Boland funeral attracts large republican presence

The former Fianna Fβil minister, Mr Kevin Boland, was buried in Dublin yesterday after a Requiem Mass characterised by a republican attendance, the use of the Irish language, and associations with the Gaelic Athletic Association.

In a tribute delivered partly in English, Mr Boland's brother, Harry, rejected newspaper reports that Kevin had been expelled from any branch of Fianna Fβil after his resignation in May 1970. Kevin's move to leave Fianna Fβil had been entirely of his own free will, said Mr Boland.

The chief concelebrant, Father Michael Finneran, a nephew of Mr Boland, described him as a man of integrity. He said integrity was an "often-used word rarely lived up to" but Kevin Boland had the courage to put his on the line.

He also said Mr Boland was beloved of his wife of more than 50 years, his children and his friends. He paid tribute to the hospitality he said was avaiable to family, friends and "even the occasional stray".

Father Finneran read from the Gospel of St Matthew quoting "those who suffered calumny . . . happy are those, for their reward is the kingdom of Heaven".

During the Offertory procession, members of Mr Boland's extended family brought forward Gaelic football jerseys, a hurling stick and Gaelic football commemorating, as Father Finneran said, Mr Boland's great love of, and support for the Gaelic games and the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The President was represented by her aide-de-camp, Capt Mick Treacy, while the Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Ger O'Grady.

Among the congregation was Northern Assembly member, Mr John Kelly, and the Cavan/Monaghan TD, Mr Caoimhgh∅n ╙ Caolβin, both from Sinn FΘin; the Donegal Independent TD, Mr Harry Blaney, and republican activist Mr Joe Cahill. The harpist, Ms Kathleen Watkins, was also present as was Mr Seβn Sherwin, national organiser of the Fianna Fβil party.

Clarifying remarks made during his address yesterday, Mr Harry Boland told The Irish Times his brother had never been "expelled" from anything "but was a man of honour who had signed a pledge to stick with the party.

"The Fianna Fβil party was God to us when we were small but after the party abandoned the Six Counties, when it came to the abandonment of the nationalists up there he couldn't keep the pledge to Fianna Fβil and the only honourable thing was to resign from the Dβil and the party."

He also rejected a rumour circulating yesterday that his family had asked Mr Ahern not to attend.

He acknowledged family members had asked Mr Paddy Hillery, "who was then Tβnaiste to leave his father's funeral" but he maintained nothing of that nature had been planned yesterday.

"None of that happened and we shook the Taoiseach's aide's hand".