De Valera's last surviving child dies aged 93
59 President Eamonn de Valera wiith his wife leaving the Pro-Cathedral on his Inauguratuion Day as President.INDO PIC
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The last surviving child of former President and Taoiseach Eamon de Valera died yesterday.
Emer I Chuiv, the mother of Fianna Fail deputy leader Eamon O Cuiv, was 93.
She died in St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
One of seven children, she was born in 1918 while her father was in jail in Lincoln Prison in England.
Mr de Valera's letters to his wife, Sinead, from the prison at the time reflected his concern for her pregnancy.
After his famous escape from the prison, Mr de Valera finally met his new daughter, six months after her birth.
In Mr de Valera's final days before his death in August 1975, when he lived in Talbot Lodge in Blackrock, run by the Sisters of Charity, Emer "impressed the nuns as being his most frequent visitor".
Mr de Valera had five sons, Vivion, Eamon, Brian, Ruairi and Terry, and two daughters, Mairin and Emer.
Mrs I Chuiv married Brian O Cuiv, the renowned Irish language professor, and they had nine children. The family lived on the southside of Dublin.
Mrs I Chuiv is survived by her children Nora, Maire, Caitriona, Vivian, Shan, Eamon, Brian, Ruairi and Eon, and their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The removal will take place tomorrow to St Mary's Church on Haddington Road, Dublin 4, arriving at 4.30pm. The requiem mass will be on Monday at 11am with burial afterwards in Glasnevin Cemetery.
- Fionnan Sheahan Political Editor
Irish Independent
