Phyllis Browne, the widow of Dr Noel Browne, the former minister for health and one of the most controversial political figures in the history of the State, has died in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, aged 86. Mrs Browne lived at Indreabhán, in south Connemara, where she and her husband had spent their latter years.
Born to a Protestant family in 1920, Phyllis Browne grew up in Dublin. She met Noel when she was 16 and they married eight years later. She recounted the story of their lives together in a book published in 1998 entitled Thanks for the Tea, Mrs Browne: My Life with Noel.
Labour foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins yesterday expressed his sadness at her death. He said the couple was one of the great partnerships in Irish politics in general and of the left in particular.
"From their earliest years together they embraced every progressive and egalitarian issue in Ireland and abroad, be it the establishment of rights at home in health, housing and education or participation in the opposition to apartheid in South Africa."
Mr Higgins said her life had been one of deep commitment to humanitarian issues. "She was much loved by all of those of us who had the privilege of knowing her. I would like to convey my sympathy, and that of all of us in the Labour Party, to her daughters Ruth and Susan, their families, her grandchildren, and her many comrades, neighbours and friends."
