Two Tipperary political dynasties come to an end

Last Monday was a poignant one for those in attendance at Thurles’ final Municipal District meeting before the upcoming Local Elections. It was the final meeting to be attended by long-serving council members Cllr Noel Coonan and Cllr Seamus Hanafin.

This June will be the first time in many years where the Tipperary ballot will not feature either of the names Coonan or Hanafin as candidates. Cllr Noel Coonan is a long-serving Fine Gael member of Tipperary County Council, his first time being elected to the council was in 1991. Since then he has also gone on to be elected twice as a Senator and twice to Dáil Eireann as a TD.

Whilst thanking Cllr Coonan for his work, each of the council members in attendance at Monday’s meeting also fondly remembered his late wife Pauline Coonan - who served as councillor of the Tipperary County Council for four terms until becoming ill.

Cllr Seamus Hanafin has been another stalwart of Tipperary County Council, having served for 21 years as council member representing Fianna Fáil.

He comes from a family of politicians that has been in government since the 1920s. His grandfather Johnny Hanafin was a member of Longford Urban District Council in the 1920s until moving to serve with North Tipperary County Council from 1950. Johnny’s son Des Hanafin, a former Fianna Fáil senator, took his place as council member when he passed away in 1954.
Seamus is also a first cousin of Mary Hanafin, the former Fianna Fáil senior minister and of former party senator, John Hanafin.

Michéal Lowry, an Independent candidate vying for re-election and son of Tipperary politician Michael Lowry, fondly remembered his relationship with the two councillors throughout the years both in his own work with the council but also as an observer of their relationships with his father in politics.

Of Cllr Hannafin he said: “The great work of Seamus Hanafin will be most notable when he is no longer there to continue it.”
The last words were left for the two retiring councillors to bid their colleagues goodbye.

Cllr Coonan said: “In a way, coming back to the county council was a lifesaver. I had recently lost a partner as well as a seat in Government when I decided to run again. Being able to deliver for my community through the county council gave me great purpose.”

“I want to thank the public for allowing me the opportunity, I have enjoyed every moment in public life.”

Cllr Hannafin said: “I have always felt there was a legacy to follow after my family in politics and I did the best that I thought I could in what I thought was best for my community. I know the time is right for me to leave now, I’m ready to finish. I want to say a big thank you to my colleagues and to the public.”