Brian Crowley (4 March 1964 – 23 January 2026) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Munster and South constituencies from 1994 to 2019. He served as a Senator from 1993 to 1994, after being nominated by the Taoiseach.
Brian had a lengthy political career in Ireland but it was cut short due to health issues because of an a accident he had at age 16 which confined him to a wheelchair..
Parish Priest Fr John Newman said he was a "pure gentleman who inspired and motivated many with his positivity and resilience".
His brother Niall said even though Mr Crowley was very well known in public, he was also a very private and considered man who loved his family, his friends, his faith and having fun.
Niall said his brother overcame many challenges in his life. When the doctors told his mother, Sally that he would only live to age 25, his positive attitude and resilence allowed him to live to almost 62.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Brian had no equal in the modern political era, and friends and politicians from across the political divide joined his family at St Patrick's Church in his hometown of Bandon to bid him farewell.
In his eulogy, Niall said that the "4 Fs: family friends, faith and fun" were his true values and what Brian stood for.
Hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects as his body lay in state at Gabriel & O'Donovan's Funeral Home in Bandon yesterday afternoon.
Following the service, Mr. Crowley was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining his parish church, St. Patrick's in Bandon.
May he rest in peace.
