Deasún Breatnach and Lucy Bhreatnach:Deasún Breatnach, writer, human rights activist, socialist republican, and Gaelgeóir, died two days after his wife Lucy, on the day of her funeral. They met and married in Spain's post-second World War Madrid, having together sons Diarmuid, Osgur, Caoilte, Oisín, Cormac and daughter Lucilita.
Born in 1921 in Rathmines, Dublin, the eldest of four siblings, Deasún earned his living as a journalist editing and publishing articles in Irish, English and Spanish in Ireland and internationally.
He worked for most of the Irish national newspapers, and retired as a sub-editor from the Irish Independent. He used many pen names including Mac Lir, Dara Mac Dara and Rex Mac Gall.
He was proud of the family's legal tradition. His grandfather, solicitor James J Walsh, represented two of the "Invincibles" in connection with the Burke and Cavendish Phoenix Park assassinations in the 1870s, and defended Charles Stewart Parnell's reputation in the 1880s.
During the 1940s Emergency, Deasún joined the Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, achieving the rank of lieutenant before the end of the war.
Cé nach i nGaeilge a tógadh é, chuir sé an-dúil ina theanga dhúchais. Ba thrína cháirde Gaeil i mBaile Átha Cliath, i gConamara, i Ráth Cairn agus in Inis Oirr, a chuir sé snas is blas ar a chuid cainte.
He was very involved in Conradh na Gaeilge and spent time in Mountjoy jail and on hunger strike in the 1960s for language-equality demands.
Politics and law entwined when their son Osgur was wrongfully convicted in connection with the 1976 Sallins mail train robbery as a judge slept on the bench at the Special Criminal Court. They campaigned tirelessly until Osgur was vindicated, strengthening their interest in human rights causes worldwide, as evidenced by Deasún's frequent letters to the editors on such issues.
As a strong trade unionist and socialist republican, Deasún strongly held to a united Ireland vision of all religious denominations and none. In the 1960s he wrote for the United Irishman, subsequently edited An Phoblacht and lately wrote for Saoirse. Supporting national independence and reconciliation, both were always open to discussion and reassessment of their views. Deasún opposed the Good Friday agreement while Lucy supported it.
He wrote 12 books, mainly in Irish, and children's stories and poetry, some of which appeared on the curriculum in Irish schools. He also composed and played music.
At the age of 72, Trinity College conferred on him an MLitt for his thesis on An Púca.
In his day, he was renowned for driving people home from the Conradh club or pipers' clubs, to the annoyance of his teenage children in the back seat of the Cortina who hated such late-night weekend detours.
He gave generously of his time to the many charities and causes he supported throughout his life, particularly to the Motor Neuron Disease Association, right up to the time of his own failing health. He loved life, the beauty of nature, birdsong, the ever-changing shape of clouds in the sky.
He and Lucy marvelled at the magic individuality of children, particularly their grand and great-grandchildren who reciprocated their love. The great mystery of creation continually inspired their thoughts and writings.
Deasún remained a devout Catholic, unlike Lucy who was more flexible in her spirituality.
Lucila Hellmann de Menchaca was born in Algorta in the Basque country. Her father was German and she grew up in a bilingual environment. She endured with her family the privations of the Spanish civil war, which caused her family to flee Spain, although she later returned.
Lucy shared with Deasún strong anti-racist and anti-authoritarian attitudes. They moved to Tangiers, north Africa and, unusual for the time, Lucy dressed in trousers and frequented cafés, normally the preserve of men, debating, alongside Deasún, with the many emerging African leaders.
Relocating to Ireland, Lucy continued debating with, amongst others, Irish Times editor RM Smyllie, Brendan Behan and Myles na gCopaleen, particularly in the Pearl Bar on Fleet Street in Dublin.
Ahead of her generation, she was a strong advocate of women's rights, and had a proficiency in Jungian dream analysis. A founder member of the Dún Laoghaire branch, she led Amnesty International's campaign, publicising the causes of indigenous peoples in South America.
She was renowned for her sense of humour even during her failing health.
While Deasún expressed the romantic side of his personality in writing and music, Lucy engaged in painting and drawing. She also wrote and illustrated a children's storybook.
Devoted to each other in raising a large family and in their 60 years of marriage, they still looked outwards to the civil and political issues of concern in Ireland and abroad. At any one time up to five languages were to be heard in the Breatnach household, as the parents pursued their various interests and encouraged their children and grandchildren to independently do likewise.
Donating his body to medical science in TCD, in his valedictory poem, Achainí, Deasún writes:
I ndiaidh mo bháis
don lia mo cholainn,
do Dhia m'anam:
Ní bás go hathfhás.
After my death/ to the healer my body/ to God my soul:/ upon death comes renewal
Deasún Breatnach: born December 2nd, 1921; died October 3rd, 2007.
Lucy Bhreatnach (née Hellmann de Menchaca): born October 8th, 1924; died October 1st, 2007