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TRIBUTES HAVE BEEN paid on the death of Noel Whelan – the barrister, political writer and former advisor – who has died, aged 50.
Whelan was a regular columnist for the Irish Times and played an important role advocating for a Yes vote in 2015′s marriage equality campaign.
The Irish Times confirmed that Whelan died yesterday evening after a short illness.
A barrister for 19 years, Whelan was also a former advisor to Fianna Fáil and ran for the party as a general election candidate in 1997.
He was well-known for his Irish Times column and featured regularly as a commentator on radio and television.
Whelan was highly involved in the referendum campaigns to legalise same-sex marriage in 2015, and to Repeal the Eighth Amendment in 2018.
His well-researched, astute articles dealt with the arguments from the No side and outlined the cases for a Yes vote.
Whelan also set up the Kennedy Summer School, which takes place in New Ross, Co Wexford and focuses on Irish-American history, culture and politics.
Whelan was touted as a potential candidate in last year’s presidential election, but ruled himself out of the race when it became clear that sitting president Michael D Higgins was going to contest.
Tributes
Tributes are being paid to Whelan this morning. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar expressed his sympathies, saying that “Ireland has lost a friend”.
“So sad to hear that Noel Whelan has passed away. We come from different party backgrounds but I feel this morning like Ireland has lost a friend. Such a sharp intellect. So articulate and effective on marriage equality,” Varadkar tweeted.
Journalist Dearbhail McDonald said Whelan’s death was “heartbreaking news to wake up to” and expressed her condolences with his family and friends.
“Noel Whelan was a mighty kindness, beyond generous with his support, insights & advices. I’ll miss his conversation and great wit,” she said.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was “so sorry to learn of the death of Noel Whelan”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” she said.
Irish Times columnist and author Fintan O’Toole said Whelan’s death was “a terrible loss to his family, friends, and the public sphere”.
Whelan is survived by his wife Sinead McSweeney and his son Séamus.
The name Erwin Schrodinger will forever remind me of Leonard and Penny’s first date on The Big Bang Theory
Did he live, or is it just more likely that he lived here than didn’t
He was Jewish so I’d imagine from 1938 onwards Vienna wasn’t a very safe place for him.
He wasn’t Jewish, by origin or belief. His personal life was colourful, shall we say. A bit of a lad.
We’d claim anything.
His son got an All Ireland hand ball medal
Erwin O’ Schrödinger he was great craic
First thing that came to mind was The Big Bang Theory :)
I had a cat named after him, was always worried coming home , was always 50/50
Yes we did actually,
Albert Folen (yes the one who make the books) was a Belgian Nazi & he came here
I know Dev loved the Nazi’s but I didn’t think he imported them
That’s just silly.
It’s Monday, Monday’s are my silly days
I’d say you have a silly day most days
People need a bit more silliness.
That is true. Is that why you call yourself right wing?
I find myself to be more stage-right wing these days
Do receptionists believe you when you check into hotels with that name?
Schroedinger was Jewish!!
You must be getting old Steve they say you become more right wing as you get older. No I never usually give my real name when checking into hotels I usually use Jones for my second name. ;)
Has everybody tried “Gizoggle”? Google it and have fun with all websites.
Brilliant
Ahh…..I was actually wondering today what the doodle was about. Thanks for info Journal !
Thats the national inferority complex soothed again for this week.
Wonder did he meet Alosis Hitler and Bridget Dowling when he was here ??Yup Hitlers half brother worked for four years in the Gresham hotel and shacked up with and eloped with a good Dublin girl to Liverpool where he dumped her and went home to Germany.She had a son by him William Patrick Hitler,who was a bit of a lad,and didnt impress uncle Adolf at all. So william emigrated to the USA,and joined the US navy and the Yanks made great value of young William fighting against his uncle.
Wonder why we never claim the good witrh the bad??
have your say