Corish refuses to attend State funeral

THE late former Labour leader Brendan Corish refused to attend a State funeral because a State car was not sent to his Wexford home to drive him to the ceremony in Dublin.

Mr Corish, who led the party from 1960-77, was in opposition at the time of the funeral of Kathleen Clarke in October 1972 but he was also a member of the Council of State which, he complained to the Taoiseach’s office, entitled him to a chauffeur.

Mrs Clarke, a former TD, senator and Lord Mayor of Dublin, was the widow of Tom Clarke, the first signatory of the 1916 Proclamation, and sister of Ned Daly, both of whom were executed following the Rising.

She had been involved in the launch of Cumann na mBan in 1914 and had founded the Republican Prisoners Dependants Fund. At the time of her death, she was living in Liverpool with a son and was the last surviving widow of the Proclamation signatories.

Flags on all public buildings flew at half mast on the day of her funeral and the cortege was watched by thousands as it moved through Dublin.

A note on Mr Corish’s complaint in the Taoiseach’s office states that members of the Council of State were only provided with State cars for funerals where a prior request was received, and only to transport people from their residence or hotel in Dublin to the ceremonies and back.

It was suggested that consideration could be given to arranging transport for Mr Corish for future State funerals but that if he was going to have to be brought from Wexford and back, it might be cheaper to hire a car locally.

The other main opposition leader, Liam Cosgrave, attended the funeral under his own steam.