Tributes paid to a ‘legendary figure in journalism’ Margaret O’Rourke

SEAMUS Dooley, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described the late Carlow journalist Margaret O’Rourke as “a legendary figure in Irish journalism.” Margaret, who worked in the Carlow newsroom of The Nationalistfor 45 years, passed away peacefully on Sunday 27 September at St Fiacc’s House, Graiguecullen – she would have celebrated her 91st birthday on Sunday 4 October.

The NUJ man in a tribute stated: “Margaret belonged to a wonderful generation of local reporters and had a unique position in a male-dominated sector.  The Nationalist was a proud paper of record and her local authority reports, in particular, are of enormous value to researchers.” He knew Margaret as a passionate trade unionist, who was “a formidable MOC (Mother of Chapel) at The Nationalist “and I know she was held in the highest regard by my predecessors. She was a woman who did not take no for an answer.” 

Margaret, who was Ireland’s first female reporter staffed to a provincial newspaper, reposed at Healy’s funeral home on Tuesday afternoon 29 September and her remains were removed to the Church of the Holy Family, Askea on Wednesday morning, when Fr Tommy Dillon CC, was chief celebrant of her funeral Mass, assisted by deacon David O’Flaherty, Margaret’s son-in-law.

Fr John Dunphy PP, Graiguecullen-Killeshin; Fr Liam Morgan PP, Naas; Fr Padraig Shelley PP, Arles; and Fr Pius were also in attendance.

Significant symbols of Margaret’s life brought to the altar by family members; a family photo; a photo of her late husband, Séamus; a current copy of The Nationalist; her favourite book – Down Under ‒ by American travel writer Bill Bryson; and a short story Margaret had written.

In a splendid eulogy to her mother, daughter Maria said “words like trailblazer, raconteur, wordsmith” were associated with her mam. “But to Ruth, Jane and me, she was simply our loving mother and adored granny to Jack, Hazel and Rory.” Continuing, Maria stated: “Mam grew up on the Dublin Road in Carlow – a place that never left her heart. The warm community spirit there shaped her and she remembered it with such fondness. Following the untimely death of her father when she was just 15, her mother and her older sister Dorothy formed a tight unit which lasted their whole lives.” Maria continued: “Leaving school early, mam worked for a time in the Sugar Factory offices, all the while bombarding Liam D Bergin, the managing editor of  The Nationalist, with stories and articles and pleading with him to give her a trial as a junior reporter.

“Constant dripping wears away a stone and he eventually gave in and mam became one of the only female reporters in the country at the time and the first in a provincial newspaper.” The intrepid Margaret could, she said “be seen cycling around the town, interviewing people, picking up interesting stories and reporting on the courts.

“One judge remarked: ‘Some changes are for the better ‒ we have the lovely Miss Perkins (Margaret’s maiden name) reporting on us today’.’’ She and her husband – the late journalist Seamus O’Rourke ‒ knew each other as teenagers through their love of writing and when he began working in the paper, love blossomed and they married in 1962, going on to have three girls, as well as two little boys, John and Fiach, who died in infancy, breaking their hearts.

“They spent their married life on Sycamore Road, Rathnapish, surrounded by wonderful neighbours.” 

Maria said her mam loved her style. “She never stepped outside the door without her makeup on and her hair was never allowed to go grey. Right to the end, she insisted that her cardigan matched her trousers and that she had suitable earrings and jewellery on. Her blue eyeshadow was a must, as was her ‘heather shimmer’ lipstick.

“Although mam’s brain remained sharp and interested in everything to the end, her body was slowing down and her legs weakening.” A few bad falls set her back, but on one occasion when she had a nasty fall on the stairs at night, she resisted going to hospital. “It took a lot of persuading to get her to agree to go. Resignedly she said. ‘Alright then, get me my lipstick and a cigarette and I’ll go.’ “Her early morning cup of tea was the most important of the day and one of the very last things she asked for before her passing. Which brings me to St Fiacc’s House.

“The staff and residents became her second family. She sang songs with them, to them and at them. Every need was cared for and her sense of humour was cherished there. In her final few days, the round-the-clock care she received was unbelievable – so loving and dignified. We will be forever grateful to Karrie, Joan and all the staff – I would love to mention all their names, but I’d be afraid I’d leave someone out. They know who they are and we were so touched by how genuinely upset everyone at St Fiacc’s was when she passed away.” Maria extended thanks to the people who visited Margaret regularly at St Fiacc’s. “Mam loved company and news and it was important to her to keep in touch with what was going on in the world. A special mention for her friend Ber, who brought her on drives and kept her company on such a regular basis.” Her (Maria’s) sister, Jane, the youngest in the family, had a very special relationship with her mam. “She moved in with her during covid and dedicated the last few years to looking after her and spending time with her.

“Thank you, Jane. We appreciate all you did.” Maria said her mother enjoyed a wonderful and long life. She almost reached her 91st birthday surrounded by love and her adored family.

Maria concluded with a short verse she wrote about her mam when she (Maria) was 16, but the sentiment still applies:

Endless hope when I despair, Always there.

Wise and silly, full of love, My mother.

Bernard Hennessy sang the hymns at Mass, accompanied by Clare Hennessy.

The three O’Rourke sisters sang a wonderful rendition, in harmony, of the traditional Irish hymn A Mhuire Mhathair.

Following Mass, Margaret was laid to rest in St Mary’s cemetery with her beloved Séamus, with Fr Dillon reciting the final prayers at the graveside.

May the soil of her native Carlow rest lightly on Margaret.

Margaret's Month's Mind will take place in the Church of the Holy Family, Askea on Saturday 24 October at 7pm