A number of Fianna Fail colleagues of the former Taoiseach, Mr Jack Lynch, attended a commemorative Mass in Dublin yesterday to mark the first anniversary of his death.
The Mass was held in Irish in St Paul's of the Cross Church, Mount Argus, in Harold's Cross, where Mr Lynch and his wife Mairin worshipped for many years.
With the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, in the Far East, the Government was represented by the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods. The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms Mary O'Rourke, also attended.
The attendance also included the former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds; the Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan; Mr Sean Ardagh TD; former ministers Mr John Wilson and Mr Paddy Lalor; former TDs Mr Jim Tunney, Mr Ruairi Brugha, and Fianna Fail's national organiser, Mr Sean Sherwin.
Mr Lynch's widow, Mairin, was unable to attend due to ill health. Members of Mr Lynch's extended family were present.
The parish priest of St Paul's, Father Ralph Egan CP, told the congregation that Mr Lynch was sadly missed in Mount Argus.