'Full of patience, kindness and diligence' - Taoiseach pays warm tribute to Frank

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has paid a warm tribute to party colleague Cllr Frank McDermott, who announced this that he would not be contesting the next local election in June.

Cllr McDermott was first elected to Westmeath County Council in 1967 and has served the people of north Westmeath since, making him Ireland's longest serving county councillor.

Speaking this week, the Taoiseach paid tribute to Frank for his contribution to his county and party over the past five and a half decades.

“I want to acknowledge the huge contribution that Frank has made to his community, to public life and Fine Gael over his impressive 50 years in local government. I thank him, his wife Ann, who I know has been a huge support to him over that period, along with his family, and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.

“I got to know Frank well both as a minister and party leader. He has a wonderful way about him full of patience, kindness and diligence. These are qualities we need more of in politics," the Taoiseach concluded.