PEARSE WYSE’S great attribute was his untiring commitment to his constituents rather than any pursuit of glory or recognition, founder of the PDs Des O’Malley said at the late TD’s funeral yesterday.
Delivering an oration at the graveside at St Finbarr’s Cemetery in Cork, Mr O’Malley said it was the second speech he had delivered at the grave of a friend in the cemetery, having previously delivered the oration at the funeral of former taoiseach Jack Lynch.
“Pearse and Jack had many similarities,” said Mr O’Malley adding that while Mr Lynch was best known on the international stage, it seemed to him perhaps Mr Wyse was better known in Cork, as he found out when canvassing in the city with Mr Wyse in a Euro election.
“Every single person we met, Pearse seemed to know them personally,” said Mr O’Malley. “... We will all miss Pearse – in particular our sympathies go to his wife, Theresa, and son, Pearse Óg,” said Mr O’Malley.
Earlier, mourners at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballinlough heard family friend Fr Donal Linehan recall Mr Wyse’s “great connection with people”. Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin recalled that Mr Wyse was “an extraordinary vote getter with a huge commitment to public service and an old style honour”.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen was represented by his aide de camp, Comdt Michael Treacy, while Mr Wyse’s fellow former Cork PD TD Máirín Quill and Lord Mayor of Cork Brian Bermingham led more than 20 Cork city councillors in full ceremonial robes.
Also present were former PD TDs Bobby Molloy, Peadar Clohessy and Martin Gibbons and former PD senators John Dardis, Cathy Honan and Tom Hussey, and former Fianna Fáil colleagues retired Cork TDs Dan Wallace, John Dennehy and Tom Meaney.
Also in attendance were Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune; Kathleen Lynch and Ciarán Lynch of Labour, deputy Cork city manager Dan Buggy; National Museum of Ireland chairman Dr John O’Mahony SC, and former Bord Gáis chairman Dr Michael Conlon.