Nostalgia: Father and son made Coveney a big name in Cork

Earlier this week, former tánaiste Simon Coveney announced his forthcoming departure from politics with the veteran politician opting not to contest the next general election.

It brings to an end a political career that has spanned nigh on 30 years with his father Hugh serving at a local and national level for almost two decades before him.

Hugh Coveney, who ed away following a tragic accident in 1998, was elected onto what was then the Cork Corporation in 1979.

Three years later, he was elected as Lord Mayor, vowing in his inaugural speech to project the city as a base for manufacturing and service industry.

An article in the then titled Evening Echo said that Mr Coveney spoke of the “staggering” unemployment statistics in the city and county, and told the Corporation meeting that when industry looked at Ireland or indeed at Europe, he wanted it to see Cork as a friendly and compatible base in which to locate.

“I do not delude myself into thinking that it will be an easy year for the country or for Cork,” Hugh said.

“Indeed all the indicators point to things getting worse before they get better.

“Nevertheless, it is generally realised now that most of our difficulties are largely of our own doing and so by definition capable of being undone.”

Maiden speech

While most of his maiden speech was reportedly taken up with the theme of unemployment — something he pledged he would tackle — “he also referred to the question of poverty, the whole area of education, and culture”.

Lord Mayor Coveney also spoke of recreation facilities and the environment, “so often the poor relations in times of recession”, of inner city renewal, dirt and litter, and other issues.

Hugh Coveney also served at a national level.

He was first elected to the Dáil as a Fine Gael TD for the Cork South Central constituency at the 1981 general election.

He lost his seat in the first general election of 1982 but regained it in the second election in the same year.

Following his untimely death, the high regard in which many people held him was exemplified in one Echo article where the publication spoke to Leesiders for their views on the local man.

“I originally lived in Blackrock, so I knew Hugh Coveney from there,” one person said.

“I didn’t vote for him on a party basis, but I voted for him on numerous times because of his personality.

“Hugh Coveney was a thorough gentleman. I always found him a very pleasant and friendly man.”

Another described him as “a man of the people”.

ired

“He certainly struck me as a very honest politician and came across as a very good family man.”

Another said: “To be honest I never voted for Hugh Coveney because I am a Fianna Fáiler.

“I must say I ired him. He certainly was a lovely man.

“I can tell you he will be sorely missed by everybody who knew him.”

Simon Coveney’s foray into national politics came in 1998 when he was first elected to the Dáil after a by-election following the death of his father.

Speaking to this publication in 2016, Simon said he ran for the seat even though he wanted to avoid politics for a few more years: “I was interested in politics, certainly, but I wasn’t expecting to get into politics in my mid-20s. I wanted to find my own way, and not be relying on politics for an income.

“I got involved in an election following a tragedy, and I was lucky enough to get elected, probably on the back of a sympathy vote, to be honest. People didn’t really know who I was.

“Since then, hopefully, I’ve earned my own right to be in the Dáil.”

During his political career, he served as an MEP for the South, before returning to the Dáil in 2007.

He subsequently went on to hold multiple portfolios at Cabinet over the years and was appointed as Tánaiste on November 30, 2017 — a position which he held until June 2020.

In his statement this week announcing he is to “step out of politics” at the next general election, Mr Coveney said being elected for 26 years has been the privilege of his life. “I will forever be grateful for the faith people in Cork South Central have put in me. Now is the right time for renewal in Fine Gael and for me to change direction,” Simon said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

“I’ve loved almost every day of public life.

“I’ve had opportunities in politics that I could never have dreamed possible before 1998; as a councillor, a TD, a minister and as a tánaiste.”

Mr Coveney stood aside as minister for enterprise in April as Simon Harris became Taoiseach and the new leader of Fine Gael.

“I wouldn’t be leaving if I didn’t believe the future was bright,” Mr Coveney said.

“Our party is strong and ambitious, our new leader has brought an energy that is reinvigorating the organisation at every level.”