Cork politicians share memories of their beloved colleague Brian Crowley – ‘he was like a magnet’
CorkmanCork county councillors have paid tribute to the late Munster MEP Brian Crowley, describing him as a magnetic personality and powerful vote-winner who delivered for his constituency and didn’t let his disability hold him back.
Speaking during a vote of sympathy at this week’s meeting of Cork County Council, Cllr Marie O'Sullivan said Mr Crowley, who passed away last week aged 61, “will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. I have many fond memories of polling day on the steps of the courthouse in Bandon and the good-natured banter we had between the parties. Brian always wore a roguish smile. He was a true gentleman, a gifted musician and a member of Driveshaft who gave us all many hours of pleasure and were probably the first boyband in West Cork,” she said.
Cllr Joe Carroll recalled how he had put up posters for the election campaign of Mr Crowley’s father back in 1965. “Brian Crowley was an outstanding politician. He was elected to Europe in 1994, he was an outstanding vote-getter and you don't get a big vote unless you're delivering and he delivered brilliantly all over Munster. On behalf of where I come from, my family and everyone that had anything to do with the Crowley family, Brian was our friend and was an absolute gentleman to deal with and we were proud to have known him,” he said.
Cllr Gillian Coughlan described the Fianna Fail politician who served in the European Parliament for 25 years until his retirement in 2019 as “an extraordinary and inspirational man. A man, when out campaigning with him, you knew that people were magnetically drawn to his energy and his vision. People wanted to be in his orbit. And I think he brought Europe to the people. Europe seemed very far away before Brian Crowley got elected to Brussels. And he brought it to the people and made the link very real and very human.”
She added that wheelchair user Mr Crowley “did more for people with disabilities than any campaign could ever have done. When Brian Crowley was first involved in politics in the 1990s, you didn't see very many people in public in wheelchairs. Many of them were institutionalised or didn't have the courage or the facilities to get out into the public domain. But Brian Crowley really smashed through that and people saw beyond the wheelchair.”
Cllr Frank O’Flynn said Mr Crowley “was a prolific vote catcher and vote getter. He had a tremendous sense of presence in any meeting, be it a large meeting or a small meeting. He was a great supporter of communities, right throughout, not alone Cork, but throughout Munster. And he represented Ireland abroad with dignity. He was, of course, a great Bandon person, he was a great West Cork person. He was a tremendous supporter of everything that was good in rural life in Munster. And, of course, he was a great Irish person.”
Cllr Alan Coleman said he had “the honour of signing the nominating papers for Brian when he went forward for Europe. Little did we think then that he would top the poll on five occasions with incredible support from the public. But every bit of it was deserved because he worked tirelessly for everybody in the Munster constituency.”
The Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, also paid tribute to the late MEP whom she described as a very good friend. “In my former life [as a Fianna Fail member], I canvassed for Brian Crowley many a time. One thing I have to say about Brian, canvassing was very, very easy with him, there were never any issues, people were just drawn to him, he was like a magnet. Brian will be sadly missed by all who knew him,” she said.