The funeral took place yesterday at the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Felim, in Cavan, of the retired bishop of Kilmore, Dr Francis MacKiernan, who died on Friday at Cavan General Hospital.
Dr MacKiernan (79), retired in October 1998 at the age of 72 and at that time had been Ireland's longest-serving bishop. He was a native of Stradrinan, Aughawillan, Co Leitrim.
Bishop Leo O'Reilly, in his homily, said that with the death of Frank they had lost a brother, an uncle, a colleague, a great pastor and a good friend. It was some consolation that he was active and energetic right up to the last. He had been working on his latest local project, a book on past students of St Patrick's College, Cavan, and its predecessor, the Kilmore Academy. "He was still arranging to meet friends, visiting the patients in the hospital, and taking his daily walk. All that made his sudden death a deep shock," Bishop O'Reilly said.
What most would remember about Dr MacKiernan was his interest in people, he added.
The burial in the cathedral crypt followed concelebrated Mass.
Bishop O'Reilly was chief celebrant. Concelebrants included Dr Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto; Mgr Michael Cooke; and Mgr PJ McManus.
Retired archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, also attended.