Roscommon-Galway colleagues bid farewell to Denis Naughten as he departs Dáil

After serving as a TD for 27 consecutive years, Denis Naughten left the Dáil for good this week.

The 51-year-old Drum native announced in February of last year that he would not be seeking re-election.

In a social media post yesterday (Wednesday) he shared a photo of himself with his two fellow Roscommon-Galway TDs, Michael Fitzmaurice and Claire Kerrane, and local Senator and general election candidate Eugene Murphy.

"Thank you to my constituency colleagues Michael Fitzmaurice, Claire Kerrane and Eugene Murphy who took me for a coffee on my last full day in Dáil Éireann as a TD," he wrote.

Denis Naughten was first elected as a Fine Gael candidate to Seanad Eireann in 1997 to replace his late father, Liam. He then secured a Dáil seat in the 1997 general election.

He has been re-elected at each subsequent general election, serving as an Independent since 2011, when he lost the Fine Gael whip for voting against the decision to close the Emergency Department at Roscommon Hospital.

The outgoing TD suffered a family bereavement last month with the death of his brother, Fine Gael councillor John Naughten.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl recently said Denis Naughten made an "enormous" contribution during his years as a public representative.

"I extend the sympathy of all Members to the Deputy and his family on their recent tragic bereavement. We hope the next phase of his life will be as successful as the one he is bringing to an end when the election is called," said Mr Ó Fearghaíl.