Alison Comyn
Nominated by the Taoiseach · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“I know we are on the cusp of the summer recess but I want to talk about school for a moment. I raise a matter for a future debate or possible Commencement matter with the Minister for education about the inclusion of philosophy as a leaving certificate subject.”
“I believe this proposal sits naturally within the broader reform of the leaving certificate currently being championed by my colleague Senator Shane Curley. As we reimagine and modernise senior cycle education, we should not only be asking what students need to know, but how they should learn to think for themselves.”
“I especially compliment the staff who work in the background for me, including my assistant, Anna Brennan, who I have many times introduced as my right-hand woman. I would not be able to manage without her. I hope she has a very restful week. The work will go on here.”
“Despite all the technological change, people still value the reassurance, convenience and trust that comes with the local post office. That is why this investment is so important.”
“For those people, the post office is not just a convenience; it is an essential service. As a spokesperson for communications, I believe this debate should be about the future, rather than simply preserving the past or what we have at the moment.”
“Croke Park was a sea of red on the day. Many of us wanted to take public transport and it was under immense pressure. However, that was not just because of the semi-final. Dundalk and Drogheda railway stations are under serious pressure every day. One of the main reasons is the lack of parking.”
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“I have received a huge number of messages from listeners, particularly older and more vulnerable people who are sometimes those who are taking care of somebody else or have mobility issues themselves. They are deeply upset by this decision. For so many people, especially those living alone or unable to attend church, this was not just a radio programme. They actually set their clocks to it. It was at nine o'clock on a Sunday morning and they wanted to hear their own local priest. It was part of their weekly routine and a really important source not just of communication and connection but of comfort. We have been told that online services are available but I know many elderly listeners to the radio station simply do not have the technology to try and stream something online. They were panicking looking for email addresses and everything.”
“I also welcome the fuel support measures announced today by the Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, for farmers, hauliers, contractors and fishers. These sectors have been under enormous pressure recently, as we all know, due to rising fuel costs. Practical supports like this are very important. Up to 120,000 farmers and 1,500 agricultural contractors will benefit and, combined with previous excise reductions, the measures amount to a reduction of €274 on every 1,000 litres of green diesel purchased. In my remaining time, I will briefly raise the decision by my own local radio station, LMFM, which is based in Drogheda but broadcasts right across the north east, to discontinue its Sunday morning mass broadcast.”
“I begin by marking Workers' Memorial Day today and remembering all those who lost their lives or were seriously injured through going to work. A ceremony was held today in the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin, which was a really important reminder that workplace safety can never be taken for granted. The figures are quite stark. Last year, 63 people lost their lives in workplace incidents, which was a 75% increase on the previous year. Thankfully, fatalities are lower so far this year but even one death is one too many. Behind every statistic is a devastated family and a community left grieving. Many of these incidents, as we know, happen in sectors that are hugely important to rural Ireland, including farming, fishing, transport and construction. Today should also be about renewing our focus on workplace safety and awareness.”
“Also, a sports capital grant, which is long earned, could all just disappear overnight with a water connection. I would really like to see an open discussion on this to try to help these community organisations going forward.”
“I am sure, right across the country, there are small grassroots clubs that are surviving on either getting a sports capital grant or fundraising from the parents. They would like to see something for it rather than it being sucked up by Uisce Éireann. As I said, this is not an isolated incident. I raised the issue of Wolfe Tones GFC in Drogheda only last year. Its bill is €140,000. I really think we need to look at what other streams or sources this could come from, whether that is engagement with Uisce Éireann, or I really would like to invite the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, in here to try to tease out whether there is a different source for funds for bills like this or whether Uisce Éireann can waive or source them in some other way. All their fundraising efforts are really not being seen. There is no benefit being seen.”
“First of all, I would like to be associated with the comments condemning the online abuse that my colleague, Senator Flynn, has received. No one should be subjected to that and, unfortunately, women representatives are especially open to that. It just should not happen. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned a community football group, namely, Drogheda Boys and Girls FC, that was really struggling after waiting four years for the most basic of changing facilities for their teams. There are 21 teams in all. It is a very popular club. I am working with the organisation to try to help it with that but then it got a letter from Uisce Éireann asking for almost €26,000 to connect water to those facilities, which are not even there yet. This is not an isolated incident.”
