I remember the first time I met Garret, I was canvassing for the local elections outside Mortons in Ranelagh. It was my first time canvassing and I was wearing jeans and a shirt. Garret pulled up in his car and got out to do his weekly shop, I introduced myself. He stopped, looked me up and down, paused, and said I wasn’t smart enough to be a candidate. He went in and did his shop and I deflated into the ground. Next week I was back outside Mortons, only this time suited and booted.

I saw him a couple of times after that, but when we next spoke, it was the first morning of the new Dáil. We bumped into each other on Dawson St coming out of the Ecumenical service. He congratulated me, and I reminded him of our first meeting. He said he didn’t remember! We spoke about the campaign, about the constituency. I asked him if I could call around to have a chat and get some proper advice, and he said no problem. Only, I never did.

Garret FitzGerald was the first politician I was ever aware of. He was the TD in my constituency and my parents spoke of him often. I can’t quite explain why, but from a very young age he always represented honesty, decency, and intelligence in Irish public life. Now I represent the constituency that he once did, and the people that he once did. And I seek to emulate those qualities in my service to the public. That is what his life means to me. But I know it means even greater things to so many more.

Garret FitzGerald died this morning. We are the richer for his life.