Harney’s tearful tribute to her late mother

MARY HARNEY, the acting leader of the Progressive Democrats, fought back tears yesterday as she paid a moving tribute to her late mother, Sarah Harney, 84, who died on Monday following a long illness.

A packed congregation at St Finian’s Church in Newcastle, Co Dublin, heard Ms Harney describe her mother, who was better known as Sadie, as “an ordinary woman”.

Speaking on behalf of her sister, Geraldine, and brothers, Laur, Michael and Richard, the Health Minister said: “We could not have chosen a better mother.”

She described how both her parents had made unbelievable sacrifices for their children during hard times growing up on a small farm.

“We grew up in an ordinary house but we were fortunate to have extraordinary love and affection,” she told mourners in an emotional speech.

Although her mother had not had the benefit of a good education herself, it was something she wanted above anything else for her children.

Ms Harney’s voice faltered as she recalled how the woman she knew as “Mammy” was devastated at losing her voice following a stroke 13 years ago. “She never spoke again, although she managed to keep a smile on her face,” said the former tánaiste who also recited the poem Resurrection by Czech poet Vladimir Holan.

There were several lighter moments during Ms Harney’s eulogy. She recalled past events in the family home, such as her mother’s advice to her to become a teacher so she “could be home in the evening for your husband”.

At the start of the Requiem Mass, the Chieftains fiddler Seán Keane played The Homes of Donegal, the favourite piece of music of Ms Harney’s mother.

Later Ms Harney who was accompanied by her husband Brian Geoghegan, wept openly as she walked behind her mother’s coffin as it was carried out of the church towards the nearby cemetery in Newcastle for burial.