“We are not suggesting that it is going to be free but at the same time, making it more freely available would certainly help. I thank the Minister of State for taking this very seriously and I look forward to our next step on it. I will not be letting it go.”
“I thank the Minster of State for taking it so seriously. I note from the Minister of State's response that the issue has not really moved forward since it was raised in the Dáil last year. I must note that our President, Catherine Connolly, raised this issue. We need to see why it has not been approached by any of the marketing authorities. If there is such a demand for it then clearly it is falling between two stools here. We need to make sure we are bridging that gap to make it available. As I mentioned before, it is a huge bonus to not only menopausal women but also neurodivergent children and people with ADHD. It is not available on the medical card any more. It used to be a great boost to families and now it is costing money. This would really take the burden away.”
“As I have said before, if there is a safe, evidence-based way to help women - and, as I mentioned, neurodivergent children and young people - to sleep better during one of the most challenging phases of their lives then we should be doing everything we can to make that support available.”
“Pharmacists are highly trained professionals and are well placed to advise on appropriate use. Allowing over-the-counter access would ensure women and some children receive proper guidance, rather than relying on informal routes. This is just another small change that could have a really meaningful impact on quality of life. Better sleep supports better physical health, mental well-being and day-to-day functioning. It would also bring Ireland into line with many of our European neighbours who already recognise the huge benefits of making low-dose melatonin more accessible. I am hoping that the Minister of State will examine this issue closely, to engage with the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, to consider a pathway to allow low-dose melatonin to be made available over the counter in Irish pharmacies.”
“It is also a great help to neurodivergent children who have difficulty sleeping or need to be made calm before bedtime. It is no longer available on the medical card. The reality is that many women are already accessing melatonin, just not through our system. They are buying it abroad or asking friends or family to bring it back in their luggage. That tells the real story. It tells us that there is a demand and women and parents are actively seeking solutions to this problem. It raises the question as to why we are not facilitating safe and regulated access to melatonin here at home. This is not about replacing medical care. Rather, it is about recognising that, at low doses, melatonin is considered safe in many jurisdictions and can provide real relief for those struggling with sleep disruption or deprivation.”
“I am a firm believer that anything which can safely and effectively support women through menopause should be as accessible as possible. As we know, Ireland has made huge progress in this space. The introduction of free HRT has been transformative for many women and shows what can be achieved when we take women's health really seriously. We can do more. One simple and practical step is to allow low-dose melatonin to be made available over the counter in pharmacies. Melatonin is widely used to support sleep and in many countries it is also available without prescription at low doses, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, the United States and Canada. In Ireland, however, it remains prescription-only.”
“Everyone may be experiencing what I will describe for very different reasons. Imagine lying awake at night, tossing and turning and unable to switch off. The room is too warm and suddenly too cold and night sweats come and go. Thoughts are racing, replaying the day just gone and worrying about the day ahead. All the while, one knows one really needs some sleep. For many women going through menopause, this is not the occasional bad night. Rather, it is night after night of broken and disrupted sleep. Life is difficult enough as a woman going through menopause without exhaustion making it worse. There are physical symptoms, emotional strain and an impact on work and family life. Sleep is not a luxury; it is an absolute essential.”
“I am calling on the Leader to invite the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Deputy Norma Foley, to the House to outline how we can possibly deliver a more balance, needs-led approach to special class provision.”
“Many children with Down's syndrome thrive in mainstream settings but others need access to special classes within mainstream schools where they can receive targeted support while remaining part of the school community. In many areas, however, the only option available is an autism class and most children with Down's syndrome cannot access these unless they have a dual diagnosis and even then they are not always the most appropriate setting for them. What seems to be missing is a balanced provision of classes for general learning disabilities and speech and language needs. As a result, families are left with no suitable local placement, sometimes facing long journeys or accepting placements that do not really meet the exact needs of their own children. It does not seem to be very equitable and it probably needs to be looked at.”
