FORMER FIANNA Fáil senator Willie Farrell died at the age of 81 in Sligo General Hospital yesterday.
He had a political career spanning 35 years, first serving as a member of Sligo County Council which he joined in 1967.
Mr Farrell, from Cliffoney, Co Sligo, was on the council for 30 years and he was elected to the Seanad in 1982 on the Industrial and Commercial Panel.
He lost his seat at the 1983 Seanad election, but was re-elected in 1987 and held the seat until he retired in 2002.
He was elected national president of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers for a year in 2005.
He was an accomplished golfer, despite his handicap of being without a hand which he lost in a shotgun accident as a youngster, and represented the Oireachtas in a number of contests.
In 2003 he played in four provinces in a little over 11 hours to raise funds for Special Olympics participants.
He played nine holes each at four golf clubs: Roscrea in Munster, Birr in Leinster, Rosses Point in Connacht and Bundoran in Ulster.
Mr Farrell will be laid to rest following a funeral Mass in Grange, Co Sligo, tomorrow.