Forty years in politics. A trailblazer. When she arrived in Leinster House in 1981, she wasn’t ‘just there to make up the numbers’, says Micheál Martin
But she would have loved to see all the old Fianna Fáilers appearing out of the woodwork, some tottering across the tarmac to the church door, others striding though it like they were still cock of the walk in Leinster House and beyond. She would have loved the style and the gossip and hearing the latest news. Who was and who wasn’t there. What some of the current crop have to say.
Mary was a consummate politician. She understood politics. She was good at it. But no matter how high-flying her political career became, she remained grounded.There was much happy reminiscing from both strands about life with Mary, which was never dull. But it was good to hear the Tánaiste speak first and foremost of the former minister as a person of substance.
In the days since her death was announced, much has been said about “Mammy O’Rourke” by people who weren’t around to know that nobody would dare call her that nickname to her face.Mary was a serious and tough politician in a seriously male world. Not only that, but she had the temerity to have a sense of humour and a mind of her own. Her party leader recognised this.
Of those who actually did know her, many paid their respects at her removal on Sunday night. They included Taoiseach Speaking of which, politically engaged to the very end, Mary’s son said she went to her grave wondering when the general election would happen. He recalled getting a call about seven months ago, telling him to get in to see her as soon as possible as she had very little time left to live.
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