Ray D'Arcy pays tearful tribute to his beloved mum Mary
The Kildare native bid farewell to his mother on Wednesday afternoon, after she passed away on Friday from a short but aggressive battle with cancer.
Mary D'Arcy married her husband Ray at the age of 23 years old and 'soon after started a family.' Ray D'Arcy, his wife Jenny and mourners follow the hearse from the funeral to the church ahead of the funeral of his mother Mary D'Arcy. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Speaking in his eulogy, Ray admitted raising nine children in 16 years 'could have broken her but our ma was made of strong stuff.'
He said: 'Her ability to manage a household budget on a meager income would put many a minister of finance to shame.
'I really don't know how she did it, I'm actually in awe of how she did it.' Ray D'Arcy, his wife Jenny and mourners follow the hearse from the funeral to the church ahead of the funeral of his mother Mary D'Arcy. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Ray added that one stage in his childhood his eldest brother Joe was doing his Leaving Certificate and his younger sister Joan was just a baby.
As well as nine children, Mary was grandmother to 16 grandchildren and great-grandmother to two.
'Our mother, slight of stature but big of heart was a truly good person,' Ray lamented, 'She was kind, she was tolerant, she was forgiving, she was a great listener and she gave great sage advice. The remains arrive at the church for the funeral of Mary D'Arcy. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
'She also had a great memory. She never forgot a birthday of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.'
Elsewhere, Ray detailed how a trip to his mother's home would usually see her sat looking out at her garden or by her laptop or doing a crossword.
'As you would open the back door, she would look up at you and smile that smile,' he said, 'A smile that was full of mother's love.' Ray D'Arcy carries his mother Mary's remains into the church at her funeral. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
Concluding the emotional eulogy, Ray listed: 'She was vibrant, very much young at heart, she had a beautiful energy. She was a lady. She was intelligent and insightful. She was a wonderful mother and we were lucky to have her.
'We miss you ma.'
Mary D'Arcy was predeceased by her husband Ray (Snr) and survived by her children Joe, Jackie, Ray, Hughie, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire and Joan.
Speaking several years ago to the Independent, 2FM DJ Ray spoke of how his relationship with his mother had changed over the years.
'I didn't hug my mum until six or seven years ago,' he revealed.
'But I hug her all the time now and tell her that I love her. I'd never have done that years ago but as you get older, especially when you have your own children, you see the world differently.
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Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Extra.ie
Ray D'Arcy pays tearful tribute to his beloved mum Mary
Ray D'Arcy has tearfully paid tribute to his mother, revealing she was 'made of strong stuff' as she raised nine children on a tight budget. The Kildare native bid farewell to his mother on Wednesday afternoon, after she passed away on Friday from a short but aggressive battle with cancer. Mary D'Arcy married her husband Ray at the age of 23 years old and 'soon after started a family.' Ray D'Arcy, his wife Jenny and mourners follow the hearse from the funeral to the church ahead of the funeral of his mother Mary D'Arcy. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin Speaking in his eulogy, Ray admitted raising nine children in 16 years 'could have broken her but our ma was made of strong stuff.' He said: 'Her ability to manage a household budget on a meager income would put many a minister of finance to shame. 'I really don't know how she did it, I'm actually in awe of how she did it.' Ray D'Arcy, his wife Jenny and mourners follow the hearse from the funeral to the church ahead of the funeral of his mother Mary D'Arcy. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin Ray added that one stage in his childhood his eldest brother Joe was doing his Leaving Certificate and his younger sister Joan was just a baby. As well as nine children, Mary was grandmother to 16 grandchildren and great-grandmother to two. 'Our mother, slight of stature but big of heart was a truly good person,' Ray lamented, 'She was kind, she was tolerant, she was forgiving, she was a great listener and she gave great sage advice. The remains arrive at the church for the funeral of Mary D'Arcy. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin 'She also had a great memory. She never forgot a birthday of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.' Elsewhere, Ray detailed how a trip to his mother's home would usually see her sat looking out at her garden or by her laptop or doing a crossword. 'As you would open the back door, she would look up at you and smile that smile,' he said, 'A smile that was full of mother's love.' Ray D'Arcy carries his mother Mary's remains into the church at her funeral. Pic: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin Concluding the emotional eulogy, Ray listed: 'She was vibrant, very much young at heart, she had a beautiful energy. She was a lady. She was intelligent and insightful. She was a wonderful mother and we were lucky to have her. 'We miss you ma.' Mary D'Arcy was predeceased by her husband Ray (Snr) and survived by her children Joe, Jackie, Ray, Hughie, Anne, Paul, Marianne, Claire and Joan. Speaking several years ago to the Independent, 2FM DJ Ray spoke of how his relationship with his mother had changed over the years. 'I didn't hug my mum until six or seven years ago,' he revealed. 'But I hug her all the time now and tell her that I love her. I'd never have done that years ago but as you get older, especially when you have your own children, you see the world differently.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'She was a lady' - Ray D'Arcy battles back tears at his beloved mum's funeral
