President among mourners at funeral of a 'most original' poet

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins was among the mourners at the funeral of Pearse Hutchinson, “one of the most original poetic voices of the 20th century”, at Glasnevin in Dublin yesterday.

The poet, critic and broadcaster died in Dublin on Saturday aged 84. Philip Coleman, of the school of English at Trinity College, Dublin, led the celebration of his life and work at the crematorium chapel. He said he had met the poet in 2007 when organising a symposium to celebrate his work.

Hutchinson had, he said, “taught me the meaning of true friendship. Friendship, for Pearse, was one of the most important things in life – and it involved so much more than mere acquaintance.”

Broadcaster and poet Vincent Woods and poet Macdara Woods gave readings, while poets Seán Hutton and Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin read in Irish and English from Hutchinson’s own work, An tAnam a Phóg an Corp.

Among the musical pieces were the Irish air Caoineadh Eoghain Rua performed on button accordion by Tony MacMahon, The Wild Mountain Sidesung by Mary MacPartlan, and traditional Irish jig The Frost is All Over on uilleann pipes by Néillidh Mulligan.

Also at the celebration were singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, poets Paddy Bushe, Micheál Ó hUanacháin, Michael Coady, Pat Boran, Peter Fallon, Tony Curtis, Núala Ní Dhomhnall, Theo Dorgan, Leland Bardwell and Gerard Smyth, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists Séamus Dooley, historian Francis Devine, artist Charlie Cullen, cartoonist Tom Mathews and Dublin city councillor Larry O’Toole.