HEATHER HUMPHREYS: THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

By Veronica Corr

Heather Humphreys must have felt like she was on an episode of ‘This is Your Life’, on Thursday night last, in the Errigal Country House Hotel, Cootehill, where the host with the most was Philip Kelly, Fine Gael Constituency Chairperson, who was bursting with enthusiasm as the retirement function planned for months finally came to fruition. This article may serve as her political obituary, but there is plenty of life in Cavan/Monaghan’s answer to Wonder Woman yet! Tánaiste and Fine Gael Leader Simon Harris led tributes to the accidental politician who proved to be a top TD!

The late Seymour Crawford is credited with being the catalyst for introducing Heather to elected life. Seymour spent his career in Opposition, but fortune favoured Fine Gael to lead the 31st Dáil in 2011 and the former Monaghan County Councillor, who was co- opted into Crawford’s seat, once again found herself following in her good friend’s footsteps. She would spend her career on the Government benches, back and front, becoming a Minister on Enda Kenny’s watch. She was also recognised as a safe pair of hands by Kenny’s successor Leo Varadkar, and the party’s present-day leader Simon Harris, who had so much faith in the matriarch of the party, that he also made her Fine Gael Deputy Leader. Her decision not to contest the General Election in November 2024 came as a shock, but everyone has since adjusted, and Thursday night last was one of celebrating a finance guru’s second…