Death of Mairin Lynch 'marks end of an era'

The death last week of Mrs Máirín Lynch, the wife of the deceased former taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, marked "the end of an era", Mr Desmond O'Malley said at a Mass for her in Dublin on Saturday.

Mr O'Malley said Mrs Lynch had "a happy, fulfilled, and very lovely life," which could be summed up in six words - warmth, energy, punctiliousness, consideration, dignity and loyalty.

He elaborated on each word with examples from her life. Of her loyalty, Mr O'Malley said this was so important for Jack who in his public life had disloyalty at times.

"It was very important for him in his private life he had the loyalty Máirín gave him," he said.

Mr O'Malley was one of the youngest ministers for justice in the history of the State when he was appointed to the position by Mr Lynch after Mr Charles Haughey and Mr Neil Blaney were sacked from government in May 1970, following an alleged illegal importation of arms.

He commented how in recent days so much had been said about Mrs Nancy Reagan's support for her husband, the former US president Mr Ronald Reagan. The same could equally be applied to Máirín, Mr O'Malley said.

"She gave the same loyal devotion and support to her husband as Nancy Reagan did," he said. The Lynchs had been "an indivisible couple."

A picture of Mrs Lynch and Jack, taken at Croke Park, was placed on her coffin by Mrs Mary Colley, wife of the late Fianna Fáil minister, Mr George Colley. The hat Mrs Lynch wore at her husband's funeral was placed there too.

The Mass took place following the removal of Mrs Lynch's remains to the Church of the Three Patrons in Rathgar. Among the chief mourners were Mrs Lynch's sisters-in-law Mrs Rena Dunne and Mrs Eva Harvey, both sisters of Mr Jack Lynch, and Ms Marcella Murrin who cared for both Mr and Mrs Lynch in their latter years. Mrs Lynch was an only child and had no surviving blood relatives.

Among the large congregation were the former president, Mr Paddy Hillery, and his wife Maeve, and Mrs Rita Childers, wife of the late president Erskine Childers.

The President, Mrs McAleese, who had been attending the funeral of Mr Reagan in Washington, was represented by her ADC, Capt Michael Treacy.

Also present was former taoiseach Mr Liam Cosgrave and Mrs Cosgrave, former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald and his son Mark, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, and the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.

Bishop Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh represented the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, and the former Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Donald Caird, was also there.

The Irish Times was represented by its editor Ms Geraldine Kennedy.

Also present were the Minister of State for Health, Mr Brian Lenihan, the Government chief whip Ms Mary Hanafin, former ministers Mr Peter Barry, Dr Michael Woods, Mr Bobby Molloy, Mr Martin O'Donoghue, retired public servant Dr Ken Whitaker, retired ombudsman Mr Michael Mills, Mrs Pat O'Malley and her daughter Fiona O'Malley TD.

Also among the congregation were the academic and broadcaster Dr Brian Farrell; former Fine Gael politician and now President of the Human Rights Commission, Mr Maurice Manning; former secretary to the Government, Mr Dermot Nally; former Fianna Fáil general secretary Mr Pat Farrell; the former head of the EU information office in Dublin, Mr Joe Fahy, the Taoiseach's adviser Ms Una Claffey; journalist Mr Bruce Arnold; broadcaster Mr Liam Ó Murchú; architect Mr Sam Stephenson; Mr Ken Murphy of the Law Society and arts administrator Mr Ciarán McConghail.

Among other Lynch relatives present were Mr Don Lynch, Mr Desmond Dunne, Mr Joe Harvey and Mr John Harvey, all nephews of Mr Jack Lynch's, and his nieces Ms Eithne Lynch, Ms Valerie O'Hanlon, Ms Mary Groeger and Ms Geraldine Dunne.

Father Patrick Dowling, retired parish priest at Rathgar, recalled the Lynchs' love of sport. That was why the photograph chosen to be placed on Mrs Lynch's coffin was one taken of them at Croke Park, he said. He believed the hat would bring a smile to people's faces, as hats were so much associated with Mrs Lynch.

He recalled saying a private Mass for the Lynchs to mark the 50th anniversary of their marriage and consecrating two extra hosts. Mrs Lynch asked why he had done so, and he told her they were "for two other parishioners, Joan and Garret (FitzGerald)".

In his address, Mr O'Malley recalled Mrs Lynch's warmth. "Jack and Máirín would have loved to have children, but they didn't. The attention and affection that would've been given to children was spread very wide." He noted her remarkable energy in election tours.

"The thought occurred to me the night she died that a half hour after she was due to arrive in heaven Jack would still be anxiously waiting while she talked to the angels at the gate, thanking each one," he said.

In the 40 years he had known her he had never seen her as other than full of dignity in appearance and demeanour.

He recalled the Lynchs' love of west Cork and how it looked after them. In the early 70s, when he, Mr O'Malley, had been minister for justice, he had been asked by Jack Lynch to call down to them there for a meeting. As it was difficult to find the house he was told to "stop at Minihan's pub and ask Michael for directions".

He did, but when he asked Michael Minihan for directions he looked blankly and asked an assistant: "Does Jack Lynch live around here? I don't know," was the reply. "That was west Cork protection," said Mr O'Malley. However, when he established his identity, they directed him to the house.

"They were an indivisible couple and after a temporary break, happily now over, she has gone home to her husband," he said. As the remains were taken from the church, the hymn At the end of a perfect day was sung by Mr John Roche, accompanied by harpist Ms Deirdre Seaver, and organist Mr John Brady.

Mrs Lynch's remains were taken for cremation to Mount Jerome cemetery, Harold's Cross. Her funeral Mass will be at noon on Thursday at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne in Cork city followed by the interment of her ashes at St Finbarr's cemetery.