Family pays moving tributes to influential Tipperary public figure and family man

The heartbroken children and grandchildren of Dr Martin Mansergh spoke lovingly of a wonderful family man they all adored at his funeral in Tipperary  on Monday.

As the presence of the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn, representatives of Tánaiste Simon Harris and President Michael D Higgins and high-profile broadcasters and journalists spoke to Dr Mansergh’s public role, family life was cherished by Dr Mansergh mourners were told.

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His sudden death has shocked family, friends, and political acquaintances. Mr Mansergh had been working on a number of projects, including writing new books, one of which was a family history that he was in the middle of writing.
His daughter Alice told mourners that her father lived his life with bravery, resilience, enthusiasm, and integrity.
Speaking about the unfinished book, she said, “Dad best told the story of his life by living it.”

Acknowledging the “intimidating task” of writing a speech about a speechwriter, Ms Mansergh outlined her father’s life from his birth on New Year’s Eve 1946, his marriage to Elizabeth and the birth of his five children and 12 grandchildren.

“His passion was his work, often behind the scenes, on steps that would enable peace in Northern Ireland, along with so many across communities who ultimately found a way to work together.”
She said others would remember his political work, which was “one of the great honours of his life”, but added: “For me and my siblings, he was Dad.”
She recalled how he instilled in them a great love of exploring beaches, castles, mountains and historic sights.

FULL OF JOY
She remembered his “laugh that was full of joy”. Alice recalled waking up and hearing her mother and father waking up and listening to Morning Ireland and discussing the affairs of the day with great intensity, mutual respect and warmth.
She said they would always know where Dad was in the house because you would hear the soft rustling sound of the newspaper he was reading.
Mam, she said, was his intellectual match and life partner. They shared a love of music and reading and they both spoke fluent German and French.

FAMILY FARM
“What Dad grew, Mam would cook,” Alice told mourners as she recalled how much he enjoyed being at home on the farm .
She said that when her fathers life was at high intensity at a public level he would love to spend some restorative time in the family home in Tipperary where he loved at weekends

“A fellow TD who’d had words with him once said, ‘You don’t take offence easily, do you?’ Dad said, ‘I choose not to’.
“Some of the qualities he had were courage, resilience, integrity, kindness and optimism.”
She said his ability to account for different viewpoints and map a way forward was a hallmark of her father’s career.
“Dad was always full of energy, full of life, full of boundless commitment to the very end.”
Dr Mansergh’s daughter Fiona offered mourners a selection of his “lighter moments”.

PRACTICAL JOKE
She recalled how – despite hard work – he was “fond of a practical joke”, showed a love for a “cupan tae and cake” and never left a dull moment.

“Dad lived an active life to the end. He loved to be going places, seeing people, reading things and keeping up to date.” She added: “He kept his independence, his curiosity and bounce to the last. We are so grateful to everyone who took care of him on his final trip.”

The service also featured tributes from Mr Mansergh’s grandchildren.
One of the grandchildren, Tadgh, said they all had fond memories of the annual one week holiday they all spent in county Mayo with their grandfather in the middle of it all.

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Grandfather, he said, would love playing games with them all and those holidays brought them all incredible pleasure.

Another grandchild, Charlie, said Grandad had a very detailed answer to every question that was asked of him.
Sharing his knowledge was one of his great joys.