“We have just marked world Down's syndrome day this past Sunday. I always love to see those incredible children and families who are rocking the odd socks. It does raise awareness. I wish to raise an urgent issue regarding an apparent lack of appropriate special class provision for children with Down's syndrome across the country. New figures from the National Council for Special Education were sent to me by the Louth-Meath branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and they show what seems to be a stark imbalance. Of 88 new special classes sanctioned this month, 87 offer autism support and just one is for general learning disability. Autism classes are, as we know, vital, but this level of concentration is creating a system that does not really reflect the full range of needs among children with additional educational requirements.”
“There is a large car park right across the road. It is very far away, however, and is inconvenient in certain weather or for anybody who is elderly or vulnerable. There used to be a shuttle bus but that was dispensed with over the last couple of years. The hospital must either reduce the cost, provide a shuttle bus or provide more parking spaces on campus. I am calling for a waiver for those attending oncology units and I hope we have a debate in this House with the Minister for Health.”
“In the main, however, right across the country, anybody going through a very difficult time in their life could end up paying in excess of €50 per week for car parking. If they have a child attending an oncology unit, it is even lengthier and can cost even more. I am calling on the Minister for Health to attend the House so we can have a debate on how we can either reduce or waive the costs for those who are attending oncology units. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital raised €500,000 in revenue in the last reports in 2023. Many hospitals could well afford to prevent people who are going through an incredibly difficult time in their life from having this extra burden on top of their expenses. Speaking of that hospital in particular, there are no car parking spaces generally left on campus for anybody attending for any reason at the hospital.”
“We are all proudly wearing our daffodils today to remind everybody that it is Daffodil Day tomorrow, Friday, 20 March. One in every two of us will experience cancer and it will take €6 million to be raised tomorrow to help the Irish cancer services with their vital work. They did bring something very worrying to my attention, namely, the cost of car parking for those who are going through chemotherapy or attending oncology units in hospitals across the country. In my own closest hospital in Louth, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, the hourly rate is €2 and the daily rate €10. It is concessionary. They can decide to waive the car parking fees for anybody attending the oncology unit.”
“I welcome guests of Senator Cosgrove who has brought her dad and it is lovely to see Seán O'Callaghan. He is sliding in the door as we are concluding business. We have other guests also, including the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?”
“It is also a good opportunity for me to invite the Minister for arts into the Seanad to have a debate on how we can possibly fund smaller drama groups and smaller community groups to make sure the future of the likes of Jessie Buckley is safe in Ireland.”
“She is an incredible role model for arts right across Ireland and we need to focus on how we can capitalise on this and make sure the next generation following Jessie Buckley can come along. Of course, it was not even a few weeks ago when Jessie Buckley appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show on American television. She famously mentioned Termonfeckin and Drogheda in my parish. We were delighted and we have made her an honorary Termonfeckin women and a Droghedian as well. I take this opportunity to formally invite her to come and visit Termonfeckin and Drogheda, where we would be delighted to allow her to show off her Oscar.”
“As Fianna Fáil spokesperson in the Seanad for arts and culture, I will use my time to congratulate Ireland's very own slice of Kerry gold, Jessie Buckley, on her magnificent win. It is the crowning glory of what has been an incredible few weeks, becoming the first ever Irish woman to win the best actress Oscar. I do not want to sound like I am making an Oscar's speech myself but we have to mention Marina Cassidy and Tim Buckley, her very proud parents. She has made everybody right across this country, and particularly in her own county, extremely proud. I mention those schools, such as the Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, County Tipperary and the Kerry School of Music because they are certainly taking a lot of really well-deserved credit for where she is now. This is something we need to focus on a little bit more as well.”
“For counties like Louth and countless others across the country, the success of the accelerating infrastructure action plan will ultimately be measured not by the strategies or pillars set out on paper, but by whether we see projects being delivered on the ground in the timeframe that our communities desperately need. Our towns and villages right across the country are growing rapidly, and that growth must be matched by the infrastructure that allows communities to live, work and raise their families with the services they so richly deserve.”
“In Termonfeckin in Clogher Head, residents are experiencing serious water pressure issues because the existing water pipes are no longer adequate to serve the level of development already there, never mind what is coming down the line. Those pipes need to be replaced. In the meantime, the existing households are seeing their water pressure being affected as new homes continue to be added to the network. These are just practical, everyday examples of what happens when infrastructure does not keep pace with development. If we are serious about delivering housing at the scale required, infrastructure must be delivered alongside it at the same pace, not years after people have already moved into their new communities.”
