Former minister Liam Kavanagh driven by sense of social justice, funeral told

Former Labour Party politician Liam Kavanagh was driven by a sense of social justice and a desire to provide social housing, his funeral Mass has heard.

The former minister, councillor, TD and MEP, who died on Monday aged 86, “was a trade unionist all his life and the Labour Party was his natural home,” Fr Donal Roche told the Mass at St Patrick’s Church in Wicklow town.

Fr Roche said Mr Kavanagh had lost his father at an early age, leaving his mother with 10 children and “very hard times”. He said this early hardship was likely responsible for Mr Kavanagh’s commitment to social justice, social house building and his decision to follow his uncle, James Everett, into politics.

Fr Roche said political discussion, reading, golf and family had been Mr Kavanagh’s passions. Offertory gifts included a cross and bible, a book, a family photo and a golf club.

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The parish priest welcomed the chief mourners – Mr Kavanagh’s wife Margaret, their daughter Rosemary, daughter in law Kiara and grandchildren Áine and Rían. He said the loss in recent years of their son, Conal, had been a “heartbreaking” blow for Liam, Margaret and their family.

He said the Kavanaghs had in recent days recalled Liam as a hard working man who achieved a rare success in being elected to the town and county councils, the Dáil and the European parliament on the same day.

“With only the one salary,” he added.

President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Michéal Martin were represented at the funeral by their aides de camp, Col Stephen Howard and Cmdt Claire Mortimer. Labour leader Alan Kelly and former party leader and minister Brendan Howlin TD were also in attendance.