Colleagues and friends from the acting world gathered yesterday at Terenure College Chapel, Dublin, for the funeral of the actor, Aiden Grennell, who died last Saturday.
Father David Weakliam, parish priest at Knocklyon, told mourners Mr Grennell was a happy and joyous man who had a great ability to laugh. His wife, Iris, had the consolation that he had told her as he was dying she had been a wonderful wife.
The actor David Kelly paid tribute to Mr Grennell, saying they had been friends since the 1950s and Mr Grennell was always there if he needed advice or help. On stage, his voice was "like a silver bell". With him died a kind of excellence and style, Mr Kelly said.
Mr Grennell's son, Michael, currently performing in Aladdin at the Gaiety, sang at the Mass. His son, Nicholas, also an actor, was among the mourners. Prayers were read by his daughter, Ms Mariana McConnell, son-in-law, Mr Stafford McConnell, daughter-in-law, Rani, and grandchildren, Anusia and Suri.
Those present from the theatre world included director and actor Pat Laffan, director of the Abbey Theatre, Mr Ben Barnes, director Michael James Ford, playwright Tom Murphy and actors Niall Toibin, Adele King (Twink), Bosco Hogan, John Kavanagh, Barry McGovern, Rosaleen Linehan, Des Keogh and Derek Young.