Search
31 Mar 2026
Search
31 Mar 2026
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has led tributes following the death of former Fianna Fail TD and Ceann Comhairle Rory O’Hanlon.
Dr O’Hanlon, who was died at the age of 92, was a former GP who was first elected to the Dail in 1977.
He served in a number of positions, including minister for health, minister for the environment and Ceann Comhairle (Dail speaker) before he retired in 2011.
Dr O’Hanlon is also the father of actor and comedian Ardal O’Hanlon, best known for playing Dougal McGuire in Father Ted.
Mr Martin said: “Rory cared passionately for his community and constituents.
“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.”
The Fianna Fail leader said Dr O’Hanlon had worked to ensure the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement after 1998.
He said: “In this, he drew on his many personal and political relationships, north and south of the border.
“He had a great love for the people of Armagh, where he grew up, and of Cavan and Monaghan.
“Rory was a very valued friend. I greatly valued his insights and advice, since I was first elected to Dail Eireann.
“He was a wise, astute observer of politics and public affairs.
“He had a wonderful sense of humour and was a great raconteur and a wonderful storyteller.
“He wore his many responsibilities lightly, always choosing to speak of those he served, rather than himself.
“Rory has left a significant footprint on Irish public life and on the Fianna Fail party.”
SDLP leader Claire Hanna said Dr O’Hanlon had been a “true friend” of her party.
She added: “His life was one of dedicated public service.
“He began his career as a family doctor and went on to serve for 34 years as TD for Cavan Monaghan.
“He held a distinguished record as minister for health and as both Ceann Comhairle and Leas Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil.
“Rory was deeply committed to democratic values and peace.
“He was a steadfast opponent of those who used violence for political purposes and throughout his career he remained a close ally of Seamus Mallon.”
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