“Despite planning permission being granted last year, however, progress on these projects has ground to a halt because the necessary wastewater infrastructure is not in place. Late last year, it was confirmed to the planning authority that the Blackrock wastewater treatment plant did not have the capacity to cater for additional proposed developments. That capacity constraint has already had real consequences. It has led to refusals for housing projects, including an 80-home development and a separate plan for 91 houses in the area. The area is also in dire need of a new secondary school for its growing population. Even in my own part of the county, we are seeing the strain on infrastructure in other parts.”
“Water and wastewater infrastructure is creating real constraints on development in other parts of the county. In Haynestown near Dundalk, Uisce Éireann has been involved in infrastructure planning around Reynoldstown village in Haggardstown. Planning permission was granted last year for a range of new services that residents in the area had been calling for many years now. These include a new supermarket, a large medical centre, a chemist, a restaurant and a substantial childcare facility. This development was intended to serve a growing population and community of more than 2,000 people while also helping to relieve some of the pressure on nearby Blackrock, which has experienced significant population growth in recent years.”
“Our new housing is very welcome and badly needed, but the reality on the ground is that the infrastructure required to support these communities is often lagging far behind. People are moving into these beautiful new homes in brand new estates without the roads, schools, childcare facilities and public transport that allow communities to function and thrive. Key strategic projects, such as the port access northern cross route on the north side of Drogheda, remain essential if we are to manage the growing traffic numbers and support the continued development of the town. Likewise, the delivery of a second railway station for the northern Drogheda environs is critical if we are serious about improving transport connectivity for one of the fastest growing urban areas in the country.”
“I welcome the Minister, and I welcome the publication of the accelerating infrastructure action plan, with its focus on delivering infrastructure across electricity, water and transport. The identification of those four strategic pillars and 30 targeted actions shows the scale of the challenge facing us when it comes to ensuring that essential infrastructure keeps pace with population growth and development. This plan is therefore very welcome and a necessary step. Across the country, we are seeing the pressures that arise when housing, population growth and economic development move faster than the infrastructure needed to support them. In my county of Louth, these challenges are becoming increasingly evident. We are experiencing unprecedented levels of housing development across Drogheda, mid-Louth and north Louth.”
“Alongside this, we have to talk about the disparities we still have and the lack of progress on gender parity. That said, it is an absolute honour to be a woman working in political life here. I look forward to working with each and every one of my colleagues and I want to wish everybody a happy International Women's Day and the same to the men in November.”
“In recent years, we have made real progress. Ireland has seen huge improvements in women's healthcare, with free contraception, free HRT, endometriosis care and greater recognition of specific women's healthcare. I would hope to see melatonin being made available over the counter to menopausal women. That is next on my list. Of course, we have to talk about the arts and education. Women have come along in leaps and bounds in entering third level education and are pursuing careers in all walks of life. I must echo the words of the Minister, Deputy Foley, when she spoke about Jessie Buckley. What an absolute inspiration that woman is and I wish her every success in the forthcoming Oscars to complete whatever the multiple word is for a hat trick.”
“In particular, from every single woman that I have worked with here in the Seanad and right across Leinster House, the support has been absolutely tremendous. That mentoring really does matter. Governments should speak for everybody. Women must have a voice in the rooms where decisions are made. Former President Mary Robinson once said that the future of Ireland depended on the full participation of women. Those words remain as relevant today as the day they were spoken. They echo the legacy of pioneers such Countess Constance Markievicz who not only helped to shape the foundation of our State but became the first female Cabinet Minister in Europe. I pass her statues and portraits every day and they remind me of what a pioneer she was. A new portrait was unveiled only last night. She paved the way for all of us.”
“As the new chair of the women's caucus in the Oireachtas, I have had the privilege of engaging with women in political life across the Chamber here, in the Lower House and right across Northern Ireland and beyond. Recently, I met members of the Northern Ireland Women's Assembly Caucus and parliamentary colleagues in Westminster. Despite the different jurisdictions, the conversations were strikingly similar. We spoke about representation, safety and the scrutiny and hostility that women face in public life and yet, I remain hopeful. I am heartened by the number of women who now choose to enter political life, me included. Women who may have hesitated previously are now stepping forward and the support networks are stronger.”
