Murdered MP Jo Cox has been remembered at a gathering in central Dublin as a smart, funny and passionate public servant and activist who was destined for the top.
Crowds gathered by the Irish capital’s iconic Ha’penny Bridge – as others gathered in cities worldwide – to pay tribute to the mother-of-two on what would have been her 42nd birthday.
Heartbroken personal friends and former work colleagues of both Ms Cox and her widower Brendan were among them.
Jamie Drummond, who along with Bono co-founded poverty foundation One, was a friend of Ms Cox since her days working with aid agencies.
“Jo stood for the best, whether as an activist on the outside or as an activist on the inside when she joined parliament,” he said.
“She stood for the best in public life and she brought out the best in people, and I hope posthumously she will bring out the best in people in Ireland, the UK and the world.”
Mr Drummond said he personally remembers Ms Cox for her great sense of humour.
“She was just very funny and lively, had a wicked sense of humour and fantastic dimples,” he smiled.
“I know people in Ireland like to boast about their dimples but Jo could beat any Irish woman or man for her amazing dimples.”
He added: “That something so awful could happen to someone so brilliant is something that, everyone knows, has shocked everyone to the core.
“Her death has impacted so many people around the world.”
Doug Keatinge became friendly with both Ms Cox and her widower from his time working with them overseas for Oxfam.
“I remember her as being an extremely talented, determined but fun person,” he said.
“The kind of person you only meet very infrequently in your life that combines serious smarts with a great sense of humour and character.
“You could see even from afar this was a woman who was destined for the very top – extremely able, extremely articulate and extremely passionate.
“But with the passion she had pragmatism in terms of being able to reach out and work across the political divide with different people.”
A number of Irish politicians turned out for the tribute.
Many others took turns to sign their name and leave messages on a large billboard overlooking the River Liffey which read “Today I pledge to #LoveLikeJo”.
