Praise at removal for 'a gentle person'

CIARÁN MacMATHUNA lived a life as close to the ideals of the Sermon on the Mount as anyone he had known in his life, Mgr Tom Stack said yesterday.

The Limerick-born collector and recorder of traditional Irish music, who was a familiar voice on RTÉ radio for 50 years, died on Friday.

Receiving his remains at Terenure College Chapel in Dublin, Mgr Stack read from the biblical passage and said that Mr MacMathuna had exhibited the qualities of mind and heart which the beatitudes contained.

“Ciarán was a gentle person, he was a merciful person, non-judgemental and a fair-minded man,’’ he said.

“In other words, he reflected, in so many ways the Christian gifts enumerated in the Sermon on the Mount.’’

Mgr Stack said that in his life Mr MacMathuna had cherished the Gospel of Christ.

Politicians, former RTÉ colleagues, representatives of the music world, friends and neighbours were present.

Mr MacMathuna’s body reposed at his home on the Templeogue Road yesterday afternoon, before the removal to the nearby college chapel.

An RTÉ billboard advertising one of his long-running radio programmes, Mo Cheo Thu, and bearing the inscription "The Touch of the Master's Hand'', was placed in the foyer of the church.

Other programmes over the years included Ceolta Tire and A Job of Journeywork.

Piper Liam Óg Ó Floinn played Mo Cheol Thu.

The chief mourners were Mr MacMathuna’s wife, Dolly MacMahon, a well known singer of traditional songs, sons Pádraic and Ciarán, daughter Deirdre, daughter-in-law Anne, son-in-law Terry, grandchildren Eoin, Colm, Conor and Liam, brothers Tommy and Brian.

The attendance included Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen; Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin; Pat Rabbitte TD; Senator Alex White; and Mr Justice John MacMenamin.

Also present were RTÉ director general Cathal Goan, and former director general Vincent Finn, as well as colleagues from his many years at the station, including Rodney Rice, Simon Devilly, Seán Ó Mordha and Fr Dermod McCarthy.

Also there were John Sheahan, of the Dubliners, former Dublin city manager Frank Feeley and Irish Times columnist Breda O’Brien.

Mr MacMathuna’s funeral Mass takes place at noon today, after which he will be cremated at Mount Jerome Cemetery.