THE LATE Nuala Fennell had a hunger for justice and truth that motivated her life, mourners at the Church of the Assumption in Dalkey were told last night.
Officiating at the removal of the former Fine Gael minister of state for women’s affairs, parish priest Fr John McDonagh said Ms Fennell had a great eye and heart for those in need of help.
Chief mourners were the late Ms Fennell’s husband Brian, her three children Jacqueline, Garrett and Amanda and grandchildren Ian, Eveline, Kate, James and Amelie.
The congregation also included former Fine Gael minister for justice Nora Owen, former Fine Gael MEP Mary Banotti, former chairwoman of the Arts Council Olive Braiden and leading feminist Máirín de Burca.
Deputy leader of Fine Gael Richard Bruton was also present, as was leader of the Green Party John Gormley, Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell, Fine Gael TDs Bernard Durkan and Olivia Mitchell, Fianna Fáil deputy Tom Kitt and Fine Gael Senators Eugene Regan and Paul Coghlan.
Ms Fennell, who died on Tuesday aged 73, retired from politics in 1992 and ran a successful public relations company. She was the first chair of Irish Women’s Aid and an executive member of the Irish Council for the Status of Women. She was appointed a minister of state with responsibility for women’s affairs and family law reform in 1982.
She lost her seat in 1987 but was elected to the Seanad and continued to be associated with women’s issues through her membership of the Oireachtas Committee on Women’s Rights. She was re-elected to the Dáil in 1989 but stood down in 1992.
Fr McDonagh told mourners Ms Fennell had been happily married for 50 years, and had had “a fulfilled and fulfilling life” as a mother and grandmother. She had played a significant part in Irish public life and had been entrusted with great responsibility, which she had been able to meet.
“She had a hunger for justice and truth that motivated her life,” Fr McDonagh said. She had so many strings to her bow and had achieved so many things in her public life, particularly in the 1980s, that it would be hard for anyone to recognise them all, he said.
She had an ability to be humble in life and she cared deeply about the way in which Irish society unfolded for which she should be thanked, he said. She also knew when it was time to step down and step back. He told mourners to thank God for the gift of Ms Fennell’s life and contribution.
The funeral Mass takes place today at 10am, followed by burial at Shanganagh Cemetery.
