THERE was a large attendance at Galway Cathedral last night for the removal of the former president of University College Galway, Dr Colm O hEocha who died at his home on Monday.
The mourners were led by Dr O hEocha's wife, Daiden, and their six children, Nessa, Seamus, Orla, Aedin, Colm, Macdara and Aislinn, their grandchildren, and other relatives and friends.
Also present in the congregation were the Minister for Arts, Culture, and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, the Mayor of Galway, Mr John Mulholland, and former Taoiseach Dr Dr Garret FitzGerald.
The service was conducted mainly in Irish by Father Sean O'Flaherty, parish priest of the cathedral. The burial will take place in Bushypark cemetery following Mass at noon today.
Dr O hEocha was president of the college for 21 years. He retired last year, aged 70, leaving a university which has gained international recognition for research developments and academic excellence.
Mr Higgins and the Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach, were among those who paid tribute to Dr O hEocha yesterday. Ms Breathnach said Dr O hEocha was an exceptional educationalist whose unique contribution will be sadly missed by the world of Irish education and public life".
She wished to acknowledge his "outstanding achievements" nationally and internationally which extended beyond the domain of education and included his role as chairman of the New Ireland Forum.
Ms Breathnach said in more than 20 years as president, Dr O hEocha led UCG through a period of great change in the development of higher education. She extended her sympathy to Dr O hEocha's wife, Daiden, and their family.
Mr Higgins, a former colleague at UCG, said Dr O hEocha enjoyed "a remarkably full life and accomplished career".