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Thousands turned out for Mickey Brady's last journey through Newry this morning. The former MP and MLA passed away on 16 January aged just 75.
The sun frequently tried to peep through the clouds as the cortege made its way from his home on the Armagh Road down Canal Street, over Catherine Street and along Monaghan Street, pausing briefly at the Sinn Fein offices.
Mickey was a people's person and the people turned out in numbers.
In truth Mickey had two families, his immediate family, and his Sinn Fein comrades. Family members carried his remains from his home through a guard of honour from St Joseph's Boys High School and many other lifts saw party colleagues and friends pay their respects, carrying him on his final journey.
Figures from the political world joined the mourners with First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein leader and former leader Gerry Adams present.
Dromalane native Fr Gerry Tremer celebrated the Requiem Mass. In his sermon he recalled Mickey born in Kiln Street as a very proud Ballybot man.
He recalled how in 1981 he established the Welfare Rights Centre. "Mickey was a civil servant, and I imagine every day he went to work, there was a pile of files on his desk, and each file was differentiated by by a national insurance number. And you and I got that number when we started to work, be it 15/16, whatever age we were, we got that number, and that number stays with us right through till to our death."
Fr Tremer continued "And I imagine that when Mickey opened the files, he didn't see the National Insurance number. I believe that when Mickey opened those files, he saw a person. He saw a family. He saw people struggling people, a husband without work. He saw a small family needing nappies. He saw another little family, they were looking for school uniforms so that their child would be as good as every other child along the way, I believe Mickey didn't stop at the National Insurance number."
Fr Tremer pointed out everyone was important to Mickey. "Families came to him feeling down and dejected with little hope of improvement, high unemployment rates here in Newry and indeed throughout Northern Ireland, but Mickey was their hope for the future. Mickey became their bright star in a dark, dark night during dark, dark times. He was one of their own. He was on their side.
"Mickey was somebody who saw beyond the national insurance number, and he was well versed in the criteria for benefits. He was relentless in his fight for people, for the people of this area, Newry and beyond. He wanted their dignity restored. He didn't just see it as a place for benefits. He saw it as a place he could help people lift up their heads and walk with pride once again. He gave a new lease of life for hundreds, if not thousands of individuals and families. He used his experience and knowledge to improve the lives of many, many people. And he did this because he saw a great need."
Fr Tremer continued "When he set up an advice centre in Ballybot House. He was very highly sought after. He knew the ropes of the benefit claims, people's welfare rights. He became, as someone said, their champion along the way. Selected by Sinn Féin in 2007 to contest the Newry and Armagh constituency in the Stormont Assembly. He remained an assembly member till 2015 and in May of that year, he was elected as Westminster MP for Newry and Armagh. And then 2024 he retired from public life, so to speak. A future United Ireland was his great hope, an Ireland no longer divided. But for Mickey, the way forward was a peaceful way. Peace comes when you and I respect everybody, people from different nationalities, backgrounds, cultures, religions and none of the above. That we respect everybody, no matter who it happens to be."
A Vocation of Service
"Mickey was once asked, Why did you become a politician? And this is the wonderful answer that he gave. 'I became a politician because I see it as a vocation of service'. A vocation of service. That should be the motto for all of us. That should be on my desk, in your desk that should be in our homes, a vocation of service. You see, that's your mission, and that's my mission, that we serve other people, especially those who are most vulnerable, those who are feeling down, those who are feeling dejected and rejected. That our vocation, our mission in life, is a vocation of service." said Fr Tremer.
Generosity of Time
Newry and Armagh MLA Liz Kimmins gave an emotional recollection of her close friend "Over the last week, we've heard countless stories of the help Mickey provided to 1000s of people for over 50 years, the first Welfare Rights Officer of its kind here in the North. Mickey, with his trademark denims and long hare embarked on a journey in 1981 set to change the lives of people from all backgrounds, bar none. I've read how Office Hours meant nothing to Mickey, no matter where or when you met him with a problem.
"His generosity of time and willingness ensured no one was turned away, a trait that Mickey carried right through up until just a few weeks ago, when, despite having retired the previous year, he was still filling out benefits forms and seeing people in our offices. Mickey was synonymous with standing up for the underdog, standing up for what was right, and ensuring those who needed it most got what they were entitled to, from civil rights to Tory cuts, fighting for Daisy Hill and standing up for Palestine, Mickey was always on the front line defending the most vulnerable in our communities."
One of the best people to ever grace this earth
Mickey's daughter Saoirse also spoke "Almost 50 years fighting for the rights of the people of Newry. 27 years working for people's welfare rights. Eight years as a Sinn Féin MLA in Stormont. Nine years a Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh. This is how most people knew Mickey Brady, a proud former altar boy and Dominican Catholic, as he mentioned time and again, former pupil of the Abbey primary and grammar, a proud Down supporter, despite what he told the people of South Armagh during an election year, and a lifelong supporter of Manchester United and Celtic.
"A caring husband, a loving and dedicated father, a devoted and doting grandfather, a skilled squash player, despite what father Tremor said earlier.An all right mandolin player, a dare devil hang-glider, a captivating and hilarious storyteller, a man you didn't take fashion risks near. 75 years as one of the best people to ever grace this earth. This is how the people who were lucky enough to be closest to Mickey knew him."
His daughter added "Even in death, he still fighting the good fight, and has raised almost £5000 for medical aid for Palestinians, a cause that was always close to his heart."
Following Requiem Mass Mickey Brady was laid to rest at Monkshill Cemetery.
