Taoiseach leads large attendance at Cosgrave funeral

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar led the mourners at the funeral of former taoiseach Liam Cosgrave in Dublin on Saturday.

President Michael D Higgins, who is abroad, was represented by his aide-de-camp Col Michael Kiernan.

Former taoisigh John Bruton, Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen and Enda Kenny were also present.

The three surviving members of the Cabinet Mr Cosgrave led in the 1970s, Paddy Cooney, Richie Ryan and Tom O'Donnell, joined them, as did former Fine Gael leaders and ministers, Michael Noonan and Alan Dukes.

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There, too, were Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Labour leader Brendan Howlin.

Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and several members of the Cabinet were present, including Ministers Simon Harris, Eoghan Murphy, Simon Coveney, Richard Bruton, Denis Naughten, Regina Doherty, Charles Flanagan, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, as well as Ministers of State Paul Kehoe, Pat Breen, Catherine Byrne, Sean Kyne and Chief Whip Joe McHugh.

Others present included EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Micheál MacDonncha, Fine Gael MEPs Brian Hayes, Mairead McGuinness and Deirdre Clune, Fine Gael TDs Kate O'Connell, Sean Barrett, Maria Bailey, Kieran O'Donnell and Pat Deering, Fianna Fáil TD Sean Haughey, Independent TD Michael Lowry, Fine Gael Senators Paul Coghlan and Neale Richmond, former ministers Jimmy Deenihan, James Reilly, Fine Gael, Gerry Collins and Martin Mansergh, Fianna Fáil, Joan Burton and Barry Desmond, Labour.

Former leaders of the now defunct Progressive Democrats, Des O'Malley and Mary Harney, former senator, Seamus Mallon, of the SDLP, former EU commissioner Charlie McCreevy were there.

Chief Justice Frank Clarke was among the representatives of the judiciary, while British ambassador Robin Barnett and Papal Nuncio Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo were among the representatives of the Diplomatic Corps.

Defence Forces Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellet was also present, as was Irish Times columnist and author of The Cosgrave Legacy, Stephen Collins.