Former minister Mary O’Rourke has passed away aged 87. The politician is remembered fondly by LGBTQ+ activists as a fierce ally who “embraced progressive change” and supported the community over many years.

Born in Athlone, Mary O’Rourke came from a strong political family, with five of its members having served in the Dáil. She herself was first elected to the Dáil in 1982 as a Fianna Fáil TD, where she remained for a quarter of a century until 2002 and again from 2007 to 2011.

She also went on to serve as Minister for Education, Health and Public Enterprise over the course of a political career that spanned four decades. Moreover, she was Leader of the Seanad from 2002 to 2007.

Beyond her political career, she maintained a high profile, appearing on TV and radio and became affectionately known as ‘Mammy O’Rourke’.

The news of her passing was confirmed on October 3 in separate social media posts by her sons, Aengus and Feargal O’Rourke. While she had experienced health issues in recent years, her sons said that she “passed away peacefully”. Paying tribute to his mother, Feargal said that she is now “reunited with dad, the love of her life”.

After the news was confirmed, tributes to the former minister started to pour in, with many remembering her strength and courage in her political career.

The Taoiseach has led tributes to former Fianna Fáil minister Mary O’Rourke, who has passed away at 87. He praised her for taking “on the boy’s club” in Irish politics and rising to the top. #MaryORourke pic.twitter.com/sjK5CJQKrp

— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) October 3, 2024

Taoiseach Simon Harris led the tributes in a statement, saying: “Mary was a force to be reckoned with, both in terms of political nous and in terms of being a magnetic personality that drew people in. She had a wicked sense of humour and a fantastic turn of phrase.

“However, Mary was a deft operator and her career, spanning three decades, saw her reach the top of Irish politics and take on the boy’s club, with vim,” Harris continued. “She was a grassroots politician in every sense of the word and has written poignantly about the love and support of her husband and partner in life, Enda, and of the loss and grieving of his death. She sparked a conversation that many people found great comfort in.”

President Michael D Higgins echoed these words, saying that Mary O’Rourke had a “shrewd and magnetic approach to politics and politicians”.

The President continued, “The warmth of her personality was reflected in the wide appreciation held for Mary amongst both the public and her fellow members of the Oireachtas, and was respected in her continuing and wide-ranging engagement with so many parts of public life in the years following her political career.”

I first met Mary O’Rourke just after she became Minister for Health in 1991. I invited her to come visit the offices of Dublin AIDS Alliance to meet the various constituent groups.

She was so lovely, taking time to talk to the staff and volunteers. @FeargalORourke 1/4 pic.twitter.com/YhwdMnjnq1

— Karl Hayden (@Khayden2412) October 3, 2024

LGBTQ+ activist Karl Hayden also paid tribute to the politician, saying: “I first met Mary O’Rourke just after she became Minister for Health in 1991. I invited her to come visit the offices of Dublin AIDS Alliance to meet the various constituent groups. She was so lovely, taking time to talk to the staff and volunteers.

“But my most memorable interaction with her was the day the Dáil passed the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 1993,” Hayden continued. “I was standing outside Leinster House with some of those who had been watching from the public gallery. When she came up behind us and asked ‘Well! Where is it?’

“We all looked at each other wondering what she was on about. Then she said with a big beaming smile: ‘Where is the thunder and lightening they said would happen if we changed the law?’ She was one of those in politics who embraced progressive change,” the activist concluded.

Recalling another interaction from the same period, LGBTQ+ and disability rights activist Suzy Byrne said: “I will always remember the evening she came out after the decriminalisation debate to make sure we were ok and help celebrate the occasion.

“She also brought in legislation to make it illegal to dismiss someone on basis of sexual orientation in 1993 and had no qualms about it. Sympathies to her family.”

“I cannot see how anyone could object to enabling love, commitment and fidelity to flower in a relationship, as this Bill will do.”

Mary O’Rourke in 2010 Civil Partnership debates in Dáil.

She was a supporter of progress for #LGBT people over many years.

RIP Mary. pic.twitter.com/c7SAZMR9S9

— Brian Sheehan (@BrianSheeh) October 4, 2024

Brian Sheehan quoted O’Rourke’s own words in his tribute. “‘I cannot see how anyone could object to enabling love, commitment and fidelity to flower in a relationship, as this Bill will do.’ Mary O’Rourke in 2010 Civil Partnership debates in Dáil,” he wrote.

“She was a supporter of progress for #LGBT people over many years,” Sheehan added. “RIP Mary.”