HUNDREDS of GAA supporters attended the removal of the remains of Mr Sean O Siochin, former director general of the GAA, to the Church of St John the Baptist in Clontarf, Dublin, yesterday. He died on Sunday aged 82.
Undeterred by strong winds and heavy rain, the huge cortege walked from Mr O Siochin's house to the church - a distance of about a mile and a half. The coffin was draped in the green flag of the GAA. It was met by a guard of honour of members of the Artane Boys' Band in the grounds of the church. Many people could not get into the church and had to pay their respects standing outside.
Auxiliary Bishop James Moriarty said that the large attendance was a tribute to Mr O Siochain. All those present had their own memories of him, especially the members of his family.
Mr O Siochain had the gift of being able to get on with people, said Bishop Moriarty. He had played Gaelic games for Cork and Dublin and had toured the United States on four occasions with Irish singers and had been a member of the Dublin Grand Opera Society. He had sung with Joan Hammond in Mozart's The Magic Flute in 1943. As a result, he had missed Cork's All Ireland hurling win over Antrim that year. The chief mourners were Mr O Siochain's widow, Caitlin, sons Donal and Ronan, and daughters Orla, Aisling, Fiona and Blaithin. His brother, Con, and sister, Joanie, were also present.
Among the attendance was the GAA president, Mr Jack Boothman, and the current director general, Mr Liam Mulvihill. Others present included Mr Peter Quinn, a former GAA president, Mr Sean Kelly, chairman of the Kerry County Board, and many officers from GAA county boards throughout the State.
Among the politicians present was the Minister of State, Mr Donal Carey.