Billy KenneallyBILLY KENNEALLY, who has died aged 83, was a former chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party and a TD for 17 years representing the Waterford constituency.
He also served one term as a senator and – in an era before the dual mandate was abolished – was active in local politics as a councillor, twice holding office as mayor of Waterford city.
In the classic tradition of a party fabled for its family dynasties and “hereditary” Dáil seats, his father before him was a TD – as is a son who has succeeded him.
William Kenneally was born in 1925 but became universally known as Billy. He had, according to his family, “two birthdays, like the Queen”. His mother always claimed he was born on October 11th, but his birth certificate records the 12th. Following an education at the Mount Sion primary and secondary schools in Waterford city, he worked in the family businesses which included a Guinness bottling plant, licensed premises and bus company.
But he was inevitably drawn to a career in politics. His father, William snr, had served as a Fianna Fáil TD from 1952 until 1961 when he lost his seat. Sadly, he died in 1964 and did not live to see his son succeed him to Dáil Éireann. Billy Kenneally headed the poll in the then three-seat Waterford constituency in the general election held on April 5th, 1965. He then held the seat through four consecutive elections. Kenneally was appointed chairman of the parliamentary party by Jack Lynch and reappointed by Charles Haughey.
In a tribute last week, Fianna Fáil leader, Taoiseach Brian Cowen. described him as a man who was “dedicated to Fianna Fáil and had spent most of his professional life working and campaigning for the party” and who was “regarded as an excellent chairman of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party”.
He lost his Dáil seat in the general election of February 1982 and later that year was elected to Seanad Éireann on the Administrative Panel but did not seek re-election thereafter.
He was immensely proud to end his political career as mayor of his native Waterford city and retired from public life in 1985. On hearing of his death, a fellow Waterford man, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen said he was “a generous person with an underlying strength and sense of duty who always retained his capacity for hard work” who had “made an undoubted difference to a city he loved”.
Mr Kenneally was delighted to see his son Brendan win back the “family seat” at the 1989 general election but was dismayed to see him lose it again in 2002.
However, family honour was restored when Brendan Kenneally, after a stint in the Seanad as a nominee of former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, was re-elected to the Dáil at the 2007 general election where he sits today.
He recalls his father in the 1960s "hurrying home from the Dáil in Dublin to Waterford on Thursday nights anxious not to miss his favourite TV show, The Fugitive, starring David Janssen". Billy Kenneally also found relaxation away from politics by playing cards and spending Sundays visiting his wife's O'Brien family in the south Kilkenny village of Mullinavat.
Kenneally died peacefully at Waterford Regional Hospital and was laid to rest last Saturday afternoon in St Mary’s Cemetery at Ballygunner. He is survived by his wife Maureen, five sons, Brendan (TD), Donal, Kevin, Patrick and Martin, brother Jackie, sister Kathleen and extended family.
William (Billy) Kenneally: born October 12th 1925; died August 26th, 2009