CARDINAL Cahal Daly, the Hierarchy and the Taoiseach attended the funeral yesterday of the former Bishop of Cork, Dr Michael Murphy, who died this week after a long illness.
Dr Murphy's last public appearance was last Sunday week when he officiated at a ceremony to mark the £2 million renovation and rededication of the North Cathedral, where his body had lain for the past two days.
The chief mourners were Dr Murphy's sisters, Ms Mary Murphy and Sister Vianney, and his brother, Mr Timothy Murphy.
Thousands of Cork people visited the cathedral to pay tribute to the bishop. He was known for his concern about social injustice and as a critic of Government policies.
In his homily, the Auxiliary Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley, who has assumed the role of diocesan administrator since the death of Dr Murphy, said the bishop was a dedicated shepherd and a highly respected spiritual leader who was always available to his priests.
He went on: "He consulted the priests on all major issues and constantly challenged them. In facing the pastoral challenges of a developing city and fast-growing towns in west Cork, he did not hesitate to speak out on matters which concerned the dignity of the human person.
Dr Buckley said the bishop was aware of the effects of unemployment on family life. He said his experience of poverty in South America, where he worked on the Cork mission to Peru, and his involvement with Trocaire made him sensitive to family needs,
At the Eucharistic prayer, Dr Buckley was joined by the Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Dr Dermot Clifford, the Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, the Bishop of Kerry, Dr Bill Murphy, and Dean Denis O'Connor, the parish priest of Ballineastaig and Dean of the Cathedral Chapter.
The coffin was borne by Dr Murphy's nephews, Michael, Teddy, Con and Sean Murphy, and two of his neighbours, Mr Gerry Burgoyne and Mr John O'Brien.
The cathedral choir sang the concluding hymn, Salve Regina, at the graveside.
Among the concelebrants were the Bishop of Brighton, Dr Cormac Murphy O'Connor, who preached at the rededication of the cathedral; Father Gabe Troy of St James's missionary society in Boston, the society with which Dr Murphy first went to South America as a missionary; Father Joe Murphy, superior of the Cork and Ross mission to South America; and Father Tim O'Sullivan of Cork and Ross who is head of the Irish Emigrant Chaplaincy in the US.
Also there were members of Dr Murphy's 1949 ordination class in Maynooth, and priests from other dioceses who have served on the missions.
Cardinal Daly and the Archbishop-elect of Armagh, Dr Sean Brady, the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Luciano Storero, and the other members of the Hierarchy led the entrance procession to the cathedral.
The President was represented by her aide de camp, Comdt Dermot O'Connor.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Alderman Jim Corr, and the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Rev Roy Warke, were also present.