'The defender of the defenceless" was how he was described at his funeral by Father Denis Crosbie of Furbo. Caoimhghín Mac Cathmhaoil, "lifelong republican, social activist, people's lawyer and true friend to many" died peacefully aged 81 just over a week ago.
Mr Mac Cathmhaoil was from Swinford, Co Mayo, and practised as a solicitor in Galway city for the last three decades of his life.
Seen as a friend of the less-privileged in society, he represented a huge cross-section of people, among them many Irish speakers from Connemara. Never a man to worry about wealth or material possessions, he often provided free legal aid before the term came to exist as we know it today.
Born in 1921, he inherited his father's legal practice. He became a committed social activist, campaigning for proper local authority housing in Swinford, for Travellers' rights, decent roads and for the rights of small fishermen in north Mayo.
Caoimhghín was brought up in an Irish-speaking household and maintained a lifelong love for the language and culture. He was chairman of the Mayo Hurling Board and enjoyed traditional music, set dancing and amateur drama. A keen sportsman, he continued to run and swim until he was well into his 70s.
He was a prominent member of Sinn Féin (and later Republican Sinn Féin), standing unsuccessfully for local authority and Údarás na Gaeltachta elections in the 1960s. In 1969, when riots broke out in Belfast and Derry, he organised food, clothes and medicines for the people of both cities from towns and villages throughout Co Mayo.
He married Carmel Dwyer in 1955 and they had four sons and four daughters. The family moved to Galway city in 1971 where he became involved in the Gaeltacht Civil Rights Association and helped set up a pirate radio station which eventually led to the foundation of Raidió na Gaeltachta.
At Galway District Court, Judge John Garavan said: "He had a great love of the Irish language and genuine and unselfish views on Irish nationalism. He helped so many young solicitors and had an unselfish approach to life. He was a genuine Christian, helpful and benevolent."