Passing of a statesman
Taoiseach attends funeral of Michael O'Kennedy
A large crowd of mourners gathered at St Mary of the Rosary Church on Tuesday to bid farewell to one of Nenagh's most famous sons, former minister Michael O'Kennedy, who died on Good Friday at the age of 86.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin was present to honour his Fianna Fáil party colleague, while President Michael D Higgins was represented among those in attendance. A large contingent of local past and present Fianna Fáil representatives formed a Guard of Honour to greet the hearse on the Dublin Road and walk it to the church. Among those present were former TD and councillor Maura Hoctor, current TD Jackie Cahill, former councillors Tom Mulqueen and Jim Casey, and current Nenagh area representative Ryan O'Meara, with many more.
Another former Fianna Fáil councillor, Tony Sheary sang at the Requiem Mass, at which Michael O'Kennedy was remembered as a man of great faith and family devotion, who spent some 35 years in politics serving his local constituency and his country in the ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Transport, and for a short period as Commissioner in Europe.
The chief celebrant was former Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh, who recalled first meeting Michael shortly after his appointment as bishop in 1994. While his death was an occasion of sadness, there was also gladness at the long life Michael had lived with dignity, generosity, friendship and love.
Perhaps greatest of all Michael's many attributes, Bishop Walsh reflected, was his widespread friendship, “which enriched so many of our lives. For that, I feel I am speaking for many when I say he did enrich our lives and we are grateful indeed for that. We pray today that he may now enjoy the friendship of his God.”
In a heartfelt eulogy at the end of the Mass, Michael's son Brian spoke of how the most common word used in by people in remembering his father was “gentleman”. He described the deceased as an “immensely proud Irishman”, proud of his country, his county, and particularly his hometown, where there are so many people that he would have wanted to thank.
“He was always a ‘Naynagh’ boy at heart,” Mr O'Kennedy said of his father. “I believe his proudest moment in politics was when he brought a group of 20 EU agricultural ministers down the little narrow street in Bank Place here to meet his beloved mother in her little grocery shop in Bank Place. And absolutely proud as punch, he was! He was immensely proud of everything that came from Nenagh, from its truly unique characters, its history of great athletes, Éire Óg hurling, all those who supported his political journey, and indeed many close friends... who always showed great warmth, friendship, courtesy. He would say: ‘Thank you, Naynagh: It's great to be home’.”
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