Frank Patterson was a man of integrity and goodness whose voice "gave glory to God and peace to many a heart in trouble", said the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, at the removal of Mr Patterson's remains in Dublin yesterday.
Dr Connell gave thanks "for the gift of that voice and for the many endowments of nature and grace woven into his life through Frank's faith, integrity and goodness".
More than 600 people attended the ceremony at the Pro-Cathedral, at which prayers were interwoven with music and song. Na Casaidigh, a group comprising cousins of Mr Patterson, played laments.
Dr Connell expressed his sympathy to Mr Patterson's wife, Eily, son Eanan, mother Mary, sister Imelda and brothers Maurice and Noel.
The archbishop said: "Countless people at home and abroad grieve that a voice that brought them so precious an experience of beauty has been stilled. The art of music incarnates itself in the passage of time. But it borrows from beauty a power to raise the heart above time through affinity with the eternal."
He said: "We remember especially the Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park in 1979 when, with Bernadette Greevy, Frank expressed the religious fervour of the immense gathering of our people."
Among those in attendance were the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ms Mary Freehill; the former archbishop of Tuam, Dr Joe Cassidy; and the tenor Mr Ronan Tynan. The Taoiseach was represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Kiernan.
The President, Mrs McAleese, will lead the mourners at today's funeral Mass at 11 a.m. after which the remains will be taken for burial to St Patrick's Cemetery in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, arriving at around 4.30 p.m.
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