Stevie Coughlan was a colourful and controversial politician who worked tirelessly on behalf of the people that he represented which led his critics to label him as a parochial politician who was only interested in matters that directly affected his constituency.

He was educated in Limerick and afterwards spent three weeks as a candidate for the priesthood in Blackrock College. He was a republican sympathiser in the 1930's and occasionally boasts that he was a highly trusted member of the I.R.A. who was given the important mission of killing General O'Duffy in Tralee in 1934.

He later joined the Clann na Poblachta party but was unsuccessful in his bid to get elected to Dáil Éireann. He was elected Mayor of Limerick in 1951 and remained a strong and prominent voice on the local council throughout his career. 

Coughlan left Clann na Poblachata, became a member of the Labour Party and entered the Dail as a TD in 1961. He was a divisive figure within the Labour Party whose ideals often conflicted with that of the Party and of other members. 

He twice served as Mayor in his beloved city of Limerick. 

Produced by Kevin O'Connor ( First Broadcast 1st October 1990 )