Former agriculture minister Joe Walsh (71) has been laid to rest amid tributes paid at his funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clonakilty, Co Cork.

The long-serving former Fianna Fáil TD was described as "a decent country gentleman" by chief celebrant Fr Pat Walsh, a retired priest and cousin of the deceased, who celebrated requiem Mass among 16 clergy members and Bishop of Cork John Buckley.

Former taoisigh Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern, ministers, colleagues, friends, relatives and members of the public flocked to Clonakilty to pay their final respects.

“He was a wonderful guy, great company, very humorous, enjoyed a hearty laugh as well as being a serious politician. He was a man with a bit of weight, a sound man,” Mr Cowen said.

Driving force

Thousands of mourners paid their respects to a man who helped lay the foundations of Ireland’s growing food economy, and who steered the country through the foot-and-mouth crisis of 2001. Mr Walsh is also considered the driving force behind the creation of Bord Bia.

His great political confidant, former FF councillor Donal O’Rourke from Clonakilty, told how Mr Walsh was the “longest-serving agriculture minister in Europe”.

Thanking staff at the oncology unit at Cork University Hospital on behalf of the Walsh family, Mr O’Rourke said Mr Walsh was a commanding, authoritative figure in any environment, with a great sense of place and of history, who loved his native west Cork.

In attendance were a host of political colleagues, including former tánaiste Mary Coughlan, former minister for education Mary Hanafin, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, health spokesman Billy Kelleher, justice spokesman Denis O'Donovan and former arts minister John O'Donoghue.

President D Michael Higgins was represented by Col Brendan McAndrew while Taoiseach Enda Kenny was represented by his aide-de-camp Commandant Ciaran Carey.

Mr Walsh is survived by his wife Maria, sons Killian, Ronan and Brian and daughters Denise and Kate.