The death of Louie O'Brien at the age of 88 years was a loss to a wide circle of friends. Many of her close friends had preceded her: Val Iremonger; Florrie and Melva O'Riordan; Tommy Connolly, SC; Patrick Rafferty; Mack O'Rahilly; Joe Dunn of Radharc; and a litany of others.
She grew up in a republican family with close ties to Countess Markievicz and Maude Gonne. That background led to an entry in adult years to republican circles, to acquaintance with Sean MacBride, and finally to service, unpaid, as his private assistant when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs in the first inter-party government of 1948-51. Conor Cruise O'Brien in his often acerbic recollections of his Iveagh House years remembers her as a "discreet and capable young woman".
She retained a lively interest in politics, followed closely the debate on political events which have passed into history, and was increasingly consulted by those studying the times and their protagonists. She had become more critical of Sean MacBride. She saw him as broadly innocent in the Mother and Child controversy with Noel Browne seeking to unsaddle him to win the party leadership. In the declaration of the Republic, it was MacBride who unscrupulously leaked the news to Legge of the Independent in order to force the hand of John A. Costello's cabinet. Her views were also coloured by an understanding of the men, and she had a wry sense of humour in recounting the story of their careers and times. Though herself a shrewd observer of events, she was in the last analysis, in the good sense of the term, detached.
Louie was a generous hostess, and the many parties in her cottage in the Wicklow hills included a large and eclectic mix of people. In turn she was in great demand as a guest, and her arrival added an instant sparkle to any company. Her liveliness also made it easy for her to establish an instant rapport with young people both inside and outside her family circle.
She was a tireless supporter of good causes, a founder member of Amnesty International in Ireland, a regular attender of meetings, North and South, of the Irish Association, a supporter of Music in Great Irish Houses from its early days, and for long a worker in Meals on Wheels. This was combined with a hectic social life, which few around her quite matched. The secret of her stamina was that she was personally abstemious with food and drink, and retired early. Guests were apt to ask at the coffee stage noticing her suddenly empty seat: "Where is Louie?"
Although ill health was catching up with her in recent months, she was active up to a week before the end. For those who knew her, slow to become reconciled to her loss, the question comes instinctively: "Where is Louie?" - though on this occasion, sadly she will not be up early the next morning and on her round again.