LIAM Naughten was a self-effacing gentleman in the true sense of the phrase, a man on whom you could rely, the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, told mourners at the requiem Mass for the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad yesterday.
Speaking at St Brigid's Church Mr Bruton said he remembered him as a man of courtesy and dignity, who took great pride in his family, his home place and in farming the land. He would be sorely missed.
A huge crowd gathered in the small village on a bitterly cold and wet day, many having to stand outside the church. The President, Mrs Robinson, attended.
"I know how proud he was of his wife, Mary, and their eight children and how much he loved and cared for them and celebrated their achievements," Mr Bruton told the congregation, which included Mrs Naughten, her sons Denis, John, Liam Og, Joseph, Seamus, and daughters Marion and Aine, and Mr Naughten's brother Seamus and sister Ann-Marie. Another son, Dermot who was injured in the car crash which killed his father, was still in Merlin Park Hospital in Galway.
The Taoiseach said that the way many people would remember Liam Naughten was on his tractor in the fields in Ardkeenan. "Is there any country in the world where a man holding such high office would live so humbly?" said Mr Bruton in a moving tribute.
He had been chosen for that high office by his colleagues and that showed how highly they, who knew him so well, thought of him, he said.
"I want to express my sympathy on behalf of the Government, my own party, and on behalf of all here, to the Naughten family, and also to his friends and neighbours and the people of Drum and Roscommon, for truly your loss is a great one, said Mr Bruton, Christopher Jones, said it was the funeral of a loving husband and father. He served his family, his community and his country at the highest level in his own friendly, humble and warm way, Dr Jones said.
Father Michael Breslin, parish priest in Drum, said almost all the members of the Oireachtas had visited the Naughtens in the past few days and "so many are here today to honour and pay a final and well-merited farewell to Liam".
The readings were by Mr Naughten's brother, Seamus, and his sister, Ann-Marie. The offertory gifts, which were received by the leader of the Seanad, Mr Maurice Manning, were carried by his daughters, Marion and Aine, and other relatives.
Mr Manning said the gifts "symbolised the different aspects of his life". They included the standing orders of the Seanad, a sporting jersey, a hamper, the Farmer's Journal and a family photograph.
Huge numbers of Senator Naughten's colleagues from the Dail and Seanad, as well as local politicians and members of the Midland Health Board attended yesterday's funeral.
They included the Minister lord Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, Mr Lowry, and the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins. Former Taoisigh, Mr Liam Cosgrave and Dr Garret FitzGerald, and the Ceann Comhairle, Mr Sean Treacy, attended.
Among the Ministers of State were Mr Pat Rabbitte (DL), Ms Avril Doyle FG, Mr Donal Carey (FG), Mr Bernard Durkan (FG, Mr Austin Currie (FG), Mr Jimmy Deenihan (FG) and Mr Toddy O'Sullivan (Lab).
The leader of Fianna Fail, Mr Bertie Ahern, as well as deputies from his party including Ms Mary O'Rourke, Mr Rory O'Hanlon and Dr Michael Woods attended. Amongst the Fine Gael deputies were Mr Phil Hogan, Mr P.J. Sheehan, Mr Ted Nealon and Mr Liam Burke. Ms Liz O'Donnell (PD) also attended.
A large number of Mr Naughten's Seanad colleagues attended the funeral, including the Fine Gael chief whip, Mr Liam Cosgrave (FG), Dr Mary Henry (Ind), Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind), Mr Dan Neville (FG), Mr Tom Fitzpatrick (FF), Ms Cathy Honan: (PD), Mr John Farrelly (FG), Mrs Denis Cregan (FF), Mr Tom Enright (FG), Mr John Dardis (PD), Mr G.V. Wright (FF) and Mr Michael Lanigan (FF).
Col P.J. Keane represented the Defence Forces. The Irish Times was represented by the administration and planning editor, Mr Eoin McVey.
Mr Naughten was buried at Drum Cemetery.