The former Fine Gael TD, Liam Burke, has died aged 77.
Mr Burke was first elected to the Dáil in 1969 and was re-elected nine times in a political career which spanned five decades.
He famously won a by-election in 1979 on the same day as Myra Barry in what turned out to be a forerunner to the highly successful election for Fine Gael in 1981 when the Party won 65 seats.
He was also a former Lord Mayor of Cork.
Mr Burke is survived by his wife Noreen and their two daughters, Catherine and Emma.
The Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, expressed 'great sadness' at the death of his friend and colleague.
