FORMER PRESIDENT OF Ireland Mary McAleese has paid tribute to political figure Mary O’Rourke, who died yesterday aged 87.
O’Rourke, a well known commentator, had served in multiple Ministerial posts and was a stalwart of Fianna Fáil.
McAleese told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that O’Rourke was adored by her family, and was always a kind friend.
“I’ve known her very long time and always found her, although she was a leading light and politically, not just for women, but a leading light politically generally, she had a great capacity for friendship,” said McAleese.
She said O’Rourke was the first person she told when she was considering running for the presidency in 1997 and that O’Rourke was “so full of encouragement”.
McAleese described O’Rourke as “an iconic person”, not just in politics, but for women – “women who were not used to seeing women like her at the level of politics at …