Tony Gregory TD RIP

Wishbone Ash

From breakingnews.ie

Friday January 02 2009

The Independent TD Tony Gregory has died after a long illness.

He has been a TD for Dublin Central since 1982 and achieved national prominence when he supported Charles Haughey in what became known as "Gregory's Deal".

Tony Gregory was born in Dublin in 1947 and worked as a secondary school teacher before becoming involved in politics.

He joined Dublin City Council in 1979, and was a former member of Official Sinn Fein and the Irish Republican Socialist Party.

In 1982 he was elected to the Dail as an Independent TD.

It was in that year that he achieved national prominence through what became known as the "Gregory Deal" - he agreed to support Fianna Fail leader Charles Haughey in exchange for a cash injection to his deprived inner city Dublin constituency.

He was also a keen campaigner on local issues including drugs and social justice.

Although he never held a Cabinet position, Deputy Gregory has long been one of the most recognised members of Dail Eireann.

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I always liked Tony.

RIP.

robo

He was only 61...bless his family!

Tannylan

True Dub R.I.P

sharkman

R.I.P Tony . Had the pleasure of meeting him a good few times .

lightening

Great man. Sad loss for the city.

Malteaser!

Very sad to hear. RIP

Dub13

RIP.

I did not no he was sick.

delta_bravo

Dub13 wrote: »

RIP.

I did not no he was sick.

Yeah he had stomach cancer for over a year, it will be hard to fill his boots in his constituency

old boy

he will be a hard act to follow, unusual for a a person in the dail i.m.o. he was honost and seemed to care for his area.

niceirishfella

RIP.

trout

That's awfully sad ... 61 is very young.

I met him a few times through my mothers work. He really worked hard for his area. Never heard a bad word about him.

He was undoubtedly that rarest of creatures - a genuine & honest politician who lived to serve his constituents.

RIP

stovelid

Terrible news. RIP.

jdivision

He cared more about others than himself and personal glory, rare for a politician these days. RIP

Gaspode

One of the 'good guys' gone.

madds

Will always remember him battling the inner city drug problem back in the mid-80's. One of the genuine good guys. RIP.

shane86

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0102/gregoryt.html


Mr Ahern said: 'Though Tony and I come from different political traditions, we both shared a deep commitment to our constituents and a desire to help the less well-off in our society."


A bit self serving there Bertie

who_ru

Aherne is trying to cast himself as a socialist who always worked for those who had little or nothing. truth is aherne is anything but, he is a champion of property developers and the get rich quick society he did so much to create. his comments merely reflect his lack of character and respect for Tony Gregory.

Wishbone Ash

shane86 wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0102/gregoryt.html


Mr Ahern said: 'Though Tony and I come from different political traditions, we both shared a deep commitment to our constituents and a desire to help the less well-off in our society."


A bit self serving there Bertie

who_ru wrote: »

Aherne is trying to cast himself as a socialist who always worked for those who had little or nothing. truth is aherne is anything but, he is a champion of property developers and the get rich quick society he did so much to create. his comments merely reflect his lack of character and respect for Tony Gregory.

Lads/ladies - this thread is about the late Tony Gregory and I'd prefer to keep it on that topic.

If you wish to expand politically on the subject, please do so over in the other thread in the Politics Forum.

Thanks.

Tannylan

Well said Wishbone

deaddonkey

RIP Tony, we met a few times. You'll be missed.

Duiske

I remember seeing interviews with Tony over the past couple of decades, and the things that always shone through were the integrity of the man, and the pure pride he had in his community. A very, very rare breed of politician, and a massive loss to the people of Dublin Central. RIP.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Absolutely one of a kind, there'll never be another like him.



Truely a man of the people.

Nevyn

He will be a big loss to people and politics in this country not just his family.

winston82

Rip. Anybody know when the funeral will take place?

villager

never met the man but anytime i seen him on tv or read him in print he always came across as a decent skin who worked hard for his constituents. rip

arybvtcw0eolkf

winston82 wrote: »

Rip. Anybody know when the funeral will take place?

Details of his removal and burial here.

humberklog

Thanks for the link Mairt. Think I'm gonna pop along.

Esel

From www.rip.ie

Independent T.D. for Dublin Central. Removal from Sackville Gardens, Dublin 3 on Tuesday evening at 5pm to arrive at St. Agatha's Church, North William Street at 5.30pm. Funeral after 10am Mass on Wednesday morning to Old Balgriffin Cemetery. No flowers please.

Grid.

Showed great integrity, RIP Tony.

JaneyMc

Very sad to hear about this, he was a lovely man and did a lot of great work.

arybvtcw0eolkf

humberklog wrote: »

Thanks for the link Mairt. Think I'm gonna pop along.

Did you get to the service?.

I was at the removals yesterday evening.

His flag covered coffin was escorted from in house to the church by a lone piper (bagpipes).

It was bloody freezing, but I braved it and got some video footage which I'll try get up on youtube later.

I've restricted 'net access at the moment so it might be a day or two.

JaneyMc

I stood up on the bridge as the coffin was being taken out, but I had to leggit. A lot of people there, just shows how much he was respected.

ODS

I got to the service and am glad to report that Tony got a great send off; the church was absolutely packed with people standing both in and outsides. Liam O'Maonlai played some tin whistle at the altar, while Tony's sister gave a defiantly good speech - while not missing the opportunity to condemn Israel's war in Gaza, and also warning politicians present that the occasion was "not a photo opportunity". A number of applauses took place, the service was in Gaelic - Tony having been an Irish teacher - while it was also quite unique to see the starry plough on a coffin in a R.C. church.

Public figures present included Taoiseach and minister Brian Cowen and Eamon Ryan, TDs Ciarán Cuffe and Trevor Sargeant, as well as Labour Party's leader Eamon Gilmore and Joe Costello, also there were Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams, Mary Lou McDonald Mep, and Caomhin O'Caoilean. Former TDs present included Jim Higgins, Gerry Cowley, and Dr Fitzpatrick - all which I think is indicative of how much Tony was regarded by his fellow reps, as ex-TDs are hardly likely to be present just to be photoed. Journalists present included Frank Connolly, Vincent Browne and RTE's John Kilraine.

Tony was much liked, and in the past had helped me out regarding an issue when I needed questions raised in Leinster House. He was for decades a uniquely strong, unswerving and articulate champion of the community - and was honest when many around him were not. He will be sadly missed.

May he rest in peace.

arybvtcw0eolkf

JaneyMc wrote: »

I stood up on the bridge as the coffin was being taken out, but I had to leggit. A lot of people there, just shows how much he was respected.

Thats where I was too, sitting on the wall of the bridge armed with my camcorder!.

Esel

Mairt wrote: »

Thats where I was too, sitting on the wall of the bridge armed with my camcorder!.

Hope you were in mufti, Mairt!

OT: Heard on the RTE news that Tony was a founder-member of the IRSP - didn't know that.

humberklog

Mairt wrote: »

Did you get to the service?.

Well bit of a cock up. Got way laid and decided to meet the coffin at graveyard. Didn't take long to realise it was a more private affair than the service. I made haste. Still and all...respects paid.

Got to throw my eye over Belmayne progression and a pot of tea Cusacks and quick chat with a few people that had attended the service. So not a completely wasted lunchtime on Northside