Radio and TV host Ray D'Arcy has revealed his mother Mary was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer six weeks ago. Speaking at her Funeral Mass on Wednesday, an emotional Ray fought back tears as he told mourners at St Brigid's Parish Church in Kildare Town that his mother was given 'weeks to live'. Addressing mourners, the RTE star said: 'She had some trouble over the last 18 months with her health, nothing life threatening, we thought. 'And then about six weeks ago, we got the diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer. The doctor said, weeks then last Wednesday, they said it was going to be short days, and she didn't suffer much. 'It was funny, the staff in Naas had the measure of mammy. One of the ward nurses, Mary was her name too, actually, she said to me, 'your mother strikes me as someone who wouldn't complain.' 'She wouldn't be asking for pain relief, she said. And then Linda, another nurse, she was a palliative care nurse. She had the official name for our mother. She said, 'Your mother is an under reporter, an under reporter'. That was ma. A slight woman with a huge heart.' Ray described his mother as a 'lady' who would put every Minister for Finance to shame as she raised nine children in a house with 'very little money'. Ray D'Arcy and his wife Jenny pictured this morning at the funeral of his mother, Mary D'Arcy. (Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin) Mourners follow the hearse from the funeral home. (Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin) 'Nine children in 16 years, a lot of children, but not a lot of money. It could have broken her, you know, and probably nearly did at times, but our mother was made of strong, strong stuff. 'Her ability to manage a household budget on a meagre income would put many a Minister for Finance to shame. 'We never wanted for anything. Actually, I really don't know how she did it. I'm in awe of how she got through it. Imagine at one stage, nine of us in that little council cottage, Joan, a baby, Joe doing his Leaving Cert. 'I remember actually when mammy was pregnant with Joan, our father arrived home from the pub one night. When he went into the kitchen, mam was in tears over the sink, doing the washing up, and she complained to him that none of us were pulling our weight. 'So he returned to the sitting room. We were all in there, maybe watching The Old Grey Whistle Test or something, and he proceeded to read us the riot act. 'Your mother needs your help,' he said, 'It's not my fault your mother's pregnant,' he said. 'And if you didn't laugh, you'd cry. We all turned out reasonably okay.' Ray told how his mother was 'kind, tolerant and forgiving' who was a devout Catholic that was 'unsettled' when the church scandals emerged in recent years. 'Our mother flourished as we became independent of her…our mother was a calming presence everywhere she went. She was active all over the place. I don't know how she did it. Mary D'Arcy's remains arrive at the church. (Image: Ray D'Arcy and other family members carry his mother's remains. (Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin) 'She was a member of the Community Council. She was on school management boards. She was an integral part of the local history group. She led the choir here in St Brigid's church for years. 'She was a devout Catholic. The scandals really unsettled my mother, but she had a great relationship with her God. We joked, actually, over the last few days, that she's been fast tracked to heaven, the full VIP treatment, complimentary chocolates on arrival. 'Our mother, slight of stature, but big of heart was a truly good person. She was kind, she was tolerant, she was forgiving, she was a great listener, and she gave sage advice. 'She had a great memory. She never forgot a birthday of her nine children, 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 'The arrival in the post of the package or card with her beautifully neat handwriting was a constant in all our lives, as was her beautiful, warm smile…a smile that was full of mother's love.' Ray also recalled the time his mother interviewed Pogues singer Shane MacGowan at her kitchen table live on the radio. 'The pioneer in conversation with the Pogues lead singer, very much not a pioneer, that shouldn't have worked at all. 'And for the first five minutes or so, it was awkward and stopped, starting. I'm sure the listeners probably felt uncomfortable. 'But then our mother, she was a huge fan of Shane McGowan. She appreciated his genius, and she'd read his biography, and then she said to him, after about five minutes, and of course, Shane, you were in the Nipple Erectors. Shane laughed that raspy laugh, and that was that they got on famously a mutual admiration society of sorts.' He said Mary 'travelled a lot in later life, she loved a good sitcom, always a good musical as well. She loved the movies, and up until a couple of years ago, she went up to Dublin every Wednesday to meet Angela or Alison to go to the cinema.' 'She was vibrant, very much young at heart. She had a beautiful energy. She was a lady. She was intelligent and insightful. She was a wonderful mother, and we were very lucky to have her. He added that just before she died last Friday morning, his sister Anne told her how much her family loved her. 'And I imagine if my mother could have talked on Friday morning, she would have said, I love you all too, equally and unconditionally. 'Our mother, Mary Darcy, was a truly amazing person, and we missed her terribly.' Symbols to the altar included hymnal 'representing mammy's devotion to and love of hymns in general', a copy of the Jesuit magazine 'The Messenger'. 'Our mother literally spread the word of God for 36 years, as she delivered The Messenger every month for 36 years.' A book of crosswords was also brought to the altar. Father Adrian Carbery told the congregation Mary was a 'lady'. He said: 'We have to say that Mary was a remarkable woman. She had a huge impact on the whole community. She lived a long life, and she lived it to the full. 'She really made a profound impact on Kildare through her involvement in so many activities around the place and her commitment to the Historical Society, her love for the drama, her weekly distributing newsletters from the parish, The Messenger magazine for years and years and years, which I think was a legacy from Sister Annunziata, she continued it on right to the very end. 'She had a great love for people,' he added. Mary was buried after her Funeral Mass in St. Conleth's Cemetery in Kildare Town. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Examiner
