Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Dec 1966

Vol. 62 No. 3

Death of Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh: Expression of Sympathy.

Mr. G. Boland

As one of the oldest colleagues of the late Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh, I should like on behalf of Seanad Éireann to express sympathy with his widow and other relatives.

Everyone here and elsewhere knows that in the national movement since he was a boy Seán T. took a leading part. I knew him for some 60 years and he brought honour to this country everywhere he went. He was a man full of courage and no matter what the occasion was he always spoke out what he had to say and was afraid of nobody. I, personally, feel a deep sense of loss.

Tráth amháin bhí a lán Gaeilge agam ach anois is beag nach bhfuil sí caillte agam. Deanfaidh sin. Go ndéanfa Dia trócaire ar a anam.

Mr. O'Quigley

In associating myself with the vote of sympathy which Senator Boland has proposed, I should like you to convey my deepest sympathy to the family of the late Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. I am, of course, conscious of the fact that it was never my privilege personally to have known the late Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. Nonetheless, as a young student of the State I was aware of the qualities of mind and heart which the late Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh possessed.

He was a man of small stature but of great quality of mind and this he used for the betterment of his country. We sometimes think of him as being the dignified personification of this country because the last 14 years of his public life were occupied in the Presidency, but we ought not to forget what Senator Boland has called to our minds that in his early days he played a tremendously important part in the history of our State. I think the Easter celebrations this year show exactly the importance of his position as Secretary of the Gaelic League and his association with the founders of Sinn Féin.

In those days he did not have the scope which later years gave him for the qualities he possessed and, indeed, as Minister for Local Government and Tánaiste in the Government which succeeded the Cosgrave Government in 1932 and subsequently as Minister for Finance, the late Mr. Ó Ceallaigh won the affection of all who knew him. We should remember that he was an able politician and a great fighter—a man who liked to use the trenchant phrase in order to give expression to the beliefs which he held so deeply. With the capacity and breadth of mind he possessed, as President he was able to dispense with the trappings and it is a further mark of the esteem in which he was held that his nomination as President for a second time was unopposed and he was elected unanimously.

We all saw the fine though frail figure at the celebrations in Dublin Castle last June. It was clear at that time that Mr. Ó Ceallaigh had won the admiration of all shades of political opinion. Go ndéanfa Dia trócaire ar a anam.

Mr. Murphy

On behalf of my colleagues in the Seanad I should like to be associated with this vote of sympathy and expression of regret at the passing of the late Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. I, like many people here now, had not the privilege of working with Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh but I think we all knew him as a very lovable and highly respected character who had the respect of all political parties and all shades of opinion in this country. No matter what post he held he always did the job very efficiently and I think we all regret his passing.

Dónall Ó Conalláin

Thar cheann mo chomhsheanadóirí ó Ollscoil na hÉireann agus thar mo cheann féin, ba maith liom ár gcomhbhrón a chur in iúl do bhaintreach agus do mhuintir an Iar-Uachtaráin, Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. Mar atá ráite ag Seanadóirí eile cheana, agus ag go leor eile nach iad, ba dhuine é ar chóir don chine Gael neith bródúil as. Thug sé go fial dá dhúthracht agus dá bhuanna pearsanta ar son a thíre. Ba dhuine é ar mhór aige i gcónaí neamhspleachas, cultúr, saíocht agus teanga na hÉireann. Ní fhéadfaí taidhleoir ab fhearr ná é d'fháil ar an náisiún Gaelach, mar ina dhearcadh, ina phearsain agus ina iompar, ba fíor-oidhre é ar an náisiún sin.

Is bochtaide an náisiún a bhás. Is trua go gcaithimid scarúint lena leithéid. Go gcúití Dia leis a shaothar uasal agus go dtuga Sé áit árd do i gcomhluadar a Chuid aingeal.

Dr. Sheehy Skeffington

I should like to associate myself with this vote of sympathy to the widow and relations of the late Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. I had the privilege of knowing him slightly and of appreciating his warm friendliness for all who came in contact with him.

I should like to recall a fact that has not been mentioned—his links with France. He was Republican representative in France representing his country right back in the days of the first Dáil and won a great deal of appreciation and understanding for the Irish cause in France by his knowledge and by his good nature.

He was, as many of us recall, an admirable host and I think Senator O'Quigley was right in recalling that when he became President he, as a host, was entirely oblivious to any differences of Party politics and represented, I think, in every sense the best spirit of Irish hospitality. He had an Irish welcome for everybody he received and he received a great number in Árus an Uachtaráin.

With his passing I think we all feel a sense of loss.

Professor Jessop

As a representative of the graduates of Trinity College I should like to be associated with this vote of sympathy to the relatives of the late Mr. Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh. I had the pleasure of knowing him, not very well, but I had also the privilege of working with him, in a sense, in the early days of the Medical Research Council. When this Council was set up he was Minister for Local Government and Public Health. The smallness of our grant on that occasion was a cause of some embarrassment to us and necessitated a number of discussions with him. He was extremely sympathetic on all those occasions. He did not have any knowledge directly himself of science. I think he had not worked in this field but we were always received by him with very great sympathy and we appreciated this and were encouraged by it. I am sure my colleagues on the Council would like me to be associated with this vote of sympathy.

Members stood in their places.