Calling time on two decades’ service
As the 29th Dáil dissolved on Sunday, it brought an end to the careers of now ex-TDs Dan Wallace and Joe Sherlock.
Both were first elected in the turbulent early ’80s and had decided not to contest the 2007 election.
Neither will shy away from the canvass trail for the next three weeks but one will be motivated by tradition and the other by legacy.
Cork North Central dropping from five seats to four has confined Mr Wallace’s seat to history.
But Councillor Sean Sherlock from Mallow is in a scrap to take his father’s place in Cork East.
An ex-Labour Party, Democratic Left, Sinn Féin/Workers’ Party representative, Mr Sherlock Snr is delighted his son is keeping the name in politics.
“I will miss the debates but I am delighted my son has decided to go into national politics himself.
“It took no persuasion whatsoever — that was his own instinct that he was politically minded, it was never my issue to ask him,” said the noted republican-cum-socialist.
Dan Wallace’s son Damian is a Fianna Fáil councillor but he was not won over by the courting from party headquarters.
Mr Wallace said: “I think if Damian was going to go they would have ran three candidates but, with one less seat, they decided two was enough.
“He has a business as an auctioneer and has a young family so he could not really go for the Dáil.”
Without an active involvement in politics, the Fianna Fáil stalwart and former Lord Mayor of Cork is looking forward to golfing in Mallow, visiting his cottage in Kerry and spending time with his nine grandchildren.
“I made a decision before the last election. I had 25 years and now it is great to go out on my own terms,” he said.
He was a bit emotional leaving Leinster House. It was his second home for over two decades.
However, as the day approached, he began squirrelling his belongings in small loads down to Cork.
“I have done all the clearing and cleaning. I have been removing my stuff from the office over the last few weeks so I would be ready. It is all set for the next guy,” he said.
Residing within the Fianna Fáil ranks, Mr Wallace anticipated the calling of the election.
But Mr Sherlock and his Labour Party colleagues had to return to Dublin to clear out their desks.
“I did not know it was the last day. I believed I was going to be here until Thursday,” he said.
He still has work to do organising the end of his own political life before he turns his attention to getting his son elected.
“I will not be campaigning at the moment. I will next week but first I will take a few days of a break. I work for a lot of groups up in Dublin and there is things I have to get done for them that I promised to do,” he said.
Mr Wallace, meantime, is also resting before he joins the effort to get Noel O’Flynn and Billy Kelleher re-elected.
He promises not to take sides.
“I will be encouraging my supporters to vote for the party and I wish them both the best and make sure people get out and vote.”
Mr Wallace is predicting the comfortable return of two Fianna Fáil TDs from Cork North Central.
But Mr Sherlock knows his son has got a fight on his hands.
