“OK folks, it’s showtime!” – Mara’s theatrical opener for the 2002 general election campaign, delivered to Fianna Fáil members gathered at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. It was leater used as the title to a Pat Leahy book on the party.
“Go out and kill for Fianna Fáil,” another battle cry to politicians and the party faithful.
"Of course I will watch it. I am vain enough." – Commenting on the recent RTÉ TV series, Charlie, in which his character, played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, featured prominently.
“I never change nappies, I am not a new dad. I didn’t do it the first time round and won’t do it now.” – On becoming a father again at age 71.
“It’s Mrs Thatcher vs the Universe.” – Exclaimed during an EU summit in Brussels. It was sent into newsrooms via Reuters.
“Uno duce, una voce (one leader, one voice).” “There’ll be no more nibbling at my leader’s bum.” – Said to members of the press in 1985 after Charles Haughey succeeded in expelling Des O’Malley from Fianna Fáil. Haughey was furious.
“Caudillo” (leader); “el diablo” (the devil) – Pet names Mara applied to his boss.
“Give us Barabbas!” – A reference to the biblical figure Barabbas released by Pontius Pilate instead of Jesus. Shouted by Mara when a poll revealed more people believed Seán Doherty’s account of the phone tapping scandal than Charles Haughey’s
“I’m only the oil rag, he’s the engine driver.” – On Haughey, again.
