Former minister and Fianna Fáil TD Mary O'Rourke dies aged 87

She was the party's deputy leader and a central figure in the Fianna Fáil government from 1997 to 2002.

She lost her seat in that year's election, having championed the privatisation of Telecom Éireann. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern would nominate her to the Seanad, from where she would regain her Dáil seat in 2007. She retired from the Dáil in 2011.

While in the Seanad, Ms O'Rourke served as leader until her re-election to the Dáil. 

Political dynasty

Ms O'Rourke's family was steeped in Fianna Fáil history. She was the youngest of four children and was part of the Lenihan political dynasty.

As a schoolgirl, she was a member of the youth branch of Fianna Fáil. She married her husband, Enda, in 1960 and they had two children, Feargal and Aengus, and six grandchildren. Enda died in 2001. 

Her brother, Brian Lenihan, served as Tánaiste from 1987 to 1990 and was also a minster for defence, agriculture and fisheries. Their father, Patrick Lenihan, was also a Fianna Fáil TD for Longford-Westmeath in the late 1960s. 

Ms O'Rourke's nephew, and Mr Lenihan's son, Brian Lenihan Jnr was also deputy leader of the party in 2011. He served as Finance Minister from 2008 until 2011 at the height of the banking crisis in Ireland. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died in 2011.

The public enterprise minister Mary O'Rourke (right) and her nephew Brian Lenihan in 1998. File picture: Billy Higgins 

Her political journey began when Ms O'Rourke topped the poll in the Westmeath local elections in 1979 where she remained a councillor until 1987.

She was elected to the Seanad in 1981 and it was then that she left her career as a teacher. She was first elected to the Dáil in 1982 where she was a front bench spokesperson on education.

During her political career, she held ministerial portfolios in education, health and public enterprise. In education, Ms O'Rourke oversaw the introduction of the Junior Cert replacing the Inter Certificate.

She also brought forward legislation to allow the National Institutes for Higher Education to become universities resulting in the establishment of the University of Limerick and Dublin City University.

When Ms O'Rourke stood for election in 2007, she was returned with her highest-ever vote but lost her seat in 2011.

Following her retirement from politics, she wrote two books and became a regular contributor on TV and radio.

Tributes

Tributes were led by her son, Feargal, who said that over the last two months, his mother has been in "sparkling form".

"To many she was a former teacher, politician, broadcaster, author but to myself and Aengus, she was our mum. She loved us to bits, taught us to respect everyone, to be honest, to work hard and study hard, to love our family," his statement said.

He commended the staff in the Fern Dean nursing home in Deansgrange in Dublin who cared for Ms O'Rourke after she almost died at Christmas in 2021.

"The last seven or eight weeks she has been in sparkling form — reading the paper and enjoying the visits of family and friends," he said.

The post on X was accompanied by a photo of Ms O'Rourke taken last month on what would have been her 64th wedding anniversary.

"Reunited now with dad, the love of her life," it was captioned.

On Thursday, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl took a moment in the Dáil to announce Ms O'Rourke's passing calling her a "highly regarded and colourful" woman and extending sympathies to her family.

President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to the former minister’s “distinguished contribution” to Irish political life throughout her lengthy career.

“Mary had a shrewd and magnetic approach to politics and politicians,” the president said in a statement.

“As a minister, minister of state, leader of the seanad, TD, senator and councillor, Mary O’Rourke was a deeply committed politician dedicated to serving the public." 

The President said Ms O'Rourke's warm personality was reflected in the “wide appreciation” held for her both in public and with her fellow members of the Oireachtas.

“She will be much missed by many both in her native Athlone and beyond. May I extend my deepest sympathies to Mary’s sons Aengus and Feargal, to her grandchildren, and to all of her many colleagues and friends.”

Mary O'Rourke with Micheál Martin at the launch of her memoir in 2012. File picture: Brian McEvoy

Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to the former Fianna Fáil TD, describing her as "a force to be reckoned with" in both a political and personal level.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: "She had a wicked sense of humour and a fantastic turn of phrase." 

"However, Mary was a deft operator and her career, spanning three decades, saw her reach the top of Irish politics and take on the boy's club, with vim."

Mr Harris said the 87-year-old was "a grassroots politician in every sense of the word", adding that she "has written poignantly about the love and support of her husband and partner in life, Enda, and of the loss and grieving of his death. She sparked a conversation that many people found great comfort in".

"To all of Mary’s many friends and supporters in her beloved Athlone and beyond, I send my deepest sympathies as Taoiseach," he added.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said it was a privilege to serve with her in Cabinet where he witnessed her intelligence, leadership and deep commitment to public service firsthand.

"Mary was a remarkable woman who made an outstanding contribution to Irish public life and to the modernisation of Ireland," the Tánaiste said in a statement on Thursday.

As a member of a great political family, her contributions, alongside those of her father, brother, and nephews, left a lasting impact on our society.

Her career was marked by intelligence, versatility and unwavering dedication, Mr Martin said, adding that during her time as minister for education, she championed reform during challenging fiscal times.

"Beyond her political achievements, Mary was a commanding and engaging figure — an insightful observer of both political life and societal trends.

"Her wit and keen sense of the country, both in its present state and future potential, made her a cherished colleague and friend."

Former taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, Bertie Ahern appointed Ms O'Rourke deputy leader of the party in 1994 and made her a cabinet minister for the third time the following year.

"She was always a good person to be working with and she was never afraid of hard work," Mr Ahern told Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder.

He said that the clinics she would hold in her constituency were "famous" as they went on all day on a Saturday in her home.

While she was a kind woman, Mr Ahern said that did not mean that Ms O'Rourke wouldn't fight for what she believed was right.

"If it came to an argument or a row, she was never behind the door. She would be stepping forward and would give it her best," said Mr Ahern.

"Maybe a lot of people wouldn't love it but she was tough and she would fire it out... and she would give it back as well as she would take it."

On the same programme, former Fianna Fáil TD Mary Hanafin fondly recalled her own days working alongside Ms O'Rourke who she said was "not only a strong woman but a strong politician".

On Ms O'Rourke's title of Mammy of the Dáil, she said it was pure affection: "It wasn't because she was the oldest or anything like that, it was genuinely a term of endearment".

Her caring energy was never more apparent than when her nephew Brian was working as finance minister with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

"When Brian wasn't well at the end, she was always in the background looking out for him and caring for him," she told Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder.

Ms Hanafin remembered her late colleague as someone who was fiercly loyal both to her family and her party.

"Party members throughout the country used to love seeing Mary come on the television because they knew she would defend the party, defend the decisions and policies of the day and would do it well and win that debate," she said.