Speech by Leo Varadkar at the Fine Gael Dublin West Selection Convention

A Thaoiseach, A Aire Slainte, A Sheannadoir, A Mheara, A dhaoine uaisle.

In his book on the  100 greatest moments in Olympic history , the distinguished sports writer and broadcaster, Bud Greenspan, declared that ‘if an athlete were ever to be considered the perfect symbol of the Olympic philosophy “to enter the arena, make the attempt, and pursue excellence” then runner Eamonn Coghlan of Ireland would be the unanimous choice’.  It was a powerful tribute to a man who, although he might not have won an Olympic medal, has nonetheless epitomised the true Olympian spirit, and served as an inspiration around the world.

Eamonn Coghlan has brought the same Olympian spirit to all his endeavours.  He has faced adversity on many occasions throughout his career, and each time has faced the challenge and emerged stronger. 

1982 was a great year for Fine Gael.  We won 39% of the popular vote and Garrett Fitzgerald was elected Taoiseach.  But it was one of the worst years for Eamonn Coghlan.  Injuries meant that he missed the entire indoor and outdoor season, and he faced into 1983 with some commentators predicting that his career was over.  To make matters worse, his long-time Irish coach died in May.  His college coach also passed away.  And then, in early 1983, further tragedy struck.  His father, Bill, died of a heart attack, while visiting America to watch his son race.  

Visiting the grave of his former coach, Eamonn noticed that a fresh epitaph had been inscribed on the gravestone – ‘Don’t quit until you’re beaten; fight back to an even greater victory, not only in competition, but in life’.  

These words filled him with a passion and a sense of mission, as he set out to become the first person to ever run the indoor mile in under 3 minutes and 50 seconds, a feat he achieved later that year.  According to the  New York Times , Coghlan danced an Irish jig upon reaching the finishing line, and he dedicated the victory to his father and his coaches.

I hope that the words which inspired him then will continue to inspire him now.  In politics, as in sport, as in life, you can never accept defeat once your cause is just, you can never give up when things get difficult.   You must keep going, until at last, you succeed.  

In Bernard Dunne’s autobiography  My Story  the Dublin boxer and Dublin Football motivational coach talks about the sporting heroes who had inspired him.  He remembers Barry McGuigan, who he describes as ‘the Eamonn Coghlan of the ring’, and how their example inspired him to try to become ‘a world beater that the people could embrace and take personal pride in’.

In Eoin Colfer’s novel  Benny and Omar  one of the lead characters, Benny, is involved in a crucial race.  It looks like he will lose, and ‘there were only inches in it’, but Colfer describes how ‘Benny had that Eamonn Coghlan moment of certainty’ and went on to win.

Today I feel an Eamonn Coghlan moment of certainty in knowing that Fine Gael has the perfect candidate to run in this constituency by-election.  Because in his sporting career – in the incredible work he has done for charity – in his work in the Seanad – he has been a fighter who never accepts defeat, but continues to do what is right, and is an inspiration to others.  In 1994 he defied stereotypes about age by becoming the first man over 40 to run the mile in under four minutes – his 75th time breaking that 4-mile record.  

When he retired from the sport, it was reported that the average attendances at the Millrose Games in New York dropped by 3,000.  The long-serving director of the event joked – ‘I always said it wasn’t proven to me that any one athlete made a difference – except for Eamonn Coghlan’.   And we know that if elected, he will make the same difference to Dublin West and to Irish politics.  

When Eamonn was appointed as an independent Senator by the Taoiseach, he could have taken the easy but empty road of populism that so many independents take.  You know the sort.  For everything good.  Against everything bad.  Eager to make noise but rarely to make a difference.  Instead, Eamonn knuckled down and picked a few causes, like childhood physical activity, and made them his own and convinced the system to accommodate him through the  Points for Life  initiative.

When others gave up on Fine Gael when things got tough or simply went to ground, Eamonn jumped right on board, joined the party and help to steady the ship.

To finish as I began on a sporting theme, Eamonn was once asked what was so special about indoor running.  He replied that it was the ‘tightness of the track’.  He loved that ‘the crowd is right on top of you’.  Over the next few weeks Eamonn will experience this feeling more than in any race, the crowd will be right on top as never before.  But he will love it, and they will love him.  Because this is someone who is never beaten – he is a true sportsman, a giver, and a true patriot – and let’s hope that we can support him in his new quest – and help ensure that we bring his Olympian spirit to the Dáil.  We need politicians like Eamonn Coghlan, and I am honoured to be able to nominate him tonight.