There was sadness in local political circles this week at the passing of former TD, Minister, Senator, Councillor Tom Hussey.
Mr Hussey, from Patch, Glenamaddy was laid to rest yesterday (Wednesday ) in Boyounagh Cemetery, after Requiem Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Glenamaddy.
Tánaiste and Uachtarán Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin TD has said he was deeply saddened to learn of the death of his colleague and friend.
“Tom Hussey was a deeply committed public representative who cared deeply about his community, county and country. His was a life of long and honourable public service,” he said.
Tom Hussey was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1969 in the then Galway North-East (later Galway East ) constituency and continued to represent the Galway East constituency until 1981. He subsequently served as Senator between 1981 and 1992.
He served as councillor between 1963 and 1999 and as Cathaoirleach of the Council on a number of occasions. Tom also served as Chairperson of the Western Health Board on a number of occasions.
Mr Hussey was appointed Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture between 1977 and 1980 and subsequently in the Department of Health until 1981.
After his retirement from national politics, Tom remained an active and valued member of Fianna Fáil in Galway East, giving his much sought-after guidance and insights. In recent years, Tom served as President of the Fianna Fáil organisation in the Roscommon Galway constituency.
Commenting on his passing, Tánaiste Micheál Martin TD said Tom was a man of great integrity, a man with a great sense of place and was a truly outstanding public representative, who served the people of his constituency with great care, diligence and attentiveness.
“He loved people and loved working for them. A warm-hearted and affable man, Tom was in public life for all the right reasons and was tireless in working to improve the lives of those he represented.
“He was a native of Patch, Glenamaddy, a place which meant so much to him and about which he regularly spoke with great love and affection.
“He worked tirelessly for his constituents and constituency, loved his work and left an indelible mark.”
Mr Martin added that as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Tom sought to work for and improve the lives of farmers and their families across the country.
“For Tom, this was a labour of love. He was passionate about agriculture and understood it intimately.
“Today, more than anything else, I remember my friend Tom. He loved his community, his country and his party. He regularly gave me advice and insights which I greatly valued. I remember his wife of 57 years, Bridie, and his family - all of whom he was so proud.
“On my own behalf, and on behalf of the Fianna Fáil organisation, I want to express my deepest sympathies to his wife Bridie, his children James, Thomas, Paul, Sinéad, Tríona and Ciarán, his sisters Annie and Rosaleen, his grandchildren and the wider Hussey family,” he concluded.
