THERE WERE large crowds at the removal last night of former Tralee councillor and mother of two Maeve Spring, who died on Monday night after a long illness.
The 56-year-old had been both a town and a county councillor, representing the Tralee area. She was first elected in 1985 and had topped the poll in both authorities until illness forced her to resign in 2004. She had been mayor of Tralee also.
She became ill shortly after burying her husband Jim Sweeney and fought a long battle with breast cancer. She had also been constituency secretary to her brother Dick Spring during his time as tánaiste.
Among the mourners were representatives from all political parties, including the leader of the Labour Party Eamon Gilmore, along with figures from the trade union movement, local government, the business, legal and media sectors and rural Kerry communities. Ms Spring was known to be a tireless worker on local issues, and was described by mourners as very unassuming.
Among the chief mourners were Ms Spring’s children, James and Mary; her brothers former tánaiste Dick Spring, Dr Arthur Spring, Donal Spring, her sister Noelle and her nephew the town and county councillor Arthur J Spring. Her funeral Mass takes place today at St John’s Church at 11.15am, followed by cremation at the Island Crematorium, Cork.