‘I got a huge fright’: Limerick TD resumes ministerial role after health scare

MINISTER of State Patrick O’Donovan will have his first official departmental function this Saturday after falling ill just before the Dail recess.

The minister for the Office of Public Works became unwell while answering a question in the Dail chamber on June 29. Mr O’Donovan was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

“I got a fright. I got a very big fright. I am very grateful to the Dublin Fire Brigade’s ambulance service and the staff and medical team in Beaumont hospital where I spent a bit of time. I was laid up at home with my family who also got a huge fright. It wasn’t something that people didn't see because it was so public but I'm out the other side of it now.” 

The 46-year-old Fine Gael TD for County Limerick said everybody gets a health scare in their life. 

“It is how you deal with it and who you deal with and I am lucky where it happened, lucky it happened in the middle of the day and lucky I was close to a hospital. I am very grateful to the staff of Leinster House as well the Ceann Comhairle, ushers, my own office staff who looked after me. It was a huge fright - there is no doubt about it.”

Mr O’Donovan said he has used the last 12 weeks to recharge.

“Before, I wouldn’t have turned off my phone for 10 minutes, let alone divert it for weeks but when you are under (doctor's) instructions you have to do it. I am back to where I was pre all this. I am just very grateful to the people who looked after me and who set me on a course to recovery which I am glad has gone really well.”

The enforced break gave the father-of-three, who was out cutting briars last weekend, the chance to wake up and smell the roses.

“Sometimes in politics, or life in general, we all think we can’t be done without but everybody can be done without expect at home - that is a big learning for me. None of my political responsibilities ground to a halt - my office kept the show on the road and the department kept the show on the road. If I learnt anything from the last 12 weeks it is that we can all be done without except at home,” said Mr O’Donovan, who is married to Eileen and they have three young children - John, Mae, and Nel.

One issue that did raise his temperature was the RTÉ controversy.

“Being confined to listening to our national broadcaster for 10 weeks and all of the self-pity they piled upon themselves, in ways I am glad I was missing because I might not have been responsible for what I would have said about them if I was around,” he joked.

Over €7m announced for affordable housing in Limerick village

Mr O’Donovan has been back doing his constituency work in County Limerick for over a week. 

He paid his respects to his great friend, the late Paddy Riedy, of Newcastle West, who signed each one of his nomination forms for the five elections he has stood in. A woman, who he didn’t know, told him outside the church, “That knock-out did you the power of good!”

With the encouraging words of that typical country phrase ringing in his ears, it is time to return to his ministerial duties.

“I have my first official departmental function in Kerry with the Taoiseach on Saturday. We are visiting the Blasket Islands which the Office of Public Works is responsible for.”

The following weekend the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, or think-in, will take place in the Limerick Strand Hotel.

“It is a great showcase for Limerick. There are a number of things that the Taoiseach and other ministers will see but being totally parochial, the investment in the athletics track in Newcastle West which the Taoiseach will open, as well as the new revamped, extended and modernised Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum - they are massive investments by the departments into rural County Limerick. 

“He (Leo Varadkar) is no stranger to Limerick. He has attended a number of big jobs announcements but this will be an opportunity for ministers and the government not only to see what is going on in the city but to see what is going on in the county as well. 

“We will take the opportunity when it arises and there is always more that is going to be looked for - we have our own plans in that space as well to make sure that Limerick city and county gets its fair share of what is being divided out by government, not only in the Budget but in further allocations as well.”

Mr O'Donovan may want more money for Limerick but personally your health is your wealth.