HUNDREDS OF people attended the removal service last evening of the former social justice and anti-apartheid campaigner Fr Austin Flannery, who died this week aged 83.
The congregation was reminded of Fr Flannery's many campaigns by Fr Bernard Treacy, OP, in his homily in St Saviour's Church to which the removal took place.
Fr Treacy said Fr Flannery had given his interest, time and energies to causes including the Dublin Housing Action Committee and the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement. He recalled that in the 1960s Fr Flannery, former editor of Doctrine and Life, hosted a discussion group centred on him and his great friend, Seán MacRéamoinn.
"The group which came to be known as Flannery's Harriers was composed of people who, because of their evening discussions, came to be uniquely well positioned to mediate through the media what Vatican 11 represented and could represent," he said.
"That group, which used to meet in a flat attached to what was then called the Municipal Gallery of Art in Parnell Square, later moved to a room over a pub and they were renamed 'The Plastered Saints'," he said.
Fr Treacy spoke of Fr Flannery's ability to mediate, and of his astonishing workload and wonderful output of books.
"His translation of the documents of Vatican 11 has become the standard English language version and at a time when most people could be well retired he set himself to bring out a new translation in inclusive language," he said.
The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Fiachra Ó Ceallaigh, and the prior of St Saviour's, Fr Anthony Morris, OP, led the prayers.
The chief mourners were Fr Flannery's brothers, Paul and Jimmy, sisters Phyllis and Sadie, and their families.
The attendance included Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness, president of the Law Reform Commission, Michael Farrell of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, and TDs Michael D Higgins, Joan Burton and Finian McGrath.
Also in attendance were poet Michael Heaney, artists Robert Ballagh and Patrick Pye, Gary Kilgannon, Des and Mary Fennell, Jim O'Leary and Bill Meek, and many friends and parishioners.
Fr Flannery will be buried today following requiem Mass at St Saviour's at 11am in the Dominican plot at Glasnevin Cemetery.