Slight of stature, but big of heart... a truly good person

BROADCASTER Ray D’Arcy has revealed his late mother Mary was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer six weeks ago.

- BY SANDRA MALLON Showbiz Editor

Speaking at her funeral mass yesterday, he fought back tears as he told mourners at St Brigid's Parish Church in Kildare town that his mother was given “weeks to live”.

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'.

“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'."

Ray continued: “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 stuff.