Liam Naughten was one of those people who gives politics a good name. He was in the full sense of the word a gentleman whose concern for others always took precedence over his own needs and whose personal generosity in word and deed was extraordinary.
To say this is not to say he was not an extremely practical and effective politician. He was. His concerns however were rarely with the high issues which dominated the headlines but rather with the ordinary needs of ordinary people and as the Taoiseach said in his moving tribute at Drum Church on Tuesday Liam was essentially a people centred politician. His contributions to Dail and Seanad reflected his grasp of a wide range of issues from health to agriculture, education, welfare, economic development and the environment. He had the ability to cut through waffle and get to the heart of the matter, always conscious that all legislation ultimately was about real people and how their situation would be made better or worse by what was being proposed.
The extraordinary numbers of people who attended the removal from Ballinasloe, and the funeral at Drum, the outpourings of genuine grief the unsolicited and heartfelt tributes, all told their own story of a man appreciated by his community and the people he served.
As Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann he exercised his authority with a lightness of touch and a sense of humour that would nip a potential problem in its bud. His rulings, even in difficult situations were obeyed, essentially because people on all sides accepted his innate sense of fair play.
Liam Naughten had more ups and downs than most politicians and it is a sad irony that he was taken from us so shortly after he had achieved the office of Cathaoirleach, his first real break in politics, as richly deserved as it was overdue. But whether up or down and in face of serious illness and personal setbacks his good humour and optimism were unquenchable. To meet him was to be cheered up, to see the twinkle in the eye, the infectious smile and share his obvious delight in the presence of his friends from all parties.
But most of all there was his courtesy, a natural and all embracing courtesy which extended to everything he did and every person he met. His courtesy was a simple reflection of his respect for other people, his interest in them and his concern.
Liam Naughten was a man of honour and integrity whose loss will be felt most of all by the people closest to him and of whom he was so rightly proud his wife Mary and his eight lovely children. They have been stoic in the face of such grievous tragedy and it is to them our hearts go out at this cruel time of loss.