Funeral service: Historians will be far more positive about Charles Haughey's legacy than his critics in the media, the former taoiseach's son Seán said at his father's Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Donnycarney yesterday.
In a tribute at the end of the two-hour Mass, Seán Haughey, who succeeded to his father's Dublin North Central seat, drew loud applause when he said: "As my mother used say, 'it seems everyone hates Charlie Haughey except the people'."
The 1,500-seater church was full for the State service, while a large screen nearby catered for the overflow.
Hundreds more lined the streets afterwards as the hearse left for its journey to St Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton.
Dignitaries and political leaders joined members of the judiciary, the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána for the State occasion.
The mourners were led by Charles Haughey's widow, Maureen, who was applauded when she arrived at the church. She was flanked by their children Conor, Ciarán, Eimear and Seán, his sister Maureen and his extended family.
Mr Haughey's brother, Fr Eoghan Haughey, was the principal celebrant, while the final commendation was carried out by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin.
Among the mourners were President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tánaiste Mary Harney.
The music was provided by the Palestrina Choir from the Pro-Cathedral.
After Communion, uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn played Port na bPúcaí and musician Finbar Furey performed the Lonesome Boatman.
This music was interspersed with personal reflections from Mr Haughey's son Seán, the poet Brendan Kennelly and Áine Uí Laoithe, who read the Seamus Heaney poem, The Given Note.
Minister of State for Children Brian Lenihan gave the first reading, from the Prophet Jeremiah, while Mr Haughey's daughter Eimear read the second reading from the Second Letter to Timothy.
Prayers of the Faithful were read by former senator Tom Fitzgerald; Siobhán O'Connor, daughter of Mr Haughey's election agent Pat O'Connor; friend and colleague PJ Mara; son Ciarán; family friend Brian Dennis; cousin Mary Murphy; and former deputy Séamus Cullimore.
In his homily, Fr Haughey told mourners the former taoiseach had directed that his funeral be held in the heart of his old constituency, near where he grew up.
He said his brother called him out to the house six months ago, looked him in the eye and said: "About the funeral. It will be in Donnycarney. You will do it and you will do it with all prayerful dignity."
He compared his brother to the great Ulster warrior hero Cúchulainn. He said a sculpture of the hero stands on the lawns at Mr Haughey's home, Abbeville.
"It's a wooden statue and it's carved out of an elm tree off the estate that fell down in a storm. I think that's typical of Cathal. He had created something magnificent out of disaster.
"That was one of the great lessons of his life, I think, to overcome adversity, not to quit, not to whinge or moan."
He said a deep wound ran through the statue. "It's a crack in the wood, like an old battle scar. CJ had come through many battles but there were no scars - the wounds had healed. There was no bitterness, thank God, no self-pity."
Seán Haughey said his father was "a great father" who always saw the good in his children. "What more could children ask from their father?"
While Charles Haughey had his critics, "the people as a whole always had a much more balanced view of his political life", Seán Haughey said.
Right up to his death, his father received thousands of letters from people all over the country wishing him well, promising him prayers and thanking him for his many years of public service.
"I don't think that happens many politicians," he said. Each letter was replied to personally, he added. His father loved people, talking and listening to them.
"I believe that this quality distinguished him from many other politicians. He always said to us that there was nobody from whom you could not learn something."
In his tribute, poet Brendan Kennelly recalled Charles Haughey's love of poetry and the arts.
"He once recited a poem in Latin to me and it floored me altogether. And if he liked the poem that I sent to him he always said, 'Ah, you boy, ya', and I waited for that commendation."
A 12-page Mass booklet included a large colour photograph of Mr Haughey and a drawing of an early Christian oratory on Inishvickillane, his island off Co Kerry.
The Mass booklet finished with a quote from American author, poet and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) on life:
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better . . . to know even one life breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
The funeral Mass was concelebrated by Fr Alec Reid of the Clonard monastery in Belfast, a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process; Mgr Joseph Quinn, parish priest of Knock, Co Mayo; and Fr Paddy McWilliams, a relative of the Haughey family.
Several hundred people gathered outside the church. Very few availed of an opportunity to watch the Mass on the two large screens outside, however, or at a big screen in the nearby community centre.