The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, was among hundreds of mourners who yesterday attended the funeral of Mr Des Maguire, the journalist and author who died suddenly at the weekend.
Mr Maguire (57), from Newbridge, was deputy editor of the Irish Farmers' Journal where he had worked for the past 30 years, and was described as one of Ireland's foremost journalists by the chief celebrant, Father Joe McDermott.
He told the packed congregation at St Conleth's parish church, in Newbridge, that among Mr Maguire's greatest achievements was a book of Irish prayers which he had translated from Irish. He had also carried out with great love a translation of the stories of Pádraig Pearse.
Mr Damien O'Reilly, chairman of the Irish Guild of Agricultural Journalists, described the late Mr Maguire as "the godfather of Irish agri-journalism" who was a great loss to his profession and his family. He said he was a great mentor to young journalists and was a fantastic newsman who was feared in the corridors of power.
The attendance at the funeral included leading figures from farming and agri-business and journalism. Among them were the Irish Farmers' Association president, Mr John Dillon, and five former presidents of the organisation - Mr Donal Cashman, Mr Joe Rae, Mr Alan Gillis, Mr John Donnelly and Mr Tom Parlon, now Minister of State at the Department of Finance.
Industry leaders included Mr Hugh Friel, managing director of the Kerry Group, Mr Philip Lynch, of the IAWS group, and Mr John Tyrell, director of the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, the umbrella group for the co-op movement. The attendance also included many former colleagues from the Irish Press, Inniú and the Carlow Nationalist. RTÉ was represented by Mr Tom Quinn, secretary to the RTÉ Authority, of which Mr Maguire was a former member.
The coffin was carried from the church by former colleagues from the Irish Farmers' Journal and a guard of honour was formed by his local Sarsfields GAA club.
Politicans present included Mr Alan Dukes, Mr Seán Power TD, Mr Seán Ó Fearghail and Sen John Dardis. Mr Maguire is survived by his wife Kathleen, and three daughters, Barbara, Maebh and Ashling.