'I have been blessed': Micheál Martin praises wife and children as Cork friends come out in force for his big day

Cork was always determined that Micheál Martin wouldn’t miss out on a big day for his second time being elected Taoiseach.

The first time around, a pandemic meant that when he was elected taoiseach in 2020, it happened in the soulless and cavernous National Convention Centre, and his family couldn’t travel.

This time around, even a massive Dáil row delaying the whole thing by 24 hours and the imminent arrival of Storm Éowyn couldn’t keep Mr Martin’s family and friends away.

In fact, Leinster House could have opened a consulate for the People’s Republic this week, and, including the new Taoiseach himself, there were six former lords mayor of Cork in the building — the collective term being ‘a college’, according to Terry Shannon, and not a chain gang.

Indeed, it looked like Micheál Aodh was the only Martin in the country not in Dublin yesterday — he had spent all day on Wednesday in the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery, but had to head home for training ahead of Cork’s National Football League opener against Meath tomorrow.

After a bad-tempered day on Wednesday, when Dáil proceedings were halted four times amidst much anger and wrangling about plans to give opposition speaking time to four Independent TDs who support the Government, yesterday’s Dáil proceedings were subdued and, for the most part, by the book.

Early-morning negotiations between the party leaders resulted in a deal and the whole farrago has been kicked to the Dáil reform committee, with a resolution expected for February 5.

The house eventually resumed business just after 11.30am, and it was more or less plain sailing from there.

After a day in which she had lost control of the Dáil chamber several times, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy might have been forgiven for lending more weight than usual to the opening prayer: “Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations …”

When the opposition forced a vote on the order of business, it passed by 95 to 77, and nominations for the office of taoiseach began.

“As I was saying,” began Fianna Fáil’s Albert Dolan — at 26, the youngest Fianna Fáil TD — referencing the unholy row that had ensued as the Galway East TD began his nomination of Micheál Martin on Wednesday evening, just before the house was suspended overnight.

The nomination of Mr Martin was seconded by Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South Central, Catherine Ardagh.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was nominated by Galway West TD Mairead Farrell, and seconded by Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, who used his speaking time to make a number of allegations against Regional Independents TD Michael Lowry.

'OUR DAY WILL COME'

In her speech, Ms McDonald said Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had normalised the difference between the haves and the have-nots, and said she hoped a day would come when Ireland would have a government for working people.

“Today may not be our day,” she said, “but our day will come.”

Outgoing taoiseach Simon Harris said Fine Gael was supporting Mr Martin’s nomination, describing Mr Martin as “simply, a very good and decent person”. 

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said the incoming Government’s environmental policy was “as President Trump might say: ‘Roads, baby, roads’,” prompting a roar from Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae, a junior minister in the new regime: “What’s wrong with a few roads?” In the end, it wasn’t even close, and Mr Martin was elected by a margin of 95 votes to 76.

In the Distinguished Visitors’ Gallery, his wife Mary, their children Cillian and Aoibhe, and his wider family, beamed with joy and applauded.

Above, in the visitors’ gallery, family and friends all stood and roundly ignored the ‘no applause’ sign.

A standing ovation in the Dáil chamber followed strict party lines, with the opposition remaining seated.

In his speech, Mr Martin said it was a profound honour to lead a free, democratic, and diverse republic.

“Today I am deeply conscious of the democratic tradition which our country has developed over more than a century,” he said.

“We should never take for granted the freedoms and opportunities secured for us by the generations who sat here before us, and by the men and women who fought and campaigned for the establishment of Dáil Éireann.”

The new Taoiseach became emotional as he spoke about his family.

“As they have grown, my children Micheál Aodh, Aoibhe, and Cillian have moved from being observers to being pillars for me. They are unflinching in their advice and constant in their support.

“I have been blessed to have a partner in Mary who has done so much more than just keep me rooted,” he said.

“No position I have held, and nothing I have achieved would have been possible without her,” he added.

“I would also like to acknowledge my wider family, and especially my late parents, Paddy and Lana.

“Yesterday was the anniversary of the passing of my father. This week every year I remember all he did for us and the values which he lived by every day.”