End of an era as Ring says farewell to Dáil
Michael Ring TD with Eithne Plunkett, Patricia Walsh, Margaret O’Donnell and Sheila English on their visit to the Dáil last week, which was hosted by Deputy Ring.
Dáil Éireann will be a quieter and less colourful place following Mayo TD Michael Ring’s last day in the chamber.
For 30 years, the Westport TD has been a Dáil mainstay and one of its most entertaining and vociferous characters.
Thursday marked his final day following his decision to retire earlier this year.
“It was the last supper!” Deputy Ring joked. “When you’re 45 years in politics and 30 years in the Dáil it’s going to be an emotional day but I consider myself very fortunate to have had such a great run,” he told the
He thanked his loyal staff and his many supporters for their help throughout the years.
“I’ll never forget my first day in the Dáil in 1994. It was just before the June break-up. I remember the big crowd from Westport coming up on buses. They got the loan of a bell from a priest down in Kinnegad and when I was introduced to the Ceann Comhairle they rang the bell,” Ring remembers fondly.
His west of Ireland wit would often light up Dáil proceedings.
“I used to drive Bertie Ahern daft. He was a great man for flying all over the world so I got up during the order of business and told him: 'You’re in the air more often than Aer Lingus!'"
On another occasion, Ring frustrated by Ahern’s attendance record had another pop at the former Taoiseach.
"I told him, ‘You’re treating this job like a FAS scheme, a week on and a week off!’ He went mad!”
The media-savvy Mayo man would always clock when journalist Mirian Lord was present penning her Dáil sketch.
“I’d see her coming in and would always give her a line,” said the former Minister.
The curtain has now closed on a hugely successful career for the poll-topping politician.
“I have to look forward now, I can’t be looking back. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not going to miss it because it has been part of my life for more than 40 years. What helps me greatly is that it has been my decision and my choice. Thanks be to God I held my seat, and I made the decision to go myself,” said Ring.
