Former minister Mary O’Rourke dies aged 87

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2024/1003/1473384-mary-orourke/

Posted by irqdly

15 Comments

  1. Some career and the end of a family political dynasty. Apres Match did a great impersonation of her too

  2. Wasn’t a particular fan to be honest.. in later years she was particularly bullish and self-righteous and pooh-poohing of others views on anything anytime she was on radio or tv.

  3. Sad to hear it. She was a fixture for years; great public servant.

    Edit: If my comiserating over an old lady’s death annoys you, that says more about you than her to be honest.

  4. after being elected one time she thanked her canvassers “they worked like blacks”. instead of backing down she said it was a compliment on black people’s work ethic…

    epitome of FF, populist, folksy but cute as a pet fox. wouldn’t take unpopular decisions like putting the Luas underground (or was it across town), kicked to touch, commissioned a study, blah blah.

  5. She loved to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds like most FF’ers of the time.

    Never understood why radio show sought her opinion as much as they did.

  6. Equivalent_Two_2163 on

    RIP Mary. She was a nice lady & worked hard. She could also be pretty funny too. Condolences to her family.

  7. RIP. Always entertaining on the radio whatever your view on her politics, and a prominent woman politician at a time with few. 

  8. I remember writing a letter in school to her back when she was minsiter for education, her plan was to pack every class like sardines in schools that were already suffering under Haughey. Never liked her since.

  9. From Athlone. She did great work for the town.

    Shame about those Eircom shares that I spent my FCA summer camp wages on!!!!

  10. Politics aside for a moment, she was an interesting character and definitely one of the *big* personalities of that era of Irish politics. RIP

    The one thing it drives home to me though is how few women made it to that level or Irish politics. Still a long way to go more so in the two old establishment parties. Surprising at this stage that we haven’t had a female Taoiseach.

  11. Haunting_Sector_710 on

    Didn’t she say that ” they thought nothin’ of it when Charles Haughey was wearing stg £1000 shirts!” , back in the day.