Reporting by Damien Tiernan

The former Minister of State was a Fianna Fáil TD for over 25 years.

He died around 3.30am earlier today.

Fahey was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary in 1928.

He was educated locally at the Christian Brothers School and first entered politics in 1950 when he was elected to Waterford County Council. He held his seat on that authority until 1970, and later from 1974 to 1999.

Fahey was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Tipperary South constituency at the 1965 general election and served as a Minister of State at the Department of the Environment.

From the 1977 general election onwards, he was elected for the Waterford constituency.

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has expressed his sympathy to his family and friends: “Jackie lived a life of public service and represented the people of his constituency at both a local and national level. He served with great commitment and diligence through many turbulent times.

“Jackie spent a total of 45 years on Waterford County Council having been first elected to it at the age of twenty one, and this record alone is testament to the work he undertook across the community, and the respect in which he was held by the people.

“On behalf of myself and the Fianna Fáil organisation I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Jackie’s family and wide circle of friends.”

Photo credit: Irish Examiner