The tear-streaked faces of the Traveller women and men - more than 100 strong - who formed a guard of honour in silent dignity at his funeral, bore eloquent testimony to the impact of the life and work of John O'Connell, founder of Pavee Point, who died on November 21st.
But his work to win recognition for the culture, dignity and human rights of the Irish Travellers was only the last manifestation of his life-long commitment to vindicating the essential humanity of those marginalised and discriminated against by societies all over the world.
He was born in Claregalway in 1949, but his family had close links with the Connamara Gaeltacht and he spent his summers in Spiddal and grew up speaking Irish. He joined the Columban Fathers in 1967, and attended UCD from 1968 until 1971, where he studied economics and politics.
He was ordained in 1975, and shortly afterwards went to the Philippines, to Gingoog city in the island of Mindanao, sharing responsibility for 38 chapels and 50,000 Catholics with two other Columban priests who described him as a good organiser, with energy and ideas.
A very intelligent man - instead of being just a problem solver, he empowered people to solve problems themselves.
In 1980 he went to New York to study at the New School at post-graduate level, and in 1982 he returned to Ireland as Justice and Faith co-ordinator of the Columbans. Shortly afterwards he became involved in the Traveller issue.
A Traveller who first befriended John O'Connell in 1985, said at his funeral that he had transformed the understanding of their situation. Before he came on the scene the view was one of assimilation and of denial of Traveller culture. John O'Connell changed all that.
Central to this was the founding of Pavee Point in North Great Charles St in Dublin, which offers education and development to Travellers. He was also instrumental in getting Travellers into third-level education for the first time.
In the course of this work he met Anastasia Crickley, a lecturer in applied social work in Maynooth. He formally left the Columbans, though he continued to enjoy the friendship and support of that community, and he and Anastasia married on December 21st, 1987.
Their much-loved son Coilin was born on September 27th, 1990, sharing his birthday with his father.
John O'Connell appreciated the international dimension of the work he was doing, and he was very effective in bringing it to the attention of international organisations.
He was a founder of the European Anti-Poverty Network and of the European Gypsy-Traveller Network, and attended both EU and UN meetings discussing these and related issues.
His brain tumour was diagnosed just over a year ago, but he continued to work. His Bloomsday Project, launched on June 16th last, linked the marginalisation of Travellers in Irish society with that of other groups, including Jews, Protestants - and, more recently, asylum seekers.
He is survived by his wife Anastasia, son Coilin, mother, brothers and sisters.
John O'Connell: born September 1949; died November, 1999