Public figures from across the political spectrum in the North attended the funeral in Belfast yesterday of the veteran politician Mr Paddy Devlin.
Requiem Mass was held in St Peter's Cathedral on the Falls Road in west Belfast. Hundreds of mourners, including politicians, trade unionists and community leaders, attended the funeral on a damp, gloomy day. St Peter's was packed to capacity.
Although Mr Devlin later lived in the north of the city, he had grown up on the Falls and had been Stormont MP for the area.
Father Hugh Kennedy said that Mr Devlin always held fond memories of the cathedral and the Falls.
Mr Devlin (74) died last weekend after a long illness. A founder-member of the SDLP, he was a minister in the 1974 power-sharing executive. He was also an active trade unionist and writer.
Although Mr Devlin left the SDLP in 1977, accusing it of narrow nationalism, many SDLP figures were present at the funeral.
They included the party leader, Mr John Hume; SDLP Assembly members Dr Alasdair McDonnell, Dr Joe Hendron and Mr Eddie McGrady; and the former lord mayor of Belfast, Mr Alban Maginness.
Fellow party founders were also present, including Mr Ivan Cooper and Mr Paddy O'Hanlon, and the former SDLP leader, Lord Fitt, who remained a close associate. "It is the end of an era," he said. "Paddy was the last of the Falls Road socialists.
"I'm still around, but when I go there won't be too many socialists left. This is a very, very sad occasion for me. If Paddy was around to see how many people were here today, he would have known the great affection he was held in by the people of Northern Ireland."
The British government was represented by the North's security minister, Mr Adam Ingram. The former RUC chief constable, Sir John Hermon, and a Democratic Left representative, Mr Seamus Lynch, were also present.
Father Kennedy told mourners that the many glowing tributes paid to Mr Devlin since his death were testimony to his qualities as a politician, trade unionist and writer. He would be remembered best in Northern Ireland for his long and generous contribution to public life.
Mr Devlin had performed many acts of kindness during his lifetime, Father Kennedy said. He had actively campaigned for human rights and justice. He had given his all to the entire community.
Some of his former constituents attended the funeral. One woman, Mrs Lily Murphy, said: "We will miss Paddy Devlin. There is nobody around like him now. He was one of the old-style politicians. He really cared about people. He had time for them. He wasn't just interested in votes and getting on television."
Mr Devlin is survived by his wife, Theresa, and children, Anne, Moya, Patricia, Joe and Peter.
After Requiem Mass his remains were taken for cremation to Roselawn Cemetery in east Belfast.