‘I’m so glad she was my mother’ – actor Cowan
ACTOR Rory Cowan delivered a heartfelt eulogy at the funeral of his mother Esther.
The former ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ actor (59) was joined by family and friends at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Balally Parish, Co Dublin.
Ms Cowan (85), who struggled with dementia, passed away on Monday at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin. Her son told stories about his mother during the service, including meetings she had with Cliff Richard and President Michael D Higgins.
“Her whole life was her family, I think that comes from that generation. What was going on in the world didn’t matter, it was the family that mattered,” he said.
“She always thought some day I’d settle down and get a proper job. That was until I took her to dinner one night with Cliff Richard. She was chatting to him for hours.
“I said to her afterwards, ‘What were you talking about?’ And she said, ‘The trade union movement’. I went to him and said, ‘I’m sorry about my Ma’.
“He said, ‘No, I loved it, she was brilliant. For the first time in over 40 years, I was able to go out and talk about ordinary things, not about what I do for a living’.”
The actor also recalled her meeting with President Hig- gins at a play, where they discussed flu shots.
“I think he liked that conversation because it was something other than politics. That was my mother. When I thought about what I really wanted to say about her, what tribute can you pay to your mother? The only thing I can think of is that I am so glad she was my mother.”
Ms Cowan, from Rathfarnham, was laid to rest in Mount Venus Cemetery.