Funeral of Anne McGrath today

THE FUNERAL takes place today of Anne McGrath, school teacher and wife of Dublin North Central Independent TD Finian McGrath.

THE FUNERAL takes place today of Anne McGrath, school teacher and wife of Dublin North Central Independent TD Finian McGrath.

The many strands of her life were remembered when her remains were received at the Church of St Vincent de Paul, Marino, Dublin, on Saturday evening.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen and former taoiseach Bertie Ahern were among the mourners who filled the church.

Ms McGrath died on Friday after a long illness. Parish priest Fr Tom Noone said her character and light were summed up very well in a few short words at the end of the death notice. It read “the best wife, mother, sister and friend in the world”.

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He added: “What possibly could be added to that is the best teacher in Darndale, where Anne worked from the time she left college. She was the first and very highly regarded home-school liaison in Darndale.”

Fr Noone said Ms McGrath had “a long and difficult battle with illness over the past 14 years”.

The chief mourners were Mr McGrath, their daughters Caoimhe and Cliodhna, her sister, Claire, brothers John and Kieran, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces.

The funeral is to Fingal Cemetery after 11.15am Mass today.

Michael O'Regan

Michael O'Regan

Michael O’Regan is a former parliamentary correspondent of The Irish Times