Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy.

The Taoiseach:

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.

Mr. Noonan:

Ba fhear mór é Donnchadh Ó Gallchóbhair, in ngach slí. Bhí sé mór lena áit dhúchais féin i gCondae Mhuigheo, bhí sé mór lena theanga dhúchais agus le gluaiseacht na Gaeilge, bhí sé mór leis na cluichí Gaelacha agus le Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, ach go háirithe. Ar ndóigh, bhí sé mór leis an bpolaitíocht agus lena pháirtí, Fianna Fáil. Chaith Donnchadh a shaol fhada phoiblí ag obair go dian dícheallach ar son na ceithre cúiseanna sin agus tuigtear dom go raibh sé i mbarr a shláinte agus i mbun gnó suas go dtí cupla lá roimh a bháis obann. Is dona linn ar fad an bás seo. Guímid suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal agus sólás dá chlann.

The late Denis Gallagher had a distinguished career in public life and in this House for 16 years. He was a big man and any short summary of his career does not do him justice. He served as Minister of State in the Departments of Social Welfare and Industry, Commerce and Tourism but is probably best remembered for his time as Minister for the Gaeltacht. Throughout his career he was closely associated with the fisheries industry, founding the Achill Fisheries Co-operative and serving as chairman of Bord Iascaigh Mhara. Along with his considerable political achievements, Denis Gallagher will be remembered by all those who knew him as a gentle and kind man who was very well liked by members of all parties. I extend my sincere sympathy and that of my party to his wife, Hannah, his large family, his sons and daughters, and to his many grandchildren.

Mr. Quinn:

It is hard to think it is only last August since many of us in this House were with Denis Gallagher when he attended the General Humbert Summer School at a session in Castlebar on 24 August. He looked remarkably fit and hale on that occasion and, as the Taoiseach said, was continuing his active interest in a variety of associations and organisations. I remember being in this House with Denis Gallagher. As Deputy Noonan said, he was a natural gentleman. He had a quiet authority about him. He was not a showman and was passionately committed to issues of western development along the western seaboard, particularly in the southern part of the island of Achill, Corraun, which he loved deeply. He was involved with the co-operative fisheries association there on issues related to that aspect of development on the western seaboard.

He served in a number of different capacities, primarily as Minister for the Gaeltacht, until the change of leadership from Jack Lynch to Charles Haughey when he was one of the many victims of the new regime in which he was not found to have favour, although he subsequently served in later Haughey-led Administrations in a more junior capacity. He will be missed primarily by his own people, his large family, his wife, his 12 children and his many grandchildren and by many friends across the party political divide, not only in the west but across the country.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney):

I, too, join the Taoiseach and the leaders of Fine Gael and the Labour Party in extending my sympathy and that of the Progressive Democrats to the late Denis Gallagher's widow, Hannah, his 12 children and 30 grandchildren. When I came to Leinster House in 1977, Denis Gallagher was Minister for the Gaeltacht. He was a very fatherly figure and I agree with everything that has been said – he was a thorough gentleman. It is some time since I have seen him but many members of the Government and former members would be familiar with some of his children. Two of them are members of the Garda Síochána and his son, Padraic, is a relief driver in the ministerial driving squad. They are very much like their father and if one meets them, one can see their father in them.

Denis Gallagher had a very strong commitment to the Irish language and to community development. He was very much into the concept of self-reliance and he sought, in particular, to encourage incentives to increase activity in the west, particularly in Achill and Corraun from where he came. I understand his daughter, Ann, is the principal of the school in Corraun in which Denis was a student. Many of his children work in the public service and not only in the Garda Síochána, but in the nursing, social work and teaching professions. He was an extraordinary man on many levels because, notwithstanding the fact he came from a very rural constituency and had a very large family, he gave everything to public service and to public life. He will be greatly missed, in particular, by his family but also by the people of Achill, County Mayo and the country. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Mr. Sargent:

Thar cheann an Chomhaontais Ghlais, ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le bean chéile Dhonnchadh Uí Ghallchóbháir, lena mhuintir agus lena chairde go léir in Acla, ar fud na hÉireann agus thar lear. Mar iar-Aire, mar iar-Theachta agus mar Ghael uasal, d'fhág sé oidhreacht an-luachmhar ina dhiaidh agus cuímhnímid ar sin inniu. Gabhaimid buíochas leis as an méad oibre a rinne sé mar Aire, go mór mór i gcomhthéacs Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is féidir a rá go raibh sé ina athair ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Nuair a cheangail sé ról an údaráis le ról na n-údarás áitiúla rinne sé an-obair, rud a mhaireann ina dhiaidh.

It is important to recall that as Minister for the Gaeltacht, his role and example as somebody who spoke and promoted the Irish language and the féiniúlacht, to which the Taoiseach referred, is something we should try to emulate in this House as well as outside it. It is important we recall that he was Minister for the Gaeltacht and not Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht, the Islands agus go leor rudaí eile. From that point of view, he demonstrated the central role of the Irish language, something which should not be lost. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Dr. Moffatt):

I offer my sincere sympathy to the Gallagher family of Corraun, Achill, particularly to Denis's wife, Hannah, seven daughters, five sons, 30 grandchildren, his extended family and especially the people of Corraun. Denis was a highly respected politician – one of the best politicians known in Mayo. He was very dedicated to his family and his region. He was very proud of his roots – rooted in Gaelic Ireland and its language, culture, song and dance and he always tried to propagate it.

