Éamon Ó Cuív pays tribute to Noel: energy and service
Éamon Ó Cuív paid tribute to Noel, praising his energy, community commitment and long electoral record. He described Noel as a devoted family man, a fluent Irish speaker, a GAA stalwart who fought his illness bravely while remaining engaged in local politics.
Overview
Éamon Ó Cuív spoke in the Dáil to honour Noel, highlighting his consistent electoral success, public service and close ties to Galway. He emphasised Noel's tireless energy, his ability to stay connected to ordinary people and his deep roots in the community.
Family and community support
Ó Cuív noted the central role of Noel's family—his wife Mary, children Joan, Eamir, Lisa and Rory and the extended family—in enabling his parliamentary work. He said that serving a constituency far from Dublin requires huge family effort and that Noel had that support in spades.
Electoral record and public service
Ó Cuív set out Noel's electoral record, saying he was first elected in a by-election in 1982 and returned at general elections in 1987, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007. He also recalled Noel's service on Galway County Council until he became a Minister of State and his work across many departments.
Culture, sport and local leadership
Ó Cuív highlighted Noel's fluency in Irish and his lifelong involvement in the GAA, including his role as Chairman of the Galway County Board after retirement from national politics. He characterised Noel as a 'people's person' within his party and as a son of Galway whose heart remained in his county.
Illness, courage and continuing engagement
Ó Cuív described Noel's approach to illness as brave and understated, saying he 'lived his illness' and continued to take an interest in local political developments and mentorship of emerging figures. He paid tribute to Noel's willingness to share wisdom and to remain active in politics to the end.
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Goeibhagat Dailaschion Coirle I does o bair o bwylem cofroon na ian na meiri, na joan, iamir, lisa, roe, leith, nw garchlaon na dweithyrwyrachau, bwys nw cliwwain, eir was nól A us tán athith ar am gweil, dais am cofla focoil ar ón sian nio, i nômoos gynól Maer is gael uasel a bíon, dyn a harabeu uasel I think occasions like this are obviously sad, but they are also an opportunity to pay tribute to huge commitment, but in this case not only of Noel but of his family. I think all of us realise that to do your work in this house, particularly if you live in a constituency on the other side of the country, it takes a huge family effort, and it is not possible to do so without the support of a family. Noel had that in spades, from his wife Mary, from his children Joan, Eamir, Lisa and Rory, and from the extended family. The one thing I would have always felt about Noel was that he had huge energy. When you met Noel, you met energy in spades, and this stayed with him throughout his career. The other thing was that he never lost touch with the ordinary people on the ground. No matter what high office he held, he was the same Noel to meet wherever you met him. But of course he was the ultimate community person. He was a lifelong member of the GAA, but he also was a huge people's person within the Fianna Fáil party. It has rightly been pointed out that Noel felt himself very much as a citizen of Europe. He was also very much an Irish person. But I think it is true to say that ultimately he was a son of Galway, and that is where his heart really always was. His electoral record was impressive, and I would like to put it on the record here today. He got elected in a bi-election in 1982, a general election in 1987, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007. In fact, he never failed to get elected from the very, very first time he stood. He also served on Galway County Council until he became a Minister of State. So he had an incredible record, and I think that shows just exactly the respect in which he was held through good times and bad. He served as has been pointed out also in very, very many departments. And his influence in those departments has been well spoken about today. Noel was a fluent Irish speaker, and he was a good listener to Noel who was coming in to the family and the school of the UK. He was a good listener to the Gaeilge of the UK on the other day, but he was a good listener. He was a good listener to the UK, and he was a good listener to the UK and the UK. Of course when Noel retired from here he threw himself back into the GAA, even though he was he was ill at the time, and he served as the Chairman of Galway County Board, a position he excelled in. I remember during his illness I had met Noel on so many occasions, and he never made any big issue about it. I would inevitably ask him, what do you want Noel? He just got one sentence back, and he never spoke much about it beyond that. He fought his illness with great braveness, but he lived his illness. Even though he was on constant treatment, he also lived his life to the full. Again, I have to say, he couldn't have done that if he hadn't had the support that he had had at home. As Minister Rabbit has said, he was in politics right to the end. He was interested in the nitty-gritty of the local politics, who was coming forward, who was coming up into the future. He shared his wisdom and knowledge with everybody. He was a real brother. He loved it, he loved it, and he had told him to be a leader. He was a serious leader, and I have had been a long time for him to be in London, in the future of Russia.
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