Donnycarney church: Former taoiseach Charles Haughey profoundly influenced the State's economic and social life during his long career of public service, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin declared last night.
Speaking as he received Mr Haughey's remains at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation, Donnycarney, he said the congregation had "come together to pray, to console".
"When we encounter death, we are challenged to reflect on life, to reflect on where life ends and where enduring values lie," said Dr Martin, who was accompanied by Cardinal Desmond Connell.
The 1,500-seater church was nearly full as the remains, draped in the Tricolour, carried by soldiers from the 2nd Military Police Company, arrived shortly after 5pm, accompanied by Seán Ó Riada's Ag Chríost on Síol.
Mr Haughey's widow, Maureen, followed, flanked by two of her sons, Conor and Ciaran, with her daughter Eimear and other son, Dublin North Central TD Seán and sister Maureen following closely behind.
President Mary McAleese, and her husband, Martin, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Tánaiste Mary Harney and large numbers of Ministers, Ministers of State, TDs and Senators also attended.
The President, who interrupted a State visit to three African countries to attend Mr Haughey's removal and burial, met the Haughey family in the mortuary chapel before his remains were brought to the church.
Former president Paddy Hillery, former taoiseach Liam Cosgrave, the Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon and his wife, Theresa, attended, along with Cabinet Ministers Brian Cowen, Mary Hanafin, John O'Donoghue, Micheál Martin, Noel Dempsey, Mary Coughlan, Dick Roche and the Attorney General, Rory Brady.
The chairman of the Revenue Commissioners, Frank Daly, also attended.
The removal was also attended by Dr Eamonn Walsh, auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, Fr Michael Drennan, secretary general of the Conference of Religious of Ireland, and Fr Brian D'Arcy.
Mr Haughey's son, Conor, read from St Paul's first letter to the Thessaslonians:
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
" For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, or this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
Reading from St John's gospel, Fr Eoghan Haughey told the congregation: "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going."
"Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'."
Reflecting on the life of Mr Haughey, his friend of 60 years, Anthony Cronin, said he had never regretted a single day of that friendship, and never had any cause "to be other than proud".
Piper Paddy Moloney, of the Chieftains, played for the congregation. Schubert's Ave Maria was sung at the end of the service.
Hundreds of friends, political contemporaries, figures from the worlds of business and sport, and parishioners queued for nearly an hour to express their condolences to the family.
His long-time friend and colleague, former government press secretary PJ Mara, businessmen, Dermot Desmond, Alex Spain and Paddy Kelly, and renowned composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber were among those to pay their respects.
Former ministers Pádraig Faulkner and Gene Fitzgerald were also present as well as former Irish Press photographer Colman Doyle, a friend of Mr Haughey.
