Family and friends mourn journalist

ECONOMIST AND journalist Paul Tansey gave much to Irish life and had much still to give before his premature death, mourners at his removal heard yesterday.

Fr Martin Clarke told a packed congregation at St Patrick's church in Monkstown that Mr Tansey's death last Sunday was totally unexpected and absolutely tragic.

His passing had come as a devastating blow and a totally unexpected loss to his wife, Olivia O'Leary, their daughter Emily and wider family.

"Whenever someone close dies we are rightly overcome with grief but when that happens unexpectedly and at a relatively young age, our grief is compounded," Fr Clarke told the mourners.

Mr Tansey, the economics editor of The Irish Times, died suddenly aged 59 while playing tennis in Co Wicklow.

Fr Clarke said many people had been deeply touched by Mr Tansey's sudden death, just as they had been deeply enriched by knowing him. "Your presence here this evening is an expression of solidarity and support that carries all of us through this darkest hour."

He noted that Sunday was a beautiful, sunny day, on the eve of the autumn equinox. While the days were getting shorter, there was still plenty of daylight left.

"Paul, as he went to play tennis that morning with his good friend Shane Ross, must have thought - we all thought - there was plenty of daylight left. He had given so much to Irish life and had so much more to give."

Mr Tansey's family, friends and neighbours had earlier walked behind the hearse from their house to their local church. There, large numbers of colleagues and friends of Mr Tansey from the worlds of economics, politics and journalism, attended.

Members of the Cabinet present included Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea, Minister for Health Mary Harney and Minister for the Environment John Gormley. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny as well as local TD Seán Barrett attended, as did Labour leader Éamon Gilmore and TDs Pat Rabbitte, Liz McManus, Michael D Higgins and Joan Burton, and Mary White of the Green Party.

Independent senators Mr Ross and Joe O'Toole, and Independent TD Finian McGrath were present, as was former Fianna Fáil minister Martin O'Donoghue and former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes. Fellow economists who were in attendance included Dr Seán Barrett, Colin Hunt, George Lee and Colm McCarthy.

The congregation included many present and former colleagues of Mr Tansey from The Irish Times, including editor Geraldine Kennedy and managing director Maeve Donovan. The chairman of Irish Times Ltd, David Went, and the chairman of the Irish Times Trust, Prof David McConnell, were present, as was the deputy editor of the newspaper, Paul O'Neill and Irish Times trust member, David Begg.

Former colleagues of Mr Tansey who attended included former editor Conor Brady, Conor O'Clery, Jim Downey, David McKittrick, Seán Olsen and John Armstrong. Mr Tansey's funeral mass takes place today at 11 o'clock, followed by cremation in Mount Jerome.