The widow of former High Court judge Mr Rory O'Hanlon had to face difficult decisions in 1974, she told the crowded congregation at his funeral Mass yesterday. It was whether to become a nun and go on the foreign missions or get married and have 20 children.
She was invited to dinner by her professor of law, a wise man, "gorgeous and sympathetic". By the end of the evening, "we decided we would do very well together". He was a widower with seven children and "they managed to make it the round dozen", said Ms Barbara O'Hanlon:
"We had 28 wonderful years. As a husband he was faithful, loving, funny, patient and long-suffering - with a fantastic sense of adventure."
They had the first family, "Rory and Mary's children", to thank for much of the success of their marriage - "and my own as well". They had been blessed by the Lord, and she was thankful. She was also thankful for her husband's strength and courage in the last days of his life.
Before the service, Mr Aidan O'Hanlon shared with the congregation his recollections of his brother Rory and their childhood in Dublin.
Their father, a journalist with the Irish Independent, had suffered a stroke while relatively young. He continued to work from home, however, doing book reviews and writing articles on Irish literature, history and folklore. "We were encouraged to read omnivorously. He was a man of great courage, deep faith and infinite good humour."
Rory was curious about everything. His catch cry was "I only want to know why". It became a life-long quest for knowledge, his brother said. "He examined every facet of a subject and had the ability to retain information down to the finest detail."
As a student he had cut his teeth as a debater in the "L & H" at UCD and crossed swords with Garret FitzGerald, Anthony Cronin and Ulick O'Connor. "He turned down the chance to be auditor but won the society's golden medal."
In 1946, he was called to the bar.
He and his brother Shane, Mr O'Hanlon said, had been "privileged to be the brothers of that upright man, Rory O'Hanlon".
The Mass at St Mary's, Sandyford, was concelebrated by Dr Martin Drennan, auxiliary bishop of Dublin, Father Tom Ingoldsby, brother of Mr O'Hanlon's first wife Mary, and Father Eamann Cahill, the parish priest.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by her aide-de-camp, Comdt Dermot O'Connor.
The congregation also included the Chief Justice, Mr Ronan Keane; Supreme Court judges Ms Susan Denham, Mr Nial Fennelly, Mr John Murray and Mr Frank Murphy; as well as former judges of the Supreme Court Mr Donal Barrington, Mr Seamus Henchy and Mr Frank Griffin.
Among the High Court judges present were Mr Peter Kelly, Mr Iarfhlaith O'Neill, Mr Richard Johnson, Mr Roberet Barr, Mr Paul Butler and Mr Aindrias O Caoimh.
Also present were Prof William Binchy, from Trinity College Dublin, and former attorney general Mr Harry Whelehan.