AN interview with Dick Spring on RTE radio one during Christmas - part of series of programmes in which distinguished people spoke about their fathers - made for interesting listening.

The late Dan Spring was, according to his son, a shy man who was always conscious of the fact that he left school at 14, but who got his education and hard knocks in the school of life. He never lost the common touch, but wanted to ensure his children were well educated. “He was determined that all of us would have qualifications,” Dick told Olivia O’Leary.

Dan Spring, a TD for the best part of 40 years, was a resourceful man who had a way with children. On a fine summer day, he might ask a bunch of youngsters in Strand Road, Tralee, if anyone wanted to go to Banna. The car would fill up immediately and head off. It would eventually dawn on the excited passengers that they weren’t on the road to Banna - they would soon find themselves in the bog. After an hour helping to save Dan Spring’s turf, they would then head for Banna for a swim, followed by red lemonade and Marietta biscuits. Dick painted a word picture of a totally different kind of world in the fifties and sixties. The Spring home was also a very public place, with people constantly calling to see Dan about problems, even on Christmas Days.

“My father believed in hard work. He believed in being with the people and representing them. His advice to me was to do the simple things well and look after the constituency,” Dick recalled. The former Tanaiste, who also spoke about his mother’s key role in Dan’s life, recalled the hurt of losing his seat in the last election, but was philosophical. ‘ “You go into an election knowing that at the other end of the count there’s always the possibility of losing. If could not face that, you should not run,” he said. He was asked the obvious question: would he run again in North Kerry? The answer clear cut: “I’ve made my contribution to public life. There are other things I want to do and there’s a lot to learn in the second half of my life.”

Labour have a mammoth task to regain the seat.