*Joe Carey.ย 

TRIBUTES have come in from across the political divide for retiring Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG).

After over a year of speculation, Deputy Carey confirmed on Monday morning that owing to health reasons he was retiring from politics and ending his time as a TD, he was first elected to Dรกil ร‰ireann in 2011 and has spent twenty five years as a public representative.

Taoiseach, Simon Harris (FG) described Carey as โ€œan outstanding champion for the people of Clare. Joe is putting his health first and he has all of our support in Fine Gael on that journey. He leaves the Clare constituency ready for the future and is moving to his next chapter with all of our supportโ€.

Joe Carey TD at LIT Harmony Row Ennis. Photograph: Arthur Ellis.

Senator Martin Conway (FG) stated, โ€œIt has been a privilege to work with Joe for the last twenty years and particularly the last thirteen years as a member of the Oireachtas. We have worked together as members of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party to ensure Government delivered for Co Clare and its peopleโ€.

Ennistymon native Conway added, โ€œJoe has been a great advocate for the people of County Clare. In recent times, Joe has undergone significant medical challenges and I have no doubt it has been a very difficult time for him. I would like to wish Joe, Grace and their family the very best for the futureโ€.

Donal and Joe Carey.

Former Clare TD, Madeline Taylor Quinn who is currently Chair of the Fine Gael branch in Clare said, โ€œI always found Joe an extremely approachable personable amenable person. He was very co-operative in advancing causes throughout the county and individual concerns of his constituentsโ€.

She stated, โ€œHe was particularly concerned about community health service and the state of the health service in Clare and Mid-West region in general. He was vigorous in his pursuit of the health service in Clare, in addition he recognised the importance of Shannon to both industrial and tourism business in the county and he chaired the Transport Committee in the Oireachtas, he advanced in every way he could the case of Shannon Airport. Personally it is a very difficult time for him, I have absolutely sympathy for him, a man in his prime to be forced into a situation of having to step aside because of ill healthโ€.

Joe Carey with his campaign manager, Martin Lynch.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick Oโ€™Donovan (FG) who himself experienced a health scare last year after collapsing in the Dรกil but recovered ten weeks later to resume his duties, was another to wish the Clarecastle man well. โ€œI want to wish my good friend and neighbour Joe Carey all the best with his decision to step back from politics. Iโ€™ve known Joe for years and in that time he has been a great servant to The Banner. I wish him good health for the years ahead,โ€ the Limerick TD commented.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) said he was โ€œsaddenedโ€ to hear that Deputy Carey would not be contesting the General Election on health grounds. โ€œJoe is one of life’s gentlemen and was a good colleague when we both served together on Clare County Council and, more recently, as TD for the Clare Constituency. I wish to sincerely thank Joe for his twenty five years of unwavering commitment to public office and to representing our county. Whilst the job of TD is an important one and is very demanding, at the end of the day itโ€™s just a job and oneโ€™s health and family must come first. I wish Joe the very, very best on all fronts but, in particular, on the health frontโ€.

Ex Junior Minister, Frank Feighan (FG) TD said during his nine years in the Dรกil that Carey was โ€œone of the nicest, hard-working and most popular TD in the Oireachtasโ€.

Donal Carey with his sons Donal and Joe.

Related News

court seat
Father tells court he did not know his son had been circumcised
catherine connolly noreen lynch 1
Irish Presidential front-runner Connolly dodges media during Mid-West stop
henry adams kieran considine 1-2
Liscannor.ie goes live as village's new official website
albert dolan sisters of mercy 1
โ‚ฌ1m allocated to rejuvenate old Sisters of Mercy convent in Gort
Latest News
raymond o'mahony david reidy 1-2
Reidy revels in the big day to deliver player of the week performance
big build clarecastle 1
Clarecastle family appear on RTร‰ as house undergoes renovation for teenager awaiting spinal surgery
catherine connolly noreen lynch 1
Irish Presidential front-runner Connolly dodges media during Mid-West stop
o'callaghans mills v parteen meelick 06-09-25 robbie madden 1
Madden hopeful Mills can lift the roof in PIHC decider
รฉire รณg v st josephs doora barefield 12-10-25 rg shane daniels 1
Daniels helps deliver historic success for ร‰ire ร“g
Premium
Daniels helps deliver historic success for ร‰ire ร“g
Inagh/Kilnamona win senior camogie championship for fifth time
Foudy & Inagh/Kilnamona looking to bridge five year gap for senior success
Malone clocks up the miles to help Corofin climb back to senior football ranks
No talk of three in a row for Truagh/Clonlara

Advertisement

Subscribe for just โ‚ฌ3 per month

If youโ€™re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just โ‚ฌ3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter โ‚ฌ8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.