Funeral of former Lord Mayor held

Mourners at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Donnybook bid farewell this morning to former Lord Mayor of Dublin Joe Doyle, "a Dublin man", "a church man" and "a Fine Gael man."

Lead by parish priest Fr Patrick Carroll, and six other priests with connections to the late Mr Doyle, mourners celebrated the life of a man who had played an important role in both church and State.

His wife Peggy and three children, David, Michael and Roisin were joined by his sisters Maeve and Rita as well as grandchildren Siobhan and Aishling, nieces, nephews and friends of Mr Doyle.

Leader and deputy leader of Fine Gael, Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton were among the mourners, along with leader of the Green Party John Gormley, former PD leader Michael McDowell and ex-taoisigh Albert Reynolds and Liam Cosgrave. Commandant Michael Treacy represented the current Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello was present, as was former lord mayor Catherine Byrne and deputy Dublin city manager Philip Maguire and a large number of politicians from all parties.

The civic sword and the mace were born by members of Dublin Fire Brigade and Mr Doyle's coffin was draped in the flag of Dublin.

Fr Carroll told mourners that Mr Doyle had been baptised in the Sacred Heart Church, had been married there and lived his entire life in the parish of Donnybrook. He also served as sacristan in the church for 29 years, only relinquishing the job when he became a TD in 1982.

In a moving tribute, David Doyle told mourners his father had a wonderful devotion to Lourdes and had proposed to his wife of 40 years there. He had a strong faith and poured it out through his actions and gentle words, he said.

He had also brought his "moral compass" to his life in politics and the pinnacle of his political life, when he became Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1998, had been a miracle.

"Dad, a Dublin man, a Donnybrook man, a church man, a Lourdes man, A Fine Gael man, a true Christian gentleman, my best friend, my father," he said.