Tánaiste leads tributes to late former Lady Mayoress Phil Dennehy

TÁNAISTE Micheál Martin has led tributes to former Lady Mayoress of Cork Philomena Dennehy, who has passed away.

Ms Dennehy, known to all as Phil, served as Lady Mayoress from 1983 to 1984, working alongside her husband John, who was first elected to Cork City Council for Fianna Fáil in 1974 and to the Dáil in 1987.

Ms Dennehy’s sons Fergal and Brian are both Fianna Fáil councillors, Fergal in Cork South West and Brian in Dublin Fingal.

Offering his sympathies to the Dennehy family, Mr Martin said Ms Dennehy and her husband had personified the community ethos of Cork, and of Ballyphehane and Togher in particular.

“Both Phil and John put in an enormous amount of their work and lives into the local community spirit, through their work in the local community association, for many, many decades, long before John got involved in politics,” Mr Martin told The Echo.

“That was a very genuine contribution that they [made] and value that they held, and Phil in particular, I think she reflected that as Lady Mayoress.”

Mr Martin said he had known Ms Dennehy well, with her brother Paul being, coincidentally, Mr Martin’s first under-age selector in Nemo Rangers. “Phil’s family were Martins, not related to us. A very, very decent family, very kind people, and Phil will be a huge loss to John and the Dennehy family.”

He said Ms Dennehy was always “a very calm presence” by her husband’s side. “She always was above the hustle and bustle of political life. She was always graceful and very, very generous in spirit, and she reared a fine family.”

A well-known community activist, Ms Dennehy served as honorary secretary of Togher Community Association for over a decade, helping establish Togher Meals on Wheels. She and her family spent years working on the production of Togher News.

While Lady Mayoress, Ms Dennehy had seven children from the ages of two to 20, but she balanced representing her city and running a busy household.

During an interview at that time, she said: “I respect my children. We discuss all kinds of topics in an informal way, we get on well together, and we enjoy them.”

During that same interview, when asked about equality for men and women, she replied: “I am my own woman.”

Known for her open house policy, Ms Dennehy would welcome constituents to the house in Westside Estate with a cup of tea and an attentive ear, before relaying their concerns back to her husband.

Joining John on numerous election campaigns, her friendliness made her a natural canvasser and they were a dynamic team, constantly supporting each other.

A gifted singer, Ms Dennehy often contributed to social occasions with renditions of ‘Summertime’ and ‘The Blackboard of My Heart’.

Councillor Seán Martin said Ms Dennehy had been a source of great strength to her husband and family. 

“She was quiet and unassuming, and she was the glue that held them all together,” he said.

Councillor Mary Rose Desmond said that, in politics, partners rarely choose to be elected, but provide essential background support. “Phil was a rock to John and their children, and she represented her city with great distinction,” she said.

Ms Dennehy passed away in the Bons Secours hospital yesterday, four days shy of her 82nd birthday. She was the mother of John, Brian, Fergal, Gillian, Kevin, and the late Peter and Ann. She will be sadly missed by her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and brothers and sister.

Ms Dennehy’s remains will repose at Sullivan’s Funeral Home, Turners Cross, from 5pm to 6pm tomorrow, with requiem Mass at 10.30am on Saturday in the Church of the Way of the Cross, Togher.