FORMER PRESIDENT Patrick Hillery, who died at the weekend aged 84 years, will be laid to rest in a State funeral on Wednesday, writes Déaglán DeBréadún, Political Correspondent.
After the Requiem Mass, which takes place at noon in the Pro- Cathedral, Marlborough Street, Dublin, the remains will be taken to St Fintan's Cemetery, Sutton, where Dr Hillery will be buried next to the grave of his daughter Vivienne, who died in 1987.
At the request of the Hillery family, the graveside oration will be delivered by Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader-designate Brian Cowen.
Flags are being flown at half-mast on all Government buildings as a mark of respect to the late president.
The removal from a north Dublin hospice will take place tomorrow and the remains are due to arrive at the main entrance of the Pro-Cathedral at 4pm. The official announcement advised that persons wishing to attend should be there before 3.30pm.
After the service, and until 10pm tomorrow evening, there will be an opportunity for members of the public to file past the coffin and pay their respects.
A book of condolence has been opened in the Pro-Cathedral.
Persons wishing to attend the Mass on Wednesday are being advised to arrive before 11.30am. President Mary McAleese, Dr Martin McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will read at the Mass. For those unable to find a seat, the Mass will be relayed through speakers outside the church.
At the end of the Mass, a marching military company and band will escort the cortege to Beresford Place, where they will give way to a motorcycle escort.
The cortege will then proceed via Amiens Street, North Strand Road and Clontarf Road to the cemetery in Sutton, where former taoiseach Charles Haughey is also buried. Members of the Defence Forces will line the approach to the cemetery where, accompanied by a military band and officer pall-bearers, Dr Hillery's remains will be brought to the graveside.
In addition to the Pro-Cathedral, books of condolence will also be open from today at the Mansion House in Dublin and in Dr Hillery's native Co Clare at Ennis library and the county council headquarters in Ennis, as well as the Paddy Hillery Library in Milltown Malbay.
The news of Dr Hillery's death on Saturday morning was announced "with deep regret" by the Taoiseach, who expressed his deepest sympathy to Maeve Hillery and their son Dr John Hillery. Mr Ahern added that an offer of a State funeral had been accepted by the family.
Leading the tributes, Mrs McAleese said Dr Hillery had "made an enormous contribution to this country". The Taoiseach said the late president was "assured of an honoured place in Ireland's history".
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Obituary: page 10; Reaction and assessment: page 11