D'Arcy marks 50 years in politics

Leas Ceann Comhairle Brendan Howlin (left) and Fianna Fáil TD John Browne (right) congratulate Cllr Michael D'Arcy, a former Fine Gael minister, on his 50th anniversary in politics. Looking on are Mr D'Arcys wife Marie and son Michael jnr, a Fine Gael TD.
Photograph: Matt Kavanagh

MORE THAN 500 people helped Wexford politician Michael D’Arcy snr to celebrate 50 years in politics yesterday.

The Fine Gael representative, first elected for the party in 1958, celebrated in Gorey with his wife Marie, sons, daughters, nine grandchildren and many friends.

The event was attended by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and all five Wexford TDs, including Mr D’Arcy’s son, Michael jnr.

Mr D’Arcy (74) first represented Fine Gael on Wexford County Council in 1958. He became a Wexford TD in 1977. In 1981, in Garrett FitzGerald’s government, he was appointed minister of state for agriculture then minister of state for fisheries. He lost his seat in 1987, regained it in 1989 and was elected to the Seanad in 1992.

He returned to the Dáil in 1997, finally losing his seat in 2002. He still serves on Gorey Town Council.

Michael jnr said yesterday his father joined politics only 30-odd years after the end of the Civil War. At the time, it would have been easier to continue with old divisions, but he had the foresight to seek a better way forward.

“He did more than anyone else to bring cohesiveness to politics in Wexford,” Mr D’Arcy said.

He said his father was gratified by the number of people who turned out to wish him well.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times