Colleague recalls 'man who fought valiantly for Ireland'

DUTY, HONOUR and country were the three qualities that defined former minister for finance Brian Lenihan, his friend and former cabinet colleague Paul Gallagher said.

In a moving eulogy at Mr Lenihan’s requiem Mass in St Mochta’s church in Porterstown, Dublin, the former attorney general said he was “a master of all the talents. He was an inspiration to us all and he was a great patriot.”

He told mourners “politics was Brian’s very essence. He loved Fianna Fáil.” Politics “inspired Brian. It excited his every neuron. It permeated his every fibre.”

Duty, honour and country defined him as did his “utter devotion to and love for his family”.

He said “Brian was a wonderful barrister. He was effortless in his brilliance,” but “he decided to eschew private gain and devote himself unceasingly and constantly to public service”.

He “fought valiantly for Ireland and he evoked an admiration that cut across all political divides that reached out to the smallest in society”.

As minister for finance he faced challenges “of a most daunting kind, challenges that were awesome, that required immediate and decisive action” and provided no footprints to guide him.

He displayed a “courage and fortitude that was amazing” in his work and equally after being diagnosed with his illness. “If I had not seen it with my own eyes, I would not have believed such courage was possible,” he added.

Mr Lenihan used to visit his office after cabinet meetings. The staff used to love his visits. “He was just so easy with people. He had the great civility, the great politeness of the Lenihans.

“Brian achieved what Einstein predicted but could not accomplish. Brian annihilated time.”

His chief fault, he said to laughter, was “he would invariably take your Biros” and “the papers were hoovered up”. But “worst of all your half-eaten biscuits were taken”. Mr Gallagher said “he rang me from Baldonnel on his trip to Brussels to finalise the IMF-EU deal. He was amazing.”

He was calm and collected. “He was full of courage and he was a man facing one of the most difficult challenges ever faced by any representative of the Irish people.” Mr Gallagher said “his family allowed him be the patriot he was”. There was sustained applause when he thanked the Lenihan family for “sharing that special man with us”.