AN ERA in Irish political history came to a close yesterday with the funeral in Dublin of Eamon de Valera’s last surviving daughter.
Emer Í Chuív, who died last week aged 93, was born when her father was in Lincoln prison in England.
She was the mother of Fianna Fáil deputy leader Éamon Ó Cuív, and was predeceased by her husband, Irish language professor Brian Ó Cuív.
Party supporters and associates from her son’s political heartland in Connemara, in his Galway West constituency, joined his mother’s family and friends, as well as current and former members of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, for the funeral Mass at St Mary’s Church, Haddington Road.
The burial took place afterwards at Glasnevin Cemetery.
The attendance included members of the Connemara-based Naomh Pádraig Clonbur GAA team who beat Derrytresk in the All-Ireland junior football club final in Croke Park on Sunday. Mr Ó Cuív’s son, also called Éamon, was a member of the winning team.
Chairman of the Galway football board, John Joe Holleran, from Connemara, recalled regularly meeting Ms Í Chuív when she visited Éamon Ó Cuív’s family home in Corr na Móna over the years.
“She would help out at elections and at other times,” said Mr Holleran. “She was a gracious lady, with great humility.”
Another son, Fr Shan Ó Cuív, who was chief celebrant at the Mass, recalled his mother had made her first Holy Communion in the same church decades previously.
She had often spoken of that day and how well she had been prepared for the occasion in the local convent, he added.
“That instruction was not wasted,” he said. “Throughout her life, Emer was faithful to the Mass.’’
He added she had remained “faithful to her baptismal calling as a member of God’s family”.
The chief mourners also included her other children, Nora, Máire, Caitríona, Vivian, Brian, Ruairí and Eon.
President Michael D Higgins was represented by his aide-de-camp, Cmdt Michael Walsh, and Taoiseach Enda Kenny by his aide-de-camp, Cmdt Michael Treacy.
Ms Í Cuív’s niece, former Fianna Fáil minister Síle de Valera, and her nephew, Dr Eamon de Valera, chairman and managing director of Irish Press plc, were also present.
The attendance also included Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, his predecessor and former taoiseach Brian Cowen, TDs Timmy Dooley, Michael McGrath and Seán Ó Fearghail, as well as former TDs Dr Martin Mansergh, Michael Smith, Margaret Conlon, John Curran, Noel Treacy and Frank Fahey.
Former Fianna Fáil senators Donie Cassidy and Francis O’Brien were also there, as were party general secretary Seán Dorgan and former government press secretary Eoin Ó Neachtain.