“As International Women's Day approaches, I am usually asked two very distinct questions. First, why do we still have to have International Women's Day? Second, what about an international men's day? The answer to the second one is quite simple because there is an International Men's Day on 19 November every year. How men choose to celebrate it is entirely up to them. The fact is that International Women's Day is still relevant and still needs to happen because, despite real progress, we are still not there. We still have not reached the full equality that we need. This year's theme urges us to accelerate action for gender equality and there are two very distinct aspects to that phrase. We have made progress but we are not there yet.”
“As I said, they are very vital and neutral and we do not want to take any kind of funding away from the women-specific helplines or services, so there is still a need for a specific helpline for men, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I will relay to Men's Aid that if there are funding sources available, it needs to be tapping into every single one.”
“I thank the Minister of State for that response and the continued investment I can see in supports for victims of domestic and gender-based violence. These services are vital and must continue to be properly resourced. Gender-neutral services are admirable, but there is a service gap in the framework. Cuan is operating a seven-days-a-week helpline, although it is not for 24 hours a day. I seek that funding be made available for that and, in particular, Men's Aid. Quite often, a man will not contact a service that he feels is either gender neutral or specifically for women. Services are weighted heavily towards women.”
“I am asking the Minister of State to outline what consideration has been given by the Department to provide sustainable funding for a properly staffed 24-hour helpline for male victims of domestic abuse, or even funding that would support staff from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. What steps can be taken to ensure that men fleeing violence, particularly those with children, are recognised appropriately within our housing and emergency accommodation systems? Ending domestic abuse begins with breaking that isolation. When someone finally decides to seek help, it is our responsibility to make sure that someone is there. No victim should reach out in the dark and hear nothing back.”
“I have been told by support organisations that when men flee abusive situations, even with their own children, they face additional systemic barriers. When presenting as homeless, they are sometimes asked why they would volunteer to leave their home and make themselves homeless. That question reflects a societal assumption that men simply cannot be victims in the same way. If someone leaves, it is because they are unsafe. Maybe their children are unsafe. They are not choosing homelessness; they are choosing survival. This is not a request - and I must stress this - to divert funding from women's services. It is not about creating competition between these victims. Compassion is not a limited resource, and protection should not depend on your gender. It is about ensuring that our domestic violence framework is complete and total.”
“It is not about physical size or stereotypes, yet for many men, the barrier to seeking help is not only about their fear of their partner, but fear of ridicule, disbelief or being assumed to be the aggressor. The stigma attached to a man admitting he is afraid in his own home remains really profound. There is currently no fully funded 24-hour national helpline dedicated to male victims of domestic abuse. Men's Aid provides an essential service but it does not operate around the clock. Crisis, as we know, does not operate within office hours - currently Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The moment someone reaches for help is often late at night, when the house is quiet and courage briefly outweighs that humiliation. At the moment, that phone remains unanswered.”
“Several told me that simply seeing the issue acknowledged publicly made a massive difference. One man said it was the first time he felt the experience he has suffered for years was being taken seriously. Another spoke about the help they have received from Men's Aid and how critical that support was at a moment when they felt completely isolated. That should make us stop and think. We have made massive strides in how this country understands domestic abuse. We recognise coercive control. We understand that abuse is not just physical but psychological, financial and emotional. We have invested in services and supports for women who remain the majority of the victims, but we also have to recognise that some men are victims too, in opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. Domestic abuse is about power and control.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh na haíonna. A few weeks ago, I wrote in The Journal about domestic abuse against men in Ireland and the urgent need to fund a fully staffed 24-hour helpline through Men's Aid. I did this very carefully knowing that it is a very sensitive space, and determined that raising the issue would not in any way take from the very real and disproportionate impact of domestic violence on women. What I did not fully anticipate was the response I would get. Since that article was published, I have been contacted privately by several men who have experienced and are still experiencing domestic abuse. Some are still in abusive relationships. Some have left. Some have custody of their children. All of them describe the exact same thing: silence, stigma and shame.”
