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BOBBY MOLLOY, THE former Fianna Fáil TD and one of the founders of the Progressive Democrats, has died aged 80.
Molloy served in many different cabinet positions over a 30-year career in Dail Éireann.
He is probably best remembered for the fraught nature of the circumstances in which he left Fianna Fáil, along with fellow renegade Dessie O’Malley, in 1986.
He served with Fianna Fáil for just over 20 years after his first election in 1965 in Galway.
Molloy was a member of the so-called ‘Gang of 22′ who opposed Charles Haughey’s leadership of the party following Haughey’s victory over George Colley in 1979.
He was subsequently dropped as Minister for Defence by Haughey. Ironically, he would serve under Haughey in cabinet once more as Minister for Energy in 1989, but this time as a member of the PDs in coalition with Fianna Fáil.
Other Ministerial posts held by Molloy included Minister for Local Government in the early 70s under Jack Lynch, and Minister for Housing under Bertie Ahern from 1997 until his retirement from politics in 2002.
Current Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin this afternoon expressed his condolences at the news of Molloy’s death, saying he was “very saddened” to hear the news.
“Bobby was a man of great personal warmth, integrity and purpose. Having worked with him in cabinet, I had the opportunity to witness first hand his singular focus on the issue of homelessness,” Martin said.
He brought a distinct focus and energy to the issue, and the interdepartmental approach that he adopted to tackle homelessness was a particularly successful strategy in its time.
The Taoiseach meanwhile described Molloy as “a tireless campaigner for his native Galway”, while President Higgins, who shared Molloy’s constituency as a TD, said that he had learned of his death “with great sadness”.
“Throughout his career, he gave excellent service over several decades and his name is recalled with great affection throughout the constituency (Galway West),” he said.
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 former mayor of Galway, Bobby Molloy is survived by his wife Phyllis, sons Donnacha and Dara, and daughters Sinéad and Sorcha.
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This is how the Zombie Apocalypse starts.
No the park is closed, so the animals and insects will just stay in the park, won’t they
Lol M, this is the America F##K YEAH generation we’re talking about.
Bombers loaded with Napalm are being flown in as we speak.
You don’t f##k with America.
Cant wait, would bw some craic. I wonder will they be fast like the ones in 28days later or slow like the ones in dawn of the dead.
It is to be hoped so.
The War on Squirrels begins. They’re probably trained by Al Qaieda or Iran or North Korea or some commies..
The CIA are looking for WMDs
american zombies…they’ll be SLOW!
Phew! Flying squirrels with the AIDS would’ve been much more Hollywood – or is that the summer 2014 blockbuster sheeple worrier?
So long as they can read the signs telling them it’s closed…
Plague is the great leveller ; it was instrumental in changing Europe from a feudal system where the “lords” owned the people to one where the workers earned the right to ear money for labour !
And there’s only one cure ! The Bishop of Winchester knew that one!
Squirrels and fleas?? This article had me scratching my nuts after.
Another strategy to keep the American population scared. Why? Because a scared population is a controllable population.
Yes, an easily treatable illness will realy scare the bejesus out of them.
‘LA park evacuated after DEADLY plague virus detected in squirrel’
Sounds like a pretty scary headline to me regardless of the fact it’s easy to treat…
Niall, as the squirrel would say…you’re nuts…
Coming from a man who can hear squirrels talking?!
Niall…As the squirrel WOULD say…( if it could talk)…
Don’t tell me you think that I can hear squirrels talking??? This is much more serious than I thought. You’re not just nuts, you’re nut eile….lol
Thank god it was a squirrel and not a beaver – I like beavers !
Then you are one of the few on journal.ie. Very few beaver lovers on here hence the high quantity of bitchy comments on a daily basis.
Elks are the enemy of the beaver an the wolf is the enemy of the elk.
No wolf ; No beaver!
Emmet “Stagg” is an elk for example !
That’d be great excuse to get off work, “Sorry, I can’t come.in today because I have the plague.”
Wonna ask what happened to the squirrel but know I won’t like the answer
Treated for fleas…
Somebody phone Dustin Hoffman!!
Wait for it, the Americans will blame the Taliban or some other terrorists organisation. Some marine will shoot the squirrel and will be thanked for giving the citizens “their freedom”.
Dope
A tenner says they won’t… ;-)
I hope that the Smithwick’s squirrel has got the all clear ?
Surly just brushing his teeth and flossing well fix that problem in a jiffy?
Give him some boiled 7up and he’ll be grand
And some disprin. Sorted.
Go squirrels!!
Ah nuts
Useless story. One squirrel tested positive for a something they routinely look for? That’s someone doing their job not an outbreak. Ireland had three cases of yersiniosis last year (HSPC.ie) and shure we’re grannnndddd. #plaugeproof
The Great Barrier Reef last week ( bombed) this week the evil squirrel. What next, butterflies carrying the Plague virus?
Slight hint of paranoia I suspect.
Dope 2.0
Well done rotund, a valuable contribution from an obvious troll. ;)
Still smarting from being called a dope for your useless attempt at wit regarding marines and americans in general? Jog on son…
After reading your comment, the obvious lack of grammar proves to me that intellectually you are so far beneath me that I will not be responding to you.
Ha. Good one. Listen im sorry that your ‘hilarious’ quip about americans and marines wasnt as funny as you thought it was. Better luck next time. Im off to get grinds now ;)
Saucers of milk for the pair of you.
But but but Gary. By typing that, you DID respond.
I was under the impression that James Reilly got rid of the plague!!
God’s wrath? Gay marriage! Where’s Pat Robertson when an opportunity like this arises?
That’s how Elvis died, he ate a plague ridden squirrel
How does a bacteria which hasn’t reappeared in over 600years in Europe suddenly appear in the US? I’m probably wrong in this, any experts out there?
Its always been around it never went away.
It isn’t know if the black death was the bubonic plague or not, some info here if you’re interested:
http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/blog/the-black-death-is-now-likely-extinct-perhaps/
Just out of interest: How did they know the squirrel had the plague in the first place? Was it a random check or what?
Better set up a “Squirrel Patrol”, course that could bring a “Squirrel Tax”…..
Won’t someone think of the children!!
I wonder will the Yankees blame Iran or some other country in the the east for this.
Methinks another invasion I’d the answer.
Karl. A rather stupid comment. Plague carrying fleas can be found all around the world. The only reason there is not serious outbreaks is that modern antibiotics are quite capable of stopping the infection.
If Barack Obama had a squirrel it would look like Trayvon.
Someone has read Dan Browns inferno and got a bit excited!
have your say