Dozens of friends from the world of broadcasting and print journalism turned out this morning for the funeral of former Irish Times journalist and broadcaster Cathal O'Shannon.
The service took place at Glasnevin Crematorium. Mr O'Shannon, who was 83, passed away last week after a long illness with cancer.
A portrait commissioned by his late wife Patsy on the occasion of his 70th birthday was placed on the altar of the chapel at the Glasnevin crematorium.
The portrait depicted two of the most salient events in his life, his time as a young man in the RAF and his now legendary interview with boxer Muhammad Ali.
The eulogy was given by his long-time friend and former producer Paul Cusack who helped care for Mr O'Shannon in his final years.
Mr O'Shannon, he told the congregation, wrote with "care and precision" and had a great love of the English language which he demonstrated best in his dispatches for The Irish Times from Congo where Irish peacekeepers were stationed.
That "precision and clarity" he demonstrated in his newspaper work were brought to his broadcasting career, Mr Cusack added and he reminded the congregation that Terry Wogan had described Mr O'Shannon as probably the greatest television journalist Ireland has ever produced.
He went to work in RTÉ where he had the "most envied of broadcaster's gifts - a seductive voice," Mr Cusack said.
As an interviewer he was "exceptional" and nothing intimidated him. Towards the end of his life Charles Haughey approached Mr O'Shannon about giving him the exclusive interview on his life, but the former Taoiseach was dissuaded after some convivial lunches together, Mr Cusack recalled.
Along with his professional qualities, he described Mr O'Shannon as a "wonderful friend" and an excellent storyteller who was the person you would want to wile away a wet day over a few drinks and some oysters.
Fr Dermot McCarthy, the former head of religious programming at RTÉ, said Mr O'Shannon had lived life to the full.
His natural curiosity fuelled his inquiring mind and brought fun and smiles into every company", he said.
Fr McCarthy recalled how devastated Mr O'Shannon was by the death of his wife Patsy five years ago and how his final years were difficult.
Among those who attended the funeral were Irish Times' assistant editor Eoin McVeigh on behalf the editor Kevin O'Sullivan, the director-general of RTÉ Noel Curran, the head of radio Clare Duignan, the former chief justice John Murray, the former film censor John Kellegher, the actor John Kavanagh, and his friends John McColgan and Moya Doherty, the producers of Riverdance.
Mr O'Shannon's is predeceased by his sisters Grainne and Fionnuala. He had no children.