Séamus Brennan RIP - A real credit to politics

Normally people like to say nice things about someone when they die. But even by that standard the tributes to Séamus Brennan yesterday were extraordinary. The praise was as sincere as it was glowing, right across the floor of Leinster House.

He will be forever associated with Fianna Fáil’s landslide victory in the general election of 1977, of which he was one of the main backroom architects. He introduced an American-style excitement into campaigning in the republic.

Michael O’Leary of Ryanair paid a magnificent tribute to Mr Brennan’s political courage and conviction as minister for transport. He tackled that post with a reforming zeal that has had implications far beyond our shores.

Colleagues described Mr Brennan as extremely likeable, capable, reforming, quiet, unassuming, and respectful. He is a profound loss to his wife Ann and their six children, to Fianna Fáil, and to Irish political life in general. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny remarked, “politics is the poorer for his passing”.

Maybe in the last analysis the finest tribute was the realisation that in his case it was a real compliment to describe him as “the consummate politician”. He enhanced Irish politics by his presence.