Noel Carroll was a special kind of man "who made it seem like Christmas all year round", his youngest son, Stephen, told mourners yesterday at the funeral of the former athlete and Dublin Corporation spokesman.
The large congregation at St Anne's Church in Shankill, Co Dublin, which was filled to overflowing, broke into applause after Mr Carroll's two daughters and two sons, Enda, Nicola, Noel and Stephen, concluded the ceremony with moving tributes to their father.
Mr Carroll, who was 57, died last Friday after suffering an apparent heart attack while jogging in UCD.
His eldest daughter, Enda, said she had been "wrapped up warm" for 33 years in the special love her father had for his family. "He really loved his life and he savoured every moment and he showed me how to do the same."
Nicola Carroll read a poem which her father had written, probably going to work on the DART, which contained the poignant line: "Unlike the sun, our new day comes with the possibility of demise."
Stephen Carroll said of his father: "He always had a smiling face, and whenever Dad went into a room it just lit up."
On behalf of the family, Noel jnr thanked everyone who had paid tribute to his father. "You will never ever understand how much that means to us", he said. "He was so proud of us and we were all proud of him."
The other chief mourners were Mr Carroll's wife, Deirdre; his sisters, Kathleen and Helena; and his brother, Patsy.
The President, Mrs McAleese, was represented by Capt Martin Breen, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, by his aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Kiernan. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and the former president, Dr Patrick Hillery, were also present.
The chief concelebrant was Canon John O'Connell, former parish priest of St Anne's parish in Shankill, who said Mr Carroll's running was an expression of many things. "I think when Noel ran his mind cleared. He sorted things out and he got his priorities right and God knows he seldom had them wrong", he said.
Mr Carroll had never been afraid to express his love for his wife, Deirdre, even if it was "embarrassingly in public", something which many Irishmen did not know how to do, Canon O'Connell observed.
He added that people did not understand Noel Carroll if they did not remember his faith, which had never been a burden to him. He had set his sights very high for himself and his family and the athletes he trained, yet he was an understanding person who would never "cast the first stone or put down anybody who was already halfway down".
The other concelebrants were Father Gerry Fleming SCA PP, Father Michael Kiely SCA, Father Michael Irwin SCA, Father Kieran McDermott and Father Malachy Stenson, who married Noel and Deirdre 34 years ago.
Gifts, which included a GOAL T-shirt, a copy of Irish Runner magazine and a pair of running shoes, were offered by Mr John O'Shea, of GOAL, by Mr Frank Greally, the editor of Irish Runner, by the athlete David Matthews, with whom Noel Carroll had been training when he died, by Mr Patsy Carroll and by Noel Carroll's son-in-law, Mr Conor Murphy. Noel Carroll was chairman of the executive committee of GOAL and was a regular contributor to Irish Runner.
The congregation included the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Senator Joe Doyle. The Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, was represented by Assistant Commissioner Jim McHugh.
Politicians present included the Fianna Fail TD Mr Sean Haughey; the Fine Gael TD Mr Sean Barrett and the Green Party TD Mr John Gormley. The former minister for sport, Mr Jim Tunney, a long-time friend of Mr Carroll's, and the former lord mayor of Dublin, Mr Michael O'Halloran, were also present.
Others in attendance included Mr Jim Ruane, president of Dublin Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr Carroll was chief executive at the time of his death, and Mr Frank Feely, the former Dublin city manager.
Figures from the sporting world included Mr Ronnie Delany, the Olympic gold-medallist; the former world cross country champion, Mr John Treacy; the former world champion Mr Eamonn Coghlan; the international boxers Mr Mick Dowling and Mr Harry Perry; the UCD football manager, Dr Tony O'Neill; and Mr Brendan McKenna, representing the FAI.
Also in attendance were the broadcasters Mr Mike Murphy and Mr Brendan O'Reilly; Mr Michael Colgan, of the Gate Theatre; the publisher Mr Kevin Kelly; the architect Mr Sam Stephenson; the writer Mr Ulick O'Connor; Mr Ian Fox, of the Institute of Advertising Practitioners of Ireland; Mr Eoin McGonigal SC; and Mr Conor Faughnan, of AA Roadwatch.
Mr Carroll was buried in Shanganagh Cemetery.