feadh na blianta aon uair go raibh an seans aige. Cé gur rugadh é i gContae Tiobraid Árann, chuaigh sé ar eisimirce go dtí an Ghaeltacht agus, ina intinn níor fhág sé an Ghaeltacht riamh i ndiaidh sin. Tríd na blianta, thóg sé suim in a lán feachtais agus bhí an méid sin díobh is deacair a chuimhneamh orthu ag an bpointe seo. Mhol sé feirmeacha gaoithe a chur ar na hoileáin, go mór mhór ar Oileáin Árainn. Bhí sé an-sásta a chur leis na Gaelscoileanna, scoileanna na Gaeltachta agus Gaelscoileanna sa Ghaeltacht.

Bhí am aige i gcónaí an fód a sheasamh le cúrsaí Gaelainne agus, níos tábhachtaí, cúrsaí Gaeltachta. Go minic, níor aontaigh mé leis an méid a bhí le rá aige faoi chúrsaí Gaelainne ach bhí mé i gcónaí ar aon intinn leis nuair a bhí moltaí aige ar chúrsaí Ghaeltachta.

Bhí Pól an-phraiticiúil chomh maith. Is cuimhin liom nuair a bhí mé san INTO, chuir sé chugam tuairisc a bhí déanta aige féin agus cúpla duine eile ó Ghaeltacht Chonamara faoin ndeacracht a bhí ag muintir na Gaeltachta teacht ar sheirbhís síceolaíochta sna scoileanna trí Ghaeilge; ní raibh seirbhís síceolaíochta le fáil ach i mBéarla. Chuir an Roinn sórt "pilot scheme" ar fáil ina dhiaidh sin, nuair a chuir muid an moladh chuige, a bhfuil ann fós. Sin toradh amháin as a lán eile as ucht na hoibre a rinne Pól Ó Foighil ar son na Gaeltachta.

Is íomhá maith é an meascán sin d'fheachtais a bhí idir lámha aige i gcónaí ar an sórt intinn agus aigne a bhí ag Pól, ag rith agus ag rás i gcónaí ag féachaint ar rudaí i slite nua. An rud a dúirt Seanadóir Brian Hayes, agus an rud an-tábhachtach a rá, bhí sé i gcónaí sásta teacht ar athrú aigne nuair a bhí sé soiléir dó go raibh athrú tagtha ar na tosca a bhí ann ar dtús nuair a tugadh an chéad chinneadh. Níor chuir U-turns isteach air riamh má cheap sé go raibh siad in ord tar éis éisteacht leis an bhfáth. Duine an-loighciúil ab ea é sa mhéid sin.

Is cuimhin liom deacracht a bhí aige féin ó thaobh pinsin. D’éirigh sé as a phost mar mhúinteoir agus chuaigh sé ag obair ar son na Gaeltachta. Nuair a shroic sé trí scór bliain d’aois, ba chóir go mbeadh fáil aige ar a phinsean ach bhí tosca athraithe idir an dá linn agus ní raibh sé in ann an pinsean a fháil. Bhí muid ag caint leis an Roinn Oideachais agus an Roinn Airgidis go mór mhór, faoi. Bhí air dul ar ais ag múineadh ar feadh lá amháin chun é féin a chur ar ais ar leabhair na Roinne agus teacht ar an phinsean. Chuir muid glaoch ar chúpla scoileanna timpeall ar lár Chonamara chun job a fháil dó. Bhí orainn teacht ar bhord scoile a bhí sásta job a chur ar fáil ar feadh lá amháin do dhuine amháin.

Is cuimhin liom Pól ag labhairt sa Teach go minic agus go líofa ar na deacrachtaí ag baint le forbairtí na Gaeltachta. Labhair an Ceannaire faoi na coinníollacha a bhí ar intinn aige a chur ar dhaoine a chur isteach le cead pleanála chun tigh a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht. Bhí sé ar intinn aige go mbeadh sé mar choinníoll orthu Gaeilge líofa a bheith acu dá mba mhaith leo cónaí sa Ghaeltacht.

D'imigh Pól uainn mar a mhair sé. Ní raibh sé críochnaithe in aon chor. Bhí sé tosnaithe ar chanbhasáil mar Neamhspleách sna togháin d'Údarás na Gaeltachta an mhí seo chugainn. Nuair a bhí sé sa Teach seo, bhí suíocháin eile againn sa líne seo mar ní raibh fhios ag duine riamh ó sheachtain go seachtain an mbeadh Pól i bhFine Gael nó linne mar Neamhspleách. Níor chuir sé sin isteach nó amach orm ach caithfear a rá gur Blueshirt go bunúsach ab ea é. B'shin mar a bhí a chroí i gcónaí.

