Dr Rory O'Hanlon, former GP, Minister and Ceann Comhairle has passed away

Dr O'Hanlon was Minister for Health when Cavan General Hospital opened in 1989.

DR Rory O’Hanlon, the Carrickmacross GP, Cavan-Monaghan TD, minister and former Ceann Comhairle has passed away aged 92.

Tributes to the ‘stalwart’ of the Fianna Fáil party have been pouring in as news of his passing yesterday (Tuesday) made national headlines.

Dr O’Hanlon worked as a family doctor in Carrickmacross before and during his political career.

Appointed to the general practitioner position in 1965, he was medical representative on the North Eastern Health Board from 1970 to 1987 and Minister for Health from 1987 to 1991.

He was first elected as TD for Cavan-Monaghan in the 1977 Fianna Fáil landslide and was re-elected in every election after until his retirement in 2011. He was also made Minister for the Environment in 1991.

O’Hanlon chaired the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party for eight years from 1994 and went on to serve as Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil between 2002 and 2007.

Dr O’Hanlon is also the father of actor and comedian Ardal O’Hanlon, best known for playing Dougal McGuire in Father Ted.

The Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, led tributes to Mr O’Hanlon from the Fianna Fáil party.

“Rory cared passionately for his community and constituents,” Mr Martin said.

“He advocated for them. He sought to improve their lives.

“Rory was a natural public representative. He was in politics for all the right reasons: a real commitment to public service.”

Here in Cavan, Deputy Niamh Smyth made her own personal tribute to the elder statesman of Fianna Fáil in Cavan-Monaghan.

She said Dr O’Hanlon’s passing has “closed the curtain on a great personal and public life.”

Deputy Smyth said her memory of Dr O'Hanlon is of “a quiet unassuming gentleman filled with wisdom and gentleness.”

She said “his life was a life of service firstly, as a GP in Carrickmacross where his practice and work were renowned for the deep care, respect and humility shown to all patients.”

He brought the same qualities through to his constituency and ministerial work as aimed to “improve the quality of life for so many.”

Speaking personally, Niamh Smyth said she enjoyed all their conversations and “his insightful commentary on varied political events always opened new avenues for me.”

Party colleague, Deputy Brendan Smith paid his own tribute to his "long-standing good friend and colleague."

"Rory was a powerful, committed, hardworking and diligent public representative who served his constituency and country with great distinction," Deputy Smith said.

"As Ceann Comhairle, Leas Ceann Comhairle, Minister and TD he exemplified the best in public service."

"As Ceann Comhairle, Rory led many All Party Delegations at different meetings at home and abroad and he did that work meticulously," Deputy Smith said, "I remember fondly our work together on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and the meetings we had with other Groups on the issue of Northern Ireland which was always of critical interest to Rory.

"Thankfully we have all witnessed the dramatic transformation on this island since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement which he cherished so much," he continued.

"As a GP and as a public representative Rory contributed enormously to the Cavan Monaghan area. Rory was first and foremost a committed family man and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time," Deputy Smith's tribute ended.

Niamh Smyth said their Fianna Fail party nationally and locally “has lost a leader and a real gentleman with the passing of Dr. Rory O’Hanlon. Go raibh síocháin na bhFlaitheas air.”

Dr Rory O’Hanlon is survived by his wife, Teresa, daughters Fiona and Dearbhla and his sons Rory, Ardal, Neale and Shane.