By Dan Walsh
Tributes have been pouring in following the news of the death of former Wexford TD Michael D’Arcy who gave a lifetime to politics and served the people of the Wexford constituency with diligence and loyalty throughout his lifetime. He is aged 90 years.
Born on March 7th, 1934, Michael D’Arcy spent a lifetime in politics as a Fine Gael member of Dail Éireann, Seanad Éireann, Wexford County Council and Gorey Town Council
His political career began in 1958, when his father Timothy D’Arcy died and Michael was co-opted to his Wexford County Council seat, which he served for 15 years.
He served as a TD and Minister of State in a number of governments, having been first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1977 where he held his seat until 1987 when he lost in a General Election to Brendan Howlin (Labour Party).
In 1981, in Garrett Fitzgerald’s first government, D’Arcy was appointed a Minister of State for Agriculture and in Fitzgerald’s second government in 1982, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Fisheries and Forestry and at the Department of the Gaeltacht. He was dismissed in February 1986.
He regained his seat in the Dail in 1989 at the expense of Avril Doyle, who regained her seat in 1992 while Michael D’Arcy was elected to the 20th Seanad on the Agricultural Panel.
In the 1997 General Election he was returned to the 28th Dail, again unseating party colleague Avril Doyle before losing the seat himself in the 2002 General Election to Independent candidate Dr. Liam Twomey, who later joined the Fine Gael Party.
He was elected to Gorey Town Council for the first time in 1999. When Michael D’Arcy was elected Chairman of Gorey Town Council in June 2012 he was “the oldest Chairperson of a local authority in the country”. The following year he was re-elected to the position and in May 2014 chaired the last ever meeting of Gorey Town Council which was held in the Market House as a symbolic gesture, although the new Civic Offices had opened in 2012 and council business had been transferred there.
D’Arcy is married to Marie, and their son Michael W. Darcy is a former TD and Senator.
FAMILY NOTICE; The death has taken place of MICHAEL D’ARCY, Annagh, Gorey, (Peacefully surrounded by his loving family and in the care of the nurses and staff of Oakfield Nursing Home, Courtown) on May 1st 2024.
Beloved wife of Marie and loving father of Jude, Michael, Liam and the late Shirley, brother of Peggy, Emily, Nora, Frank and the late Jim. Deeply regretted by his wife, sons, daughter, brother, sisters, grandchildren Alex, Aoife, Ashley, Bill, Siobhan, Marie, Judith, Paddy, Catherine, Luke and Alyssa, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
May Michael Rest In Heavenly Peace.
Reposing at Murphy’s Funeral Home, The Avenue, Gorey, on Thursday, May 2nd from 3pm with removal at 7 pm to St. Peter and Paul’s Church Kilanerin arriving for 7.30pm. Funeral Mass on Friday at 11am followed by burial in Limbrick Cemetery Kilanerin.
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