I offer our condolences to his party and his family. Pól made a great contribution to Irish life and will be sadly missed. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Ryan

Is beag eile atá le rá faoi Pól Ó Foighil, ach caithfidh mé a rá gur baineadh an-gheit asam nuair a chuala mé go raibh sé imithe uainn, cosúil le gach éinne. An-gheit eile a baineadh asam ná nuair a fuair mé amach na blianta a bhí curtha siar aige. Bhí sé dochreidte domsa go raibh sé i lár na 70s mar bhí an oiread sin fuinnimh aige agus bhí sé chomh gníomhach is a bhí riamh.

Bhí sé suimiúil an méid a dúirt Seanadóir Ó Tuathail faoi Pól ag éirigh as an múinteoireacht. B'fhéidir gur éirigh sé as ach níor stop sé riamh. Bhí sé i gcónaí gníomhach, i gcónaí ag déanamh rudaí nua. Tá eolas agamsa ar Ghaeltacht Chonamara; tá cairde agam thuas ansin agus chloisfinn ó am go ham faoi ghníomhachtaí Pól. B'fhéidir nár bhuail na daoine seo le Pól i gcónaí. An rud ba mhó a tháinig as gach rud a chuala mé faoi ná go raibh rudaí ar siúl aige agus bhí an scéal céanna ann nuair a bhí sé anseo.

Bhí Pól duine de na daoine ón Ghaeltacht a bhí mar shiombail d'athrú bunúsach a bhí ag teacht ar na Gaeltachtaí, 'sé sin go raibh féinmhuinín ag fás ins na Gaeltachtaí agus go raibh pobal agus muintir na Gaeltachta tosnaithe ag seasamh suas ar a son féin, ar son na teanga agus ar son pobal iargúlta scaipthe a chreid nach raibh an tír dáiríre fúthu agus go raibh an oiread sin "lip service" don Ghaeltacht gan gníomhaíochtaí ag dul leis. B'shin an rud ba mhó a chuimhin liom faoi. Bhí sé dáiríre faoi pobal na Gaeltachta, faoin teanga agus faoi úsáid na Gaelainne agus an ceart gur chóir a bheith ag duine ar bith sa tír aon ghnó a theastaigh uaidh nó uaithi a dhéanamh san Oireachtas, le rannóga Stáit nóáit ar bith eile, Ghaeilge a úsáid gan aon chead a lorg ó éinne. Chreid Pól gur cheart bunúsach, bunreachtúil é sin. Sin an fear is cuimhin liom. An rud is mó nach bhfuil méábalta glacadh leis ná an aois a bhí aige mar bhí sé chomh hóg i ngníomhachtaí, fuinneamh agus mar sin de. Tá sé dochreidte dom fós go bhfuil sé imithe uainn. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasail.

Mr. Dardis

I recall when I entered the House with Senator Ó Foighil and I share Senator O'Toole's recollection of him moving backwards and forwards on the benches. My abiding recollection is of him speaking in Irish on a daily basis from the back bench.

Former Senator Ó Foighil was singlehandedly responsible for bringing about the establishment of an córas aistriúcháin, the translation service that now exists for the Houses of the Oireachtas. There was very little technological backup available to the Houses at that time. I was also very grateful to Senator Ó Foighil for looking after my children so well when they went to the Gaeltacht. He was a key figure in the development of the Irish college movement. We are also aware of his work for the islands and within the community of Connemara and his membership of Údaras na Gaeltachta. Many of the core cumainn in that area, which have done valuable work, owe their existence to him. He was a very potent figure in terms of the support and development of a neglected part of the country and should be saluted for that. I share the sentiments expressed in all the tributes to him.

An Cathaoirleach

I would also like to pay tribute to the late Senator Ó Foighil. Like many other Senators, I had the privilege and pleasure of serving in this House with him. It has already been said that he was a great campaigner for the Irish language and it is only fitting that some of the tributes to him should be delivered solely in Irish. His campaign in this House for a translation system is indicative of his mighty efforts on behalf of the Irish language. Additionally, he campaigned for much in his own area of Connemara. He left Tipperary for Connemara approximately 50 years ago and because of his campaigns on behalf of the area, Connemara's people adopted him as one of their own very quickly, which is a great tribute to him. I extend my sympathy to Senator Ó Foighil's wife and family on their loss.

Members rose.