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Seanad Éireann · 2026-02-18

Gnó an tSeanaid - Business of Seanad

1 contribution · 1 speaker · 315 words

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A native of County Carlow and the son of a local lock-keeper on the canal, Larry grew up along the River Barrow and received his education through Graiguenamanagh national school. Larry entered public life when he was elected to Dublin County Council in 1991, representing Glencullen. Larry is remembered as a dedicated public servant, a friend to many and a committed community man.

Beyond his public service career, Larry had a great devotion to his family and his wife Kathleen. On behalf of this House, I express our condolences to his wife, his children Laurence, Helen, Tom and Mary-Kate, his brother Walter and his sister Anne, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and his many family and friends. I ask the House to observe a minute's silence in memory of the late Larry Butler.

Built by scoring every sentence in the debate on how distinctive its language is, then quoting the highest-scoring ones back word for word and in the order spoken. Nothing is paraphrased or invented — if a sentence appears here, it was said in the chamber. Drawn from 315 words across 1 contributions by 1 speakers.

Most used terms in this debate

How often each word appears across the whole debate, ranked by how distinctive it is to it rather than common to all parliamentary language.

larry 6
lock-keeper 1
mary-kate 1
approachability 1
glencullen 1
marked 2
tinnahinch 1
butler 2
carlow 2
walter 1
great-grandchildren 1
wife 2

The full debate

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CC Mark Daly

Before I ask the Deputy Leader to outline the Order of Business, I know Senators were saddened to hear of the death last week of a former Member of this House, Larry Butler. A native of County Carlow and the son of a local lock-keeper on the canal, Larry grew up along the River Barrow and received his education through Graiguenamanagh national school. Although his life and career took him to Dublin, his heart was always in Carlow.

Larry entered public life when he was elected to Dublin County Council in 1991, representing Glencullen. Known for his work ethic and commitment to local issues, he earned a great reputation among the local community. He was re-elected to the newly established Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and served the Ballybrack electoral area. His years on the council were marked by his approachability, persistence and straightforward dedication to serving the people he represented.

In 2007, he was elected to his House on the industrial and commercial panel. It was the first time that someone from Tinnahinch represented that area since the foundation of the Oireachtas. Larry is remembered as a dedicated public servant, a friend to many and a committed community man. His legacy lives on in the people he served, the family he loved and the quiet, steady impact he made throughout his life.

Beyond his public service career, Larry had a great devotion to his family and his wife Kathleen. They shared 63 years of marriage together, a partnership marked by loyalty, affection and mutual support. On behalf of this House, I express our condolences to his wife, his children Laurence, Helen, Tom and Mary-Kate, his brother Walter and his sister Anne, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and his many family and friends. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

I ask the House to observe a minute's silence in memory of the late Larry Butler.