‘Our ma was made of strong stuff’ — 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.