Former TD Paddy (PJ) Sheehan was laid to rest in his hometown of Goleen on Wednesday. 

The former TD and councillor died on Monday, at the age of 87.

Paddy Sheehan served the Cork South West constituency from 1981 to 2002, and again from 2007 to 2011 when he retired saying: “It would be in the best interests of Fine Gael, and myself if I was to pass on the mantle to the next generation.” 

His passion was West Cork’s tourism and culture, and he also spoke out for fishing and agriculture industries in the Dáil.

He had been involved in politics for most of his life, having first been elected to Cork County Council in 1967.

Senator Tim Lombard served with Paddy Sheehan on Cork County Council when Mr Sheehan was County Mayor, and said he was “a real charismatic individual.” 

Mr Lombard pointed to the decades of service Mr Sheehan had put in, serving in the 80s, 90s and 00s in the Dáil.

He also spoke of Paddy’s wife Frances who passed away just last week.

“It’s obviously a very tough time for the family. They went everywhere together. Frances and Paddy would have tracked to Dublin every Tuesday and back every Thursday. They would have done the Fine Gael meetings all over West Cork together, so in many ways for the two of them to pass away within seven days of each other is somewhat ironic,” Senator Lombard said.

“Frances was the real steady, hardworking lady and she minded Paddy on the long, winding road to Dublin back in the 80s and 90s,” he added.

The couple are survived by their children Diarmuid, Deirdre, Eucharia, and Maebh.