Late Brian Lenihan had fond memories of Athlone

Until he was twelve years old, Brian Lenihan Jnr, who was a member of one of the country's most well-known political families, lived and went to school in Athlone. He died last Friday morning, at age 52, after an eighteen-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was called after his father - Brian Lenihan - one of the most prolific government ministers never to be become Taoiseach, although he did become Tanaiste in the late 1980s. Brian Jnr bore a strong resemblance to his father, and emulated him by becoming Justice Minister in his first cabinet position in 2007, just like his father did in his first cabinet position in 1964. He had previously been a junior Minister for Children. He took up the important ministry of Finance, in May 2008, and held that post up to the General Election in February of this year. The late former Minister started life living in St Mary's Terrace, Athlone as the first child of his parents Brian, and Anne, daughter of Garda Supt. Joe Devine and his wife Dr Ita Devine. The Devine family lived on Retreat Road, opposite the Bower Secondary School. Brian Snr and Anne had six children, Brian, (who was born in 1959,) Mark (who died of illness in childhood), Conor (who is also a former TD and Minister), Niall, Paul and Anita. The family lived on Retreat Road, when he was growing up in the 1960s, just up the road from his maternal grandparents, the Devines, and Brian Jnr was close to all the members of his extended family. The late Brian Lenihan gave a comprehensive interview to the Westmeath Independent in 2007, just after he was appointed Minister for Justice. He said he vaguely remembered the 1965 election, when his grandfather, PJ Lenihan and his father, Brian Snr. represented Fianna Fáil in both of the town's divided constituencies. PJ won that election by getting massive transfers and beating Fine Gael's General Sean McEoin. Brian Jnr had fond memories of the 1969 election, when his father and grandfather walked across the bridge with Taoiseach Jack Lynch to take part in a rally on the Market Square. "Television hadn't fully taken over in campaigns, and it was all about the big rallies," said the late Minister Lenihan. "There was a big lorry outside Mardyke Street for the 1967 Local Elections, but it all took place in the square for the 1969 General Election. The cavalcade with hundreds of cars stopped at Bonavalley bridge, and Jack Lynch got out, and started to walk with my father and grandfather. It was unique." Brian Lenihan Jr. jovially commented in that Westmeath Independent interview in 2007, that many of the Marist brothers in Athlone in the 1960s came from the West of Ireland, and couldn't understand the grip that soccer had on the town! Brian Jnr was a pupil first in St Mary's Infant's school, and then in the Marist National, and like his father, Brian Snr was an avid soccer fan. Brian Snr had played for Gentex, Bohemians, and also for his country, and was also known to play some GAA. "The Marist brothers were very puzzled and were very eager that we learn Irish and play hurling and football, which many of us did, but soccer was very popular in Athlone," the late Minster Lenihan laughed about at the time. "I was very proud of my father's soccer background, and Athlone was a small town, and yet I could recall about 12 soccer pitches then, including the ones at St. Patrick's Terrace, Gentex, at the army, and of course St. Mel's Park." The late Brian Lenihan remembered Athlone joining the League of Ireland in the late 1960s, and before that he remembered "The Town" in the League of Ireland B. "The highlight of sporting observation was the Leinster Senior Cup and that used to give Athlone an opportunity to fight the greats like Bohemians, and The Town usually did quite well to get to the semi-final," said the late Athlone native politician. The young Lenihan used to take the special train with a lot of his friends and adult minders to Tolka Park to watch Athlone playing in the 1960s. As a child in the 1960s, Brian Jnr. went to St Mel's Park every second Sunday, and to every away match he could make. He played a bit as well, and he and friends in Retreat set up Eastend Rovers which played many teams in the town. Brian Jnr. and his siblings used to swim in the Yacht Club, Athlone in the 1960s. This was many years before the swimming pool came to the town, and the lake was the only swimming facility for local youngsters. "I loved Lough Ree, which is a fascinating place, and very enchanting and mysterious to a child," he said in 2007. "I was very involved in the Boy Scouts in St. Mary's Hall, which was the Old Workhouse." Long-time Athlone UDC Fianna Fail member, Tommy Fahy (father of Liz Gilhooley, who is a well known baker in Athlone) had a barber shop in Custume Place. Brian Snr and Brian Jnr always went there to get the famous Lenihan coiffures cut, and by Brian Jnr's own admission - to hear all the news that was going on around the centre of town. Brian Snr took his family to live in Castleknock, Dublin in 1971, and Brian Jnr started school in Belvedere where they taught Latin. "So the summer before I went to Belvedere, I was sent back up to my Aunt Mary O'Rourke, who was a great Latin teacher, to learn Latin," said the late Brian. "She was well-known as a great history teacher in Summerhill, but she was also very good at Latin. Throughout the 70s I also visited my grandfather Devine a lot, who played a part in rearing me, because my own father was away a lot as a Minister in those years." After a political career, comprising seven Ministries, and a period as Tanaiste, Brian Lenihan Snr died in the Autumn of 1995. Brian Jnr, who was a barrister by profession, won his father's seat in a by-election in Dublin West in April 1996. He continued to win each subsequent election and in last February's General Election, he became the last standing Fianna Fáil TD in Dublin city or county. At the time of his death, he was Deputy Leader of Fianna Fáil and Spokesperson on Finance. Brian Jnr. eclipsed his father, Brian Snr. and his aunt, former Minister Mary O'Rourke by becoming Finance Minister for his second cabinet role. Brian Jnr's late uncle, Paddy also represented South Roscommon on Roscommon County Council. Brian and his wife Patricia had two children, Tom and Claire. Ar Dheis De Go Raibh A Anam Dhilis