The funerals of the two people who died in a mountaineering accident on Carrantuohill last Sunday took place yesterday in Co Cork.
Mr John Lucey, general secretary of the Army representative group PDFORRA and a warrant officer in the Naval Service, was buried with military honours. Ms Joan O'Leary's funeral took place in her native Castletownroche.
Describing Mr Lucey as "a brave and courageous man" who was preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity, Father Liam Hodnett, parish priest of Blackpool, said God had a plan for everyone and in Mr Lucey's case it was an extraordinary plan for an extraordinary man.
"Here today, we don't understand the plan. We knew John as a great husband and father, a champion of the under-privileged in Africa through his charity work, and a champion climber," Father Hodnett added.
Prayers were said during Mr Lucey's Requiem Mass for Ms O'Leary and for Mr Ray Clancy, her partner, who was also involved in the accident and is recovering in hospital. The Kerry Mountain Rescue Service was also prayed for. Offertory gifts included Mr Lucey's peacekeeping medals, awarded for overseas service during his years in the Defence Forces, the flag of the Brian Dillon GAA club, and a certificate awarded for reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Mr Lucey is survived by his wife, Bernadette; sons Brian, John and Colm, and daughters Gráinne and Pauline.
Other mourners included: Lt-Gen Colm Mangan, Chief-of Staff of the Defence Forces; Commodore John Kavanagh, commander of the Naval Service; Brig-Gen David Taylor, GOC, Southern Brigade; Brig-Gen Fred Swords, GOC, Western Brigade; Maj-Gen Carl Dodd, Deputy Chief-of-Staff; Maj-Gen Jim Shreenan, Deputy Chief-of-Staff; and Mr Gerry Rooney, president, PDFORRA. The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Ger O'Grady, and the President by Capt Michael Treacy.
Also present were: Mr David O'Callaghan, Secretary of the Department of Defence; Mr Dan Wallace, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment; the former Fine Gael leader, Mr Alan Dukes; and Mr Tom O'Driscoll, Lord Mayor of Cork.
Following Requiem Mass at Castletownroche, Ms O'Leary's interment took place to Ballyhooley Cemetery. Ms O'Leary worked in Cork as a development officer for Rehab, having spent a year as an aid worker in Africa.
Like Mr Lucey, Ms O'Leary was an experienced climber with an intimate knowledge of the Kerry mountains. She was widely known and popular within the hillwalking and mountaineering fraternity. Ms O'Leary is survived by her father David, mother Biddy, sisters Betty, Mary and Nora, and brothers Colm and Brendan.