The retirement from politics of Séamus Pattison, a former ceann comhairle and Europe's longest-serving parliamentarian, was marked at a farewell dinner in Kilkenny last night.
Mr Pattison was first elected as a Labour TD for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency in 1961 and had become "Father of the House" before stepping down at last May's general election.
During 46 years in public life, he served as minister of state in the then department of social welfare (1983-1987); was an MEP for Leinster in the 1980s; and was unanimously elected ceann comhairle of the 28th Dáil in June 1997, and, subsequently, leas-cheann comhairle of the 29th Dáil in June 2002.
He also played a significant role in the civic life of his native Kilkenny, where he was mayor of the city on three occasions.
Labour constituency council chairman Brian Harris said: "It is rare in today's world for somebody to devote literally their whole life's work to public service."
The leader of the Labour Party, Eamon Gilmore, described him as "one of the most respected and admired figures in Leinster House" and said: "We should never forget the role that people like Séamus Pattison played in turning this country around and helping to create the modern society we now enjoy."
Among the Labour TDs present were Brendan Howlin (Wexford), Brian O'Shea (Waterford) and Willy Penrose (Westmeath).
The local party presented Mr Pattison with a set of gold cufflinks inlaid with diamonds in the shape of the 'Starry Plough'. A spokesman said they would complement a tie-pin of similar design already presented by his parliamentary party colleagues.
Mr Pattison recalled highlights of his career, including being present for the address to the Houses of the Oireachtas by US president John F Kennedy in 1963, and, as ceann comhairle, welcoming Tony Blair for a similar address 35 years later.