Long before we heard of developing the west, Denis was out there doing his own thing. He founded Údarás na Gaeltachta to make sure the west and the more peripheral regions were developed. He was a great athlete and was involved in the Gaelic Athlete Association and was Connacht Council chairman for a time. As was said, he was involved in many areas – in the fishing industry, the co-operative industry and in any developments in the region in which he was involved.

After his retirement he was still very involved, particularly in local efforts. Denis's great ambition was to make sure Corraun played its part in Irish life and in modern Ireland, whether extending ISDN lines or broadband, etc., to Corraun. That was one of his great ambitions. He also had a great interest in Knock Airport and in making sure the west was developed. People at his funeral said they had never seen such a funeral before in Corraun. The number of people who came to his obsequies was unbelievable. People came from all parts of Ireland on account of his association with the Gaeltacht areas. Ní bheidh a leithéid againn arís. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Mr. Kenny:

Ón am a toghadh mé féin mar Theachta 25 bliain ó shin d'fhreastail mé féin agus Donnchadh Ó Gallchóbhair mar Theachtaí ar shean Dáil Cheantair Muigheo Iarthar. Ní gnáth duine a bhí ann ach duine a ghlacú páirt iomlán inár saol, mar mhúinteoir, mar iascaire, mar fhealsúnaí, mar amhránaí, mar cheoltóir, mar chomhairleoir chondae, agus mar Aire Rialtais. Bhí sé in a fhíor Ghael. Bhí dlúth-cheangailt aige leis an nGaeilge, lenár n-oidhreacht agus go speisialta le Cumann Lúthchleas Gael agus a bhain leis.

Denis Gallagher was a true Gael and one of Mayo's finest sons. He will be sorely missed. As a politician he was never flamboyant or aggressive but was an honourable and formidable opponent, and one who displayed at all times a courtesy and understanding of other points of view. His death removes from the political landscape a man with a unique insight into the value of social and rural regeneration, which is there for all to see in his native Corraun.

Emigrants from Achill the world over were proud to associate themselves with Denis Gallagher and his achievements. The people of Mayo recognised one of their own by returning him on each successive occasion from 1973 until his retirement in 1989. In 1979, he took his removal from high office in this Chamber like the man he was. Fianna Fáil have lost a true and valued politician. Politics has lost an honourable and honest politician whose word was always his bond. His family have lost a father and a leader of his community whose public acceptance was self-evident at his removal and his funeral. To his wife, children and members of his extended family, I extend my deep and personal sympathy.

Fágaimid slán le Donnchadh Ó Gallchóbhair, duine uasal. Rinne sé a dhícheall ar son a mhuintir agus bhí sé sin le feiceáil ar ócáid a shocraide an lá cheana. Go maire sé go deo ar dheis láimh Dhé.

Mr. Ring:

I offer my sympathy to the Gallagher family, as has been expressed by the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Opposition. Denis Gallagher had a number of loves. He loved the GAA, his family and Fianna Fáil. It was wonderful to see how he fought for the party he loved up to his last day. He was a wonderful community man and one who could get cross-party support. In Westport, where I live, Denis could get 50% of the vote in every election although he lived almost 40 miles away. That highlights the type of man he was.

I am proud to say I have taken on many of Denis's traits. I thank God that they have worked for me so far and I hope they work in the future. I watched Denis and learned from him. We had many tussles, on the radio and in Achill, but Denis was always a gentleman, a nice man and one who will be missed by Mayo, the people of Achill and most of all by his family. I am sure Denis was very proud last Sunday when he looked around the community hall that he worked so hard for, and saw his wife and family of 12 children. It was lovely to see it.

In whatever walk of life they operate, the Gallaghers are a decent family, a nice family, and they will never be seen to act in anything but an honourable way. There is no politics involved when they are dealing with their professions. I say to his wife Hannah, his 12 lovely children, his extended family, the Fianna Fáil party and to the people of Achill and Mayo, that we have lost a wonderful politician and a man of quality and decency. It will be some time before a man of the quality of Denis Gallagher comes along again.

Ms Cooper-Flynn:

I also wish to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to Hannah, the wife of Donnacha O'Gallagher, his 12 children and to his extended family on his death. He has given wonderful service to the county of Mayo. He served Fianna Fáil both locally and nationally. In a true tribute, Donnacha was elected chairman of his local community council only last Friday week. This highlights the extraordinary contribution he has made locally in his village and county, and particularly at national level in Dáil Éireann where he served the Fianna Fáil party between 1973 and 1989.

He was honoured to have been a Cabinet Minister as Minister for the Gaeltacht, and during that time he founded Údaras na Gaeltachta which has done wonderful work in the development of gaeltacht areas throughout the country. He was also chairman of his local angling group in Corraun and chairman of the Connacht council of the GAA. A guard of honour representing the GAA and the Fianna Fáil organisation was present at his funeral. The number of people who travelled to pay their respects to Denis Gallagher is a mark of the man and his fine achievements over 30 years in public life.