Tributes paid to Noel Treacy, who ‘loved his county, his country and his party and left his mark on each’

Taoiseach describes the long-serving TD as an outstanding and dedicated public servant

Noel Treacy, who has died aged 70, was ‘an old-style politician in the best sense, a constant presence at community events, GAA matches and funerals in his Galway East constituency.’

For almost 30 years, Noel Treacy, the Fianna Fáil Galway East TD, held the record of being the last government TD to win a by-election.

He ran for the Dáil in the by-election in Galway East in 1982 after the death of the siting Fianna Fáil TD Johnny Calllnan.

He went on to be re-elected at every successive general election until his retirement from politics before the 2011 general election.

His by-election record was broken ...