The funeral took place in Mullingar yesterday of the former Independent TD and senator, Mr Joe Sheridan. The President, Mrs Mc Aleese, was represented by her aide-de-camp, Comdt Dermot O'Connor.
Mr Sheridan (85), from Carrick, Dalystown, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, died at the weekend in St Francis Private Hospital in Mullingar.
In his homily to a large congregation in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, Father Michael Kilmartin CC, Mullingar, spoke of Mr Sheridan's enormous commitment to public live and his deep personal faith.
"He was a loyal public servant who did a huge amount of work for both his county and his country and who was a deeply humble servant of Jesus Christ," he said.
Joe, he said, had lived out his life by the gospel by loving his God and loving his neighbour and helping in any way he could. Not only was he a wonderful public servant, he was also a servant of God.
He said the offertory gifts reflected the many interests Joe Sheridan had in a long and fruitful life which was filled with prayer.
Gifts brought to the altar included a horseshoe to symbolise his deep interest in horses. The second gift was a pair of cattle scissors to symbolise his work as a cattle dealer. The third offering was some old election posters carrying his photograph and the motto: "Vote for Joe, the man you know".
The final gift was his old, worn prayerbook, which Father Kilmartin said he read every day and in which he kept all his favourite prayers.
The chief mourners were his children, Farrell, Bridget, Pat, Mary T, Kathleen, Joseph, John V, Anne and Mel, his brother Tom, and his sisters, Sister Aquinas and Kathleen; his grandchildren, nieces, nephews, son-in-law and daughters-in-law.
The large attendance at both his funeral yesterday and the removal on Monday evening bore testament to his popularity and respect as a politician.
His removal was attended by three former Taoisigh, Mr Liam Cosgrave, Mr John Bruton and Mr Albert Reynolds. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, former colleagues from the Dail and Seanad and local representatives of all parties, also attended.
The editor of The Irish Times, Mr Conor Brady, was also present. Many friends and colleagues of Ms Kathy Sheridan who is a staff writer with The Irish Times and one of Mr Sheridan's nine children, attended.