Even as Veronica “Ronnie” Fay began to lose her 12 year battle with cancer, she was busy focusing on Covid-19 vaccinations in the Traveller community, a final push in a decades’ long battle for equality and human rights, her funeral heard on Thursday.
On Wednesday night, as mourners prepared to attend the following day’s ceremony, her immediate family gathered to remember the many things that characterised a celebrated and cherished life.
“Her burning anger at injustice and inequality,” her husband Philip said was among the list, as well as love for family and friends, a wicked sense of humour and maternal instinct that spread far behind her own three children.
Ms Fay, who died on Monday aged 60, was the co-director of the Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, and was with the organisation for almost four decades. She was also chairwoman of Community Work Ireland.
Her funeral in Skerries, where she lived with her husband Philip and children Jonathan, Veronica and Paddy, was attended by President Michael D Higgins.
“Pavee Point became the leading advocates for the rights of Travellers and Roma in Ireland,” her husband told those in attendance. “And as always Ronnie’s leadership style was low key and primarily concerned with supporting the emergence of Traveller leadership and the Traveller voice.
“One of the most important outcomes of this approach was the emergence of a very strong and impressive group of older Traveller women whose main focus was to address health inequalities. These were, and are, an amazing group of women and with the support of the HSE this resulted in significant advances on things like access to GPs, changes in the medical card system and most of all the advancement of women’s rights.
“She was so proud with the recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group over the last few years. And even over the last couple of years of her life she did Trojan work on vaccinations and Covid-19 even when she fell ill for the last time.”
Ms Fay was originally from Howth in north county Dublin, and attended Santa Sabina girls school in Sutton. She would later go on to study history at Trinity College Dublin where she met her husband and where she helped establish the university's camogie team, the sport playing a central role in her life.
‘We are heartbroken’
Her close relationship with siblings was remembered, as were her organisational skills, her ability to make friends and support people, and her love of the sea.
“Despite a brave battle with cancer over 12 years we never believed that we would be gathering today so soon after Ronnie’s 60th to mourn the loss of Ronnie and as a family we are heartbroken,” her husband said.
Earlier in the service, Jonathan said his mother was first and foremost a family person.
“She always put others ahead of herself and was particularly helpful in times of need,” he said. “Her smile and infectious laughter always brightened any room.
“Those who came into contact with Ronnie during her life were always greeted with respect, kindness and on most occasions as an extended branch of our own family. Which usually meant an accompaniment of a hot cup of Barry’s tea and a slagging to make you feel instantly at ease.”
He spoke as tributes were brought to the pulpit, a family photograph and a tea cosy; a wagon and a Pavee Point publication as symbols of her work and spirit; a hurley and an emblem of the Skerries Harps GAA Club; a picture of Skerries; a towel and goggles.
“Ronnie was relentless in her pursuit of social justice, equality, diversity and human rights,” Jonathan said. “She was a tireless advocate for and with Travellers and Roma in Ireland through her devoted work in Pavee Point.
“Her legacy is significant and she can rest easy knowing that her life’s work and countless achievements positively impacted the lives of so many and provides a benchmark for those of us wishing to improve the lives of those who are more vulnerable and marginalised in our society.”
