Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pays tribute to 'great Longford politician', the late Louis Belton

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, during a visit to Longford this afternoon, where he officially opened the Rose Cottage War of Independence Centre in Ballinalee has paid tribute to the former Fine Gael TD and Senator Louis J Belton, Kenagh, who died yesterday (Saturday, November 11). 

Mr Varadkar said, “Louis was a great constituency politician and a very proud Longford native. He was famous for being very close to his constituency and had an incredible knowledge of issues in all its walks of life."

When the late Louis Belton was successfully elected to Dáil Éireann for the first time following the 1989 general election, he became the first Longford based Fine Gael candidate to be elected since General Seán Mac Eoin in 1965.

And as part of today's event in Ballinalee, Mr Varadkar, accompanied by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Colm Murray - a close friend of the Belton family, laid a wreath at the Seán Mac Eoin monument in the heart of the village. 

Longford's late Louis Belton hailed as a 'formidable grassroots campaigner' by former Taoiseach John Bruton

Louis brought his own distinctive style to politics

Mr Varadkar said Louis 'especially loved his home village of Kenagh and was a huge supporter of Kenagh GAA, as well as being a big supporter of Longford Town soccer club'. 

An Taoiseach continued, "First elected as a county councillor, Louis remained on the local authority until 1999. He was elected to the Dáil in 1989, and then to the Seanad in 1993 after losing his Dáil seat. He then regained his Dáil seat in 1997 and held that until the 2002 election. 

“Louis was known for his excellent humour and his quick wit, was very sociable and a great storyteller. He was also a very stylish man and was often described as the best dressed politician in the Dáil. 

Longford mourns death of former Fine Gael TD and Senator Louis J Belton

“Louis was the seventh member of his family to hold an Oireachtas seat. 

“My sympathies to his family and friends on their loss. May he Rest in Peace.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: At the official opening of the Rose Cottage War of Independence Centre in Ballinalee today were l to r; Cllr PJ Reilly, Cllr John Browne, Cllr Paraic Brady, Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi, Granard Municipal District Cathaoirleach Turlough McGovern, Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon, Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Colm Murray, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Senator Micheál Carrigy, Cllr Colin Dalton and Cllr Gerry Hagan Picture: Twitter Sinéad Hussey @SineadHus 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar lays a wreath at the statue of General Seán Mac Eoin in Ballinalee pic.twitter.com/fQ2oT53Miv

— Sinéad Hussey (@SineadHus) November 12, 2023