08-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Beyond the exam hall: Reclaiming the purpose of Irish education
Ireland's education system is rightly celebrated for its commitment to access and quality. Yet the proliferation and prominence of private grind schools and online tuition providers requires greater attention. While these services undeniably offer supplementary learning, we need to turn a critical lens toward the unintended consequences, particularly their role in intensifying the Leaving Certificate points race, and their unique, unofficial status within our publicly funded system. For many families, grind schools can represent a perceived shortcut to success, a necessary investment in an increasingly competitive academic landscape. Indeed, recent media reports sometimes highlight these institutions, showcasing high-achieving students and impressive point tallies. This emphasis, however, inadvertently normalises a single, high-stakes metric — the Leaving Certificate points — as the ultimate arbiter of a student's potential and future. Ethically, this shifts the focus from genuine understanding and a holistic educational experience to a reductive pursuit of grades, transforming learning into a strategic game rather than an exploration of knowledge. The intense pressure generated by this points race is widely acknowledged to contribute significantly to student stress and anxiety. When success is so narrowly defined, and extra tuition is presented as a crucial component for achieving top results, it can inadvertently undermine the confidence of students who rely solely on their mainstream schooling. This creates a subtle, yet pervasive, message that regular school might not be enough, pushing students towards additional, often costly, external support. This educational pressure point is frequently echoed by educators within the traditional school system, who lament the external pressures distorting their classrooms and the very nature of learning itself. Crucially, grind schools and many online tuition providers operate outside the formal recognition and funding structures of the Department of Education. Unlike accredited schools, they are not subject to the same oversight, curriculum requirements, or accountability mechanisms. They are, in essence, private businesses offering an educational service. Yet, the disproportionate attention they receive in public discourse can blur this distinction, effectively further integrating them into the perceived mainstream of Irish education. Beyond the regulatory aspect, a deeper educational concern lies in the pedagogical approach often employed by these supplementary services. The intense focus on achieving exam points can lead to a narrow educational experience, heavily reliant on rote learning and the purported "holy grail of notes" — often condensed, exam-focused summaries. While this tactical approach can be effective for immediate exam recall, it frequently comes at the expense of fostering truly holistic education, critical thinking skills, and a deeper conceptual understanding of subjects. Furthermore, the transient nature of these engagements often means students receive limited pastoral care or the comprehensive personal and academic support that is foundational to the ethos of recognised schools. The emphasis shifts entirely to the academic transaction, rather than nurturing the wellbeing and broader development of the student. In my experience, teachers shoulder a far broader mandate than merely preparing students for exams. Their professional commitment extends to nurturing well-rounded individuals, fostering critical thinking, promoting social development, and providing crucial pastoral care. They design curricula that encourage deep understanding, creativity, and the development of life skills, often navigating diverse learning needs within a single classroom. While these dedicated educators strive to equip every student for academic success, their role is not confined to the narrow pursuit of points. Prominent voices in Irish education, such as those within teachers' unions, have consistently pointed to these concerns. They have long expressed disquiet over the impact of the points race on pedagogy, advocating for a broader curriculum that fosters critical thinking and well-rounded development, rather than rote learning geared towards examination success. These educational bodies often note how the "exam-focused" approach of grinds can neglect the foundational understanding and deeper engagement that mainstream schools strive to cultivate. Ultimately, this is not an indictment of individual students seeking extra help or the dedicated educators who provide it. It is, however, an urgent call for a more honest and balanced conversation about our educational priorities. As a society, we must reflect on whether our media landscape, by disproportionately amplifying the narrative of grind school success, unintentionally exacerbates student anxiety, undermines the invaluable work of publicly funded schools, and entrenches educational inequality. Instead of focusing on commercial ventures operating on the periphery, perhaps the significant page space in our national newspapers could be better utilised to champion the innovative teaching, diverse programmes, and inclusive environments within our Department of Education-recognised schools. A shift in public discourse, prioritising holistic development, critical thinking, and the intrinsic value of learning over a singular points outcome, could alleviate unnecessary pressure on students and foster a healthier, more equitable educational ecosystem for all. Nathan Barrett is principal of Stratford College Secondary School, Dublin Read More Colman Noctor: Student burnout is not limited to exam years
