More than 1,000 people who came together for the funeral of Dr Pat Upton were told he cared little about worldly things, but "hungered and thirsted for what is right".
The President, Mrs McAleese, joined the bereaved family as did politicians, including the Taoiseach and Tanaiste, churchmen, academics, trade unionists and friends for concelebrated Mass at St Pius X Church in Templeogue, Dublin, yesterday.
The late Labour TD's children brought a family photograph, the flag of his native county, Clare, a jersey from the Killimer GAA club, a football, a newspaper and his favourite tea mug to the foot of the altar as symbols of the things he loved in life.
Hymns by St Joseph's Choir, of which Dr Upton's son, Bob, is a member, included Here I am Lord, The Lord is my Shepherd, Ag Chriost an Siol and Be Not Afraid. His sister, Mary, and his colleague in the Parliamentary Labour Party, Ms Roisin Shortall, took the readings.
During Communion, Mary Black sang the haunting Jacobite lament for Bonny Prince Charlie, Mo Ghile Mear.
The mourners were led by Dr Upton's wife, Anne, accompanied by their four children, Henry, Paddy, Bob and Lizzy. Almost all the Parliamentary Labour Party, led by Mr Ruairi Quinn, formed a guard of honour outside the church as the remains were taken Bohernabreena cemetery.
Among the politicians present from both Houses of the Oireachtas were the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue; the Minister for the Marine, Dr Woods; the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, andail parliamentary, Dr Rory O'Hanlon. the deputy leader of Fine Gael, Mrs Nora Owen.
Progressive Democrat members were led by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell.
Also among the congregation was the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne. Figures from the trade union movement included the ICTU general secretary, Mr Peter Cassells, and the general president of SIPTU, Mr Eddie Browne.
Mr Frank Feeley, retired Dublin city manager, attended.
In his homily, the chief celebrant, Father Eamon Clarke, described Dr Upton as "a Beatitude man". "He hungered and thirsted for what is right. That is a Beatitude that typified his life," he said. However, Dr Upton had experienced opposition "but if he did so, it must also be looked on as a Beatitude". After all his years in Dublin one could not but call him an "honorary Dub", but he was quint essentially a Clareman.
Dr Upton's son, Henry, told the mourners they had never called their father "Dad" but "Pat". To sustained applause from the congregation, he concluded in words to his father: "I hope your life was as much fun for you as it was for us."
A close friend of the late Dr Upton, Mr Eugene McCague, said to have him as a friend was "wonderful, hilarious, a riot, an adventure". He was "a funny man, occasionally disgracefully irreverent", who could go on a rant involving some of the people Mr McCague saw before him in the church.
Many deeply-felt tributes had been paid to Dr Upton in recent days and "Pat would have appreciated them" though, in his favourite quote from Private Eye, he would probably have remarked: "Shome mishtake here, shurely."