THERE WAS a large attendance yesterday at a humanist ceremony in Cork to celebrate the life of mental health campaigner John McCarthy who died at home in Cork on Tuesday following a battle with motor neurone disease.
He founded the Mad Pride group in 2008 to campaign for those diagnosed with mental illness.
His son David told the attendance: “Everyone who knew dad loved him and people who didn’t know him loved him – he was that kind of man, he had an amazing charm – he will be sadly missed but we will go on.”
A passionate and eloquent advocate for those in mental institutions, Mr McCarthy was also involved in Concern, organising fundraising concerts for the charity every year.
Mr McCarthy, who is survived by his wife Liz, son David and daughter Jill, was buried at the Curraghkippane Cemetery near Clogheen overlooking Cork city.
Among those in attendance were former lord mayors of Cork, Donal Counihan and Councillor Mick O’Connell, as well as Councillor Kieran McCarthy and constitutional law expert Prof David Gwynn Morgan of UCC.
Earlier, Minister of State for Health with responsibility for disability, mental health and older people, Kathleen Lynch said: “John was a truly inspirational man who was a long-time campaigner for mental health reform.” She said he brought an infectious enthusiasm to his campaign work.