Michael Moynihan, who died on June 27th aged 84, had, by any standards, a long Dβil apprenticeship.
He contested five general elections and a by-election before finally making it to Leinster House as the Labour TD for Kerry South in 1981. He later served as a minister of state, lost his seat, and then won it back, before retiring from politics in 1992. He was succeeded by his daughter, Breeda Moynihan Cronin, who has held the seat for the party since.
Michael Moynihan was among a number of rural TDs of his generation who carved out a Dβil seat in conservative constituencies which would not be natural Labour territory. It was achieved by diligent constituency work and a minimum of rhetoric.
He was strongly pro-Coalition, arguing that Labour's best chance of achieving its aims was through participation in government.
A native of Headford, Killarney, Michael Moynihan was born to Maurice and Bridget (nΘe Crowley) Moynihan on June 17th, 1917. He was immersed in the Labour and trade union movement from an early age. Shortly after beginning his working life as a psychiatric nurse at St Finan's Hospital, Killarney, he became involved in trade union activities.
He served on the national executive of the then Irish Transport and General Workers' Union (ITGWU) from 1950 to '73 and was a branch secretary for 20 years.
His first electoral success for Labour was winning a seat on Killarney Urban Council in 1955. He was elected to Kerry County Council in 1974.
His quest for a Dβil seat began when he contested the 1954 general election, and he later ran in the 1961, '65, '73 and '77 elections and a by-election in 1966. In 1965, he was defeated for the last seat by 45 votes.
He was elected to the Seanad in 1973, and served there until he finally won a Dβil seat in 1981. The following year, he supported his fellow countyman, Kerry North TD, Dick Spring, for the party leadership, and was rewarded with a junior ministry when the party went into government with Fine Gael a short time later.
Michael Moynihan served as minister of state in the then Department of Trade, Commerce and Tourism from 1982 to '86. It was a time of recession, with inevitable cutbacks, and he came under pressure from tourism interests, not least in his Kerry South constituency which relied heavily on the industry.
He pursued his portfolio vigorously, leading tourism missions to foreign locations on which Ireland depended.
In 1983, as the recession took its toll, he visited London and Manchester, where he spoke to carriers, tour operators, the media and representatives of the Irish community in Britain.
Referring to recent Budget and VAT increases, which according to the tourism industry had adversely affected the State's competitiveness, he said: "I am aware that in taking measures to get the Irish economy back on course, governments in recent times have had to take decisions which were unpopular with the tourism industry and with many potential customers.
"I feel that those who live in Britain will appreciate that harsh decisions have been necessary to overcome the effects of recession."
Michael Moynihan lost his seat in the 1987 general election, when the electoral tide went out for Labour, after its period in government.
In 1989, aged 72 years, he showed himself to be a formidable electoral performer, winning back his Dβil seat. Following his retirement, he remained active in the constituency, working on behalf of his daughter.
Michael Moynihan is survived by his wife Mai; sons Maurice, Michael and John; daughters Breeda and Catherine and sister, Nell.
Michael Moynihan: born 1917; died, June 2001