Former minister Bobby Molloy has died

Former Minister and founding member of the Progressive Democrats party, Bobby Molloy, has passed away at the age of 80.

He has been described as a “great statesman” and an “inspiration in politics” by his friend and former party colleague Noel Grealish TD.

In a statement issued this lunchtime, Deputy Grealish said: “It is with great sadness that I have learned of the death of Bobby Molloy, a great statesman who was my inspiration in politics.

“My thoughts are with his family, who have lost a great husband and father, and my sympathies go to his wife Phyllis, his sons Donncha and Darragh and his daughters Sorcha and Sinead.

“Bobby Molloy gave a lifetime of service to the people of this country and to the people of the Galway West Constituency, who he represented as a TD for 37 years since first being elected in 1965.

“He served in several Government Cabinets, first being appointed by Jack Lynch as Minister for Local Government in 1970, and subsequently serving as Minister for Defence and Minister for Energy in Fianna Fáil governments before the foundation of the Progressive Democrats in 1986.

“But regardless of what party he represented, he was greatly loved by the people of Galway and topped the poll in eight different General Elections in the constituency.

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“Bobby was the reason that I entered politics, and the political mastery for which he was famous was never more to the fore than in 2002 when I was first elected. That was an election which he didn’t contest but he devised a strategy of running three candidates that ensured that the Progressive Democrats seat was held.

“Bobby was a great friend to me and a confidant I could always rely on and talk to regarding politics in the years since. He has been my inspiration and his passing is a great loss to me, as it is to his family and the people of Galway,” Deputy Grealish said.

President Michael D Higgins said Mr Molloy made a huge contribution to public life.

“I have heard with great sadness of the death of Robert (Bobby) Molloy with whom I shared the honour of representing the people of Galway West.

“My thoughts first and foremost are with Bobby’s wife Phyllis, his daughters Sorcha and Sinead, sons Donnacha and Dara and his wider family, and on behalf of myself and Sabina, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies.

“Bobby Molloy made a huge contribution to Irish public life as a member of several Cabinets. The constituency he represented was one of the largest in the country, containing Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht, the Aran Islands and Inishbofin. Throughout his career, he gave excellent service over several decades and his name is recalled with great affection throughout the constituency.

“Both of us served as Mayors of Galway and both of us were members of Galway County Council. His life in politics began before mine, and on every platform he served, he delivered his contribution, which was always well informed, with great distinction.

“A close friend of Desmond O’Malley, he was one of the founding members of the Progressive Democrats. He earned the respect of both his supporters and opponents because of the integrity with which he held his views,” said the President.