Michael O'Brien ‘gave a voice to those suffering and created hope', funeral hears

Irish Times

24-04-2025

Abuse survivor and former mayor of Clonmel
Michael O'Brien
gave 'a voice to the voiceless' and lived a life rich in service to others, his requiem Mass has heard.
Mr O'Brien of Oliver Plunkett Terrace in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, died on Tuesday at his daughter Geraldine's residence.
The 92-year-old was predeceased in 2022 by his wife Mary.
His granddaughter, Jeanette Kelly, told mourners at St Mary's Church in Irishtown, Co Tipperary, that Michael had made an impact on the nation 'in a matter of minutes' in 2009 when he spoke on RTÉ about the abuse he had suffered at an industrial school.
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Family members console each other after Michael O'Brien's requiem Mass in St Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
'Those powerful words [on RTÉ's Questions and Answers] made a difference. As they get repeated on the airwaves over the last few days they still ring true.
'Looking over the condolences it is amazing how many lives he touched and how he gave a voice to those suffering and created hope. It is a powerful reminder that one voice can change everything.'
Jeanette, who was joined on the altar by her sister Sharon, who read a poem, said her grandfather was very much a family man.
She said her grandparents, Michael and Mary, loved to dance and were ballroom dancing champions.
'At all our weddings they hit the dance floor. Now they would really show you what Dancing with the Stars was like. They would glide across any dance floor. I have no doubt that any judge would have given them the perfect 10. As kids we loved standing on his feet trying to dance as good as they were around the sittingroom.'
Former Defence Forces colleagues form a guard of honour before Michael O'Brien's requiem Mass on Thursday at St. Mary's Church, Irishtown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin.
Jeanette said Tramore in Co Waterford was a 'slice of heaven' for her grandparents.
'Their mobile was a home away from home where everybody was welcome. Dinners on a Sunday were his speciality. Always the chef, he would serve up three delicious courses and to this day he still never gave us the secret of his mash. I personally think it was the two pounds of butter he used in it.
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'I couldn't believe the bravery': Abuse survivors pay tribute to Michael O'Brien and his 'powerful' RTÉ testimony on child sex abuse
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'The love of his life was Mary. Together for a lifetime until she passed in 2022. In his final days he would ask us 'will she be waiting for me?'
'I'd like to think there is a mobile home up in the sky where it is always sunny because they were both sun worshippers. And they are back together reunited and happy.'
Fr Billy Meehan, chief celebrant at the 10am Mass, said Michael was above all else 'a community person'.
'He served as mayor of Clonmel and during that time he served it with distinction. During his lifetime he served in the army and he did two stretches out in the Congo. That was part of his service to the country.
'And we all remember the night on Questions and Answers when he told the story of his own life and the impact it had made. From that he got a national profile.
'When you scroll down through the condolences you can see that people from all over the country were influenced by his presence that night and by the hope he gave to people. He was speaking out for people who had no voice. That was the great legacy that Michael left.'
Offertory gifts included his People of the Year award, a golf club, a photograph of his time as mayor of Clonmel, the artwork of his great-grandchildren, a newspaper, a candle bearing the image of his 'beloved' wife Mary and a packet of toffees.
President Michael D Higgins
was represented at the Mass by his aide-de-camp Capt Pat Fitzgerald.
Mr O'Brien is survived by his children Geraldine, Peter, Martin and Catriona, his sister, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and his many friends. He was laid to rest at St Patrick's Cemetery.
As a child Mr O'Brien spent eight years in St Joseph's Industrial School in Clonmel in Co Tipperary, where he was raped and severely beaten. He spoke out following the publication of the Report of the
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
in 2009.
On Questions and Answers he told then government minister and Fianna Fáil TD Noel Dempsey that he had attempted to end his own life after spending five days being questioned at the commission.
Mr O'Brien said his account of being raped and beaten had been questioned at the commission.
'They brought a man over from Rome, 90-odd years of age, to tell me I was telling lies, that I wasn't beaten for an hour non-stop by two of them from head to toe without a shred of cloth on my body.'
He asked panel member Leo Varadkar to ask his leader to stop 'making a political football out of this'.
'You hurt us when you do that. You tear the shreds from inside our body. For God's sake, try to give us some peace and not continue hurting us.'
Broadcaster John Bowman, who presented the show, said Mr O'Brien's words had 'a greater impact than any other contribution from the audience in the history of the programme.'