Mourners told of man with nobility and honesty running through veins

BRIAN LENIHAN was a man who had “nobility, honesty and loyalty running through every vein in his body”, mourners heard at the funeral Mass of the former minister for finance.

More than 1,000 mourners packed St Mochta’s church in Porterstown, Dublin, and filled the church grounds, applauding family members as they arrived: Mr Lenihan’s wife Patricia Ryan, daughter Clare, son Tom, his mother Ann Lenihan, sister Anita, brothers Conor, Niall, Paul, aunts Mary O’Rourke and Anne Walsh.

Family friend Fr Eugene Kennedy led 22 clergy in the Mass. He told mourners in Irish that Mr Lenihan was a man who had “nobility, honesty and loyalty running through every vein in his body” and that he had been cut off in the prime of his life.

Fr Kennedy welcomed Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Raymond Field, Bishop of Cork and former Castleknock rector Paul Colton, current Rector Rev Paul Houston and Fr Michael Sheil SJ, acting rector of Belvedere College. Parish priest Fr John Daly, and Jesuit priests Fr Dermot Murray, Fr Bruce Bradley and Fr Leonard Moloney were among the celebrants.

Trinity College friends David Lowe and Rory Montgomery, Ireland’s Ambassador to the EU did the readings. Mr Montgomery read from the the second letter of St Paul to Timothy: “The time has come for me to depart. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.”

Soloist Mary Flynn and harpists Teresa and Mary O’Donnell provided the music. Prayers of the faithful were read by an uncle Conor Devine, Mr Lenihan’s sister Anita, brothers Conor and Niall and Frank Chambers, a Mater hospital consultant and friend. Mr Lenihan’s daughter Clare and nephew Brian brought up the offertory gifts of bread and wine.

In his homily Fr Kennedy said “on behalf of muintir Átha Cliath 15 we are deeply indebted to a man who always had care and concern for us. He cared,” he said. Mr Lenihan supported local facilities including the newly constructed St Francis Hospice and “what a cruel irony that he was amongst its first homecare patients”.

A book of gospels and a cross made from olive wood from the garden of Gethsemane sat on top of the coffin during the Mass. As it was carried from the church by a military bearer party, there was sustained applause.

The Lenihan family was joined by President Mary McAleese, Senator Martin McAleese, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, members of Cabinet including Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, Joan Burton, Leo Varadkar, Dr James Reilly, Frances Fitzgerald, Alan Shatter, Simon Coveney, Ruairí Quinn, Brendan Howlin, Pat Rabbitte, Jimmy Deenihan, Minister of State Willie Penrose, Attorney General Máire Whelan SC, secretary general to the Government Dermot McCarthy, secretary general of the Department of Finance Kevin Cardiff, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett and Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Paddy Burke.

Former cabinet colleagues there included former taoisigh Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, Mary Hanafin, Mary Coughlan, Dermot Ahern, Tony Killeen, Pat Carey, Éamon Ó Cuív, Willie O’Dea, Mary Harney, Eamon Ryan and John Gormley. EU commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn was among the mourners as were former commissioners Ray MacSharry, David Byrne, Peter Sutherland, MEPs Pat “The Cope” Gallagher, Liam Aylward, former MEP Eoin Ryan and clerk of the Dáil Kieran Coughlan.

Deputy First Minister in the Northern Executive Martin McGuinness and Minister for Finance Sammy Wilson were also present as was SDLP MP Alasdair McDonnell.

Businessman Denis O’Brien and former government press secretary PJ Mara attended as did Maureen Haughey, her sons Ciarán and former minister of State Seán and chairman of the Broadcasting Authority, Conor Maguire. Members of the judiciary included Chief Justice John Murray, Supreme Court judge William McKechnie, former chief justice Ronan Keane, former Supreme Court judge Hugh O’Flaherty, High Court judges George Birmingham, John MacMenamin, Maureen Clark, and Henry Abbott. Circuit Court judges there included Esmond Smyth, Anthony Kennedy, Petria McDonnell, Alison Lindsay, Joseph Matthews, Cornelius Murphy and District Court judges Bridget Reilly, Seán MacBride, and Paul Kelly.

Former advisers Alan Ahearne and Cathy Herbert and her husband Vincent Wall were among the mourners as were former ministers Rory O’Hanlon, Michael Woods, David Andrews, Gerry Collins, Alan Dukes and Michael O’Kennedy. Ministers of State Micheál Kitt, Michael Ring, Dinny McGinley and former ministers of state Dara Calleary, Seán Connick, Liz O’Donnell, Frank Fahey, Michael Ahern, Barry Andrews, John Moloney, Noel Treacy, Dick Roche, Tom Kitt and Austin Currie were also present.

TDs present included Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, Séamus Kirk, Timmy Dooley, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Michael McGrath, Charlie McConalogue, Barry Cowen, Niall Collins, Shane Ross, Mattie McGrath, Seán Kenny, Olivia Mitchell, and Catherine Murphy. Senators Thomas Byrne, Denis O’Donovan, David Norris, Seán Barrett, Ivana Bacik, Terry Leydon, former senators Donie Cassidy, Ann Ormonde and former TDs Beverley Flynn, Michael Kennedy, Jimmy Devins, Jim O’Keeffe and Peter Kelly also attended.

Editor of The Irish TimesGeraldine Kennedy, former Trinity College provost, John Hegarty, former Belvedere principal Tom Mahon, trade union representatives Jack O'Connor and Blair Horan also attended.