The church in Claregalway was filled to capacity for the funeral of John O'Connell, who was buried in his birthplace yesterday.
Over 100 Travellers from Pavee Point, the centre he founded, formed a guard of honour outside the church. Mr O'Connell's nine-year-old son, Coilin, read poetry to end the service.
His family were joined by friends and colleagues for the funeral Mass concelebrated by parish priest Father Noel Mullin and Columban priests Father Bobby Gilmore, Father Eamon O'Brien, Father Ollie McCrossan, Father Paddy Kelly and others. The music included sections of the O Riada Mass sung by Liam O Maonlai, accompanied by organist Aodhan Glynn.
The mourners were led by John O'Connell's wife, Ms Anastasia Crickley, and their son Coilin, his mother, brothers Seamus, Michael and Martin, and sisters Brigid and Mary.
The President, Mrs McAleese, sent a message with her ADC, Commdt Dermot O'Connor, which was read by Father Gilmore.
She said: "John O'Connell worked tirelessly for a more compassionate, caring society in which Travelling people could live and thrive. He campaigned for rights for this significant section of our population who have hitherto been neglected and socially excluded.
"However, I also knew John as a good friend. I am just one of a huge number who will miss him greatly."
Father Gilmore said he had known John O'Connell for 25 years, first in the Columbans. "He was motivated by a biblical dislike for injustice", he said. "He fought for equality based on the dignity of the human person.
"Right through his life he fought for these things, but never on the basis of divine hunches. John always sought objective information and gave objective advice even if sometimes it was not what you wanted to hear."
Offerings were brought to the altar by colleagues and friends of John O'Connell from the various campaigns in which he was involved. Introducing the offerings Mr Martin Collins, of Pavee Point, said: "John brought a new analysis to the Traveller situation. Prior to John coming on the scene, the view was one of assimilation, of the denial of our culture." There was applause from the congregation after Ms Crickley's personal tribute to her husband, whom she described as "my best friend and partner in everything I did".
She said despite his recent illness, the past few months had been happy, "appropriately, in a mobile home in Spiddal" near the home of John's brother, Seamus, and his wife Peggy.
She said John had helped found the European anti-poverty network and the European Gypsy Traveller network as well as Pavee Point, and continued commitment to the rights of Travellers, women and minorities was all the tribute he would want.