The funeral of Athlone woman and former government minister, Mary O'Rourke, is taking place today. Some of the country's most senior politicians and former politicians will be in Co Westmeath for the Mass. Mary O'Rourke, from Arcadia, Athlone, died last Thursday at the age of 87, surrounded by her loving family, in Fern Dean nursing home, Deansgrange, Dublin. During a lengthy political career, she served as a TD, senator and cabinet minister. She was first elected to the Dáil as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1982 in the Longford-Westmeath constituency.
Then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern appointed her as deputy leader of Fianna Fáil and Minister for Public Enterprise. She served as Education Minister and Health Minister among other portfolios under different Governments and represented both the Westmeath and Longford/Westmeath constituencies. Her funeral will take place today in Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, Coosan, at 12 noon, followed by burial in Coosan cemetery. Among those mourning her loss are her son Aengus O'Rourke, a Fianna Fáil councillor in Athlone, and her nephew Conor Lenihan, a former junior minister.
