Dr Maurice Moynihan, a former long-serving government secretary and Central Bank governor, made a "massive contribution" to the State's public affairs, mourners at his funeral Mass were told yesterday.
The Mass for Dr Moynihan, who died on Saturday, aged 96, was held in St John the Baptist Church in Clontarf, Dublin, and was followed by burial in Clontarf Cemetery.
Father Ciaran O'Carroll, the curate of Rathmines parish, described Dr Moynihan as a remarkable man who was private and self-effacing.
Father O'Carroll, who visited Dr Moynihan in Leeson Park House nursing home where he had lived for the last three years, said that as government secretary from 1937 to 1960, he had been involved in all government policies and programmes.
These would have included the areas of finance, education, training, employment, agriculture and, after the second World War, national defence.
"But Maurice knew that the `genius and tradition' of Irish people mentioned in the Constitution went beyond social and economic affairs," said Father O'Carroll.
"He cultivated this through his lifestyle of loyalty, hard work, devotion to family, consideration to colleagues at work, simple tastes and skills as a conciliator between the strong-willed personalities who peopled the politics of his time."
He said Dr Moynihan's eldest brother, Michael, had died in France in 1918 in the closing months of the first World War.
This had brought tragedy and grief to the family, yet Dr Moynihan had also met his wife, Mae, "the love of his life", due to the war.
Ms Mae Conley was born in Connecticut of Irish extraction and was sent to Ireland in 1913 to visit relatives in Co Kerry. However, she was unable to return home after the war began the following year. She and Dr Moynihan later married.
Dr Moynihan's brother-in-law, Mr Simon Keane, read an appreciation thanking the President, Mrs McAleese, and the Government, for "acknowledging Maurice's contribution in building a new Irish State".
"Maurice had a long and good life and we, his extended family, are indebted to you for helping us to celebrate that life." he told mourners.
Dr Moynihan joined the Civil Service in 1925 and became secretary to the Fianna Fail government in 1937, aged 34.
He remained in that post until 1960, when he was appointed governor of the Central Bank, a position he held until his retirement in 1969.
Among the chief mourners were Dr Moynihan's children, Martin, Joan and Anne.
Dr Moynihan was predeceased by his wife, Mae, his daughter, Mary, and his eldest son, Maurice.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented at the funeral by Comdt Dermot O'Connor. Also present were the former Taoiseach, Dr Garret FitzGerald, and all five governors of the Central Bank since Dr Moynihan's retirement. These are the current governor, Mr Maurice O'Connell, and former governors Mr Maurice Doyle, Mr Tomas O Cofaigh, Mr Charles H. Murray and Dr T.K. Whitaker.
The bank's director-general, Dr Padraig McGowan, and two former general managers, Mr Bernard Breen and Mr Michael Coffey, were also present.
The removal to the church on Monday night was attended by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, on behalf of the Government, with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Kiernan.