“They have engaged architects and engineers and have followed every statutory step asked of them. Applications for fire safety and disability access certificates were lodged in early February and still they wait. Of course, safety standards and accessibility requirements matter, and so they should, but we also have to look at the impact of this delay on a volunteer-led organisation and, more importantly, on the children themselves. Toilets and changing spaces are not luxuries but basic infrastructure and participation in any sport for any age group should come with dignity. I ask that the relevant Minister engage with the appropriate authorities to ensure that, within the statutory frameworks, this long overdue project can move forward without any further unnecessary delay.”
“Four years is a long time in the life of a child, yet that is how long the young players of Drogheda Boys and Girls Football Club have been without permanent changing rooms or toilet facilities since an apparently malicious fire destroyed the building at Marley's Lane in 2021. This is a club with more than 300 children playing regularly, alongside schools and visiting teams. Four years on, though, there are still no proper sanitary or changing facilities on site. For anyone, never mind for young children, changing in a car or, worse again, behind a fence or mammy's coat is not acceptable. The club's committee, all of whom are volunteers, have spent well over a year trying to get a modest modular building delivered. They have secured planning permission and funding.”
“For both of those issues, these people are relying on their new housing and on somebody to step in and assist them but right now, in both of these instances, they are going around in a loop with nobody taking responsibility. Unfortunately, it may take us to step in and see who will step up and take responsibility.”
“Right now, some of the residents have been paying electricity and heating bills ranging from €500 to €2,000 per month because of the heating system that has been put into these properties. They were promised heat pumps but the houses are using electric storage heaters that are costing between €500 and €2,000 per month. They are in a dire situation. This is social housing. Clearly, nobody would be in a position to pay those kinds of monthly bills. I would appeal that, maybe, we could try and intervene and have a conversation with the housing Minister or the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, on energy use, because this is not sustainable.”
“It is storm drains, and while it has been investigated by Meath County Council and Uisce Éireann, neither of them can do anything because the estate has not been taken into charge as the developer has gone into liquidation. Unfortunately, they are caught in this never-ending loop where nobody will take responsibility. Meanwhile, it is a huge environmental hazard and a risk not only for the residents but for anybody coming near the housing estate. They have contacted the housing Minister, Deputy James Browne, and I would suggest we have a conversation in this House about who takes responsibility in instances like this. While I am talking about a housing issue, there is a new social housing estate in Drogheda, County Louth, called Tullybrook Court. That is managed by the housing agency Clúid.”
“As is evident from my forehead, it is indeed Ash Wednesday today which, traditionally, in the Catholic faith, was a day of abstinence - probably after the previous day's overindulgence with pancakes - ahead of Lenten time. No matter what faith, it is probably a time to not only give up something but perhaps to reflect and maybe even take up something, like a little bit of kindness. That will be my quick thought for the morning. I will be raising two issues which will probably resonate with many places right across the country, even though this is local to Louth and Meath. I refer to the housing estates almost caught in a never-ending loop of nobody taking responsibility for things that are happening therein. Bryanstown Wood residents have contacted me about a raw sewage leak which has been happening since last December.”
“I extend my deepest sympathies to Mary, his children Aisling, Nicky, Tony and Kevin, his grandchildren, and all who loved him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.”
“Customers became friends, staff became extended family, and people knew that if they walked through the doors of that garage, they would be met with fairness, decency, and a handshake that they could trust. He said in an interview with me a few years back, in 2021, that the secret to his 60-year marriage to his beloved wife Mary was simple: love each other, say sorry when needed, and never go to bed without saying good night. That tells you everything you need to know about that man. He was grounded, practical and kind. From helping in the garage as a child after school to taking responsibility for the business as a teenager after his father's sudden death, Tony showed resilience, duty, and care for family long before these words became fashionable. Drogheda has not only lost a business giant but one of its quiet pillars.”
“I ask for a moment to mark the passing of a true Drogheda gentleman. Anthony Smith, known universally as Tony, has died aged 87. Tony was one of the great business figures of our town. For more than six decades, he ran the renowned N. Smith and Son Ford garage, a business founded by his father Nicky almost 90 years ago next year, and carried forward through four generations of the same family. Few enterprises in Ireland can point to such continuity, commitment and local loyalty. Tony was far more than a local businessman. He represented a type of community leadership that does not really seek headlines, yet quietly shapes a town's character.”