Former minister for health and social welfare, Mrs Eileen Desmond, who died last week at the age of 72, was a vigorous and effective defender of the poor and less fortunate, mourners at her funeral were told yesterday.
Senator Michael McCarthy, of the Labour Party, paid tribute to the late Mrs Desmond's ability to compete in the primarily male milieu of Irish politics when she was elected in a by-election following the death of her husband, Dan, in 1965.
"When she stood up to speak at a Labour conference she captured her audience on the basis of the common sense and of the reflective and caring policies which characterised her all her working life," said Mr McCarthy.
Mr McCarthy recalled that Mrs Desmond was the second woman Labour deputy to be elected to Dáil Éireann and the first woman politician to be appointed to a senior Cabinet post when Dr Garret FitzGerald appointed her minister for health and social welfare in 1981.
"Despite being ill during her term as minister, she still worked vigorously and with her usual effectiveness to defend the interests of poor and less fortunate people who were her constituency," said Mr McCarthy in a graveside oration at St Patrick's Cemetery, Crosshaven where Mrs Desmond was laid to rest.
Mr McCarthy pointed out that she had passed on a legacy of unselfish public service to her daughter, Paula, who achieved another memorable milestone by becoming the first mayor of Co Cork.
Earlier, mourners heard Father Charles Nyhan at the requiem Mass recall that Mrs Desmond was just 32 years old when her husband, Dan died and she had to rear two young daughters, Honor and Paula.
Mrs Desmond was not just a mother to both her daughters, she was also a friend, said Father Nyhan, adding that "she was strong, she was supportive, she was compassionate, she was humorous and she was a down to earth and common-sense woman".
"In public life, Eileen was the same Eileen - she was strong and she was courageous and she was practical - it took great courage to make a commitment to political life as she did in 1965 - politics can be a place where angels fear to tread but Eileen brought her own native honesty and sincerity to the new challenge that faced her."
Leading the mourners were Mrs Desmond's daughters, Paula and Honor. There was also a large attendance from across the political spectrum reflecting the high esteem in which the late Mrs Desmond was held.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Treacy, while the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was represented by Comdt Michael Murray at the concelebrated requiem Mass.
Among those who attended yesterday's funeral were former Labour Party leaders, Mr Dick Spring and Mr Ruairí Quinn TD, as well as current Labour Party TDs, Ms Joan Burton, Ms Kathleen Lynch, Mr Brian O'Shea, Mr Brendan Howlin and Ms Breeda Moynihan Cronin.
Also present were former Labour TD, Mr Toddy O'Sullivan; former minister for health, Mr Barry Desmond, of Labour; former minister for finance, Mr Gene Fitzgerald, of Fianna Fáil; and former minister for foreign affairs, Mr Peter Barry, of Fine Gael.
Labour Senators, Mr Brendan Ryan and Ms Kathleen O'Meara; Senator Paul Bradford, of Fine Gael; Labour Party general secretary, Mr Mike Allen, and former Cork county manager, Mr Michael Conlon, also attended.
A native of Ballinspittle parish, the late Mrs Desmond was first elected to the Dáil in 1965.
