The Dublin anthem Molly Malone was sung at the funeral Mass of Augustinian friar Prof F.X. Martin, who once led a campaign to save the Viking site at Wood Quay.
Hundreds of mourners packed the Augustinian Church in John's Lane, Dublin for the funeral yesterday. It was a short walk from the Civic Offices which now stand on the Viking site. The building was dubbed a "monument to ugliness" by the former UCD professor of medieval history, who died last Sunday aged 77.
The Mass was concelebrated by Dr James Moriarty, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, and the Rev Desmond Foley, provincial of the Augustinian Order.
The preacher, Father Padraig Daly, said: "F.X. was so many things. The historian who could hold a class spellbound with erudition and anecdote. The brilliant medievalist . . . the lover of good company and good food who enjoyed sitting alone for hours poring over dry text.
"He was the bone-crushing handshaker, the snappiest dresser in the Irish church, the man with the greatest panache."
But it was as "hero of Wood Quay" that he came to public prominence and, Father Daly said, Prof Martin had always been disappointed that he did not end up in jail for his activities, which included, at one point, occupying the site. The chief mourners were Prof Martin's four sisters, Ms Maura Feutren, Ms Josette O'Dowd, Ms Netta Kelly and Ms Kay Doyle. Readings were given by his brothers-in-law, Mr Pat Kelly and Mr Brian Doyle.
Priests attending included Father Tom Stack, Msg Patrick Corish and Prof Michael Nolan. The President was represented by Capt Pauline O'Connell. Also present were the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ms Mary Freehill, the former governor of the Central Bank, Dr T.K. Whitaker, the president of UCD, Dr Art Cosgrove, Prof Owen Dudley Edwards, Aberdeen University, Dr Brendan Bradshaw, Cambridge, and Prof Donal McCartney, Dr Margaret MacCurtain and Mr James Maguire, UCD.