The funeral of Dublin-born Australian Rules legend Jim Stynes, who died last week after a long battle with cancer, has taken place in Melbourne.
The 45-year-old was honoured with a state funeral in the city where he spent his life after leaving Ireland aged 18 in 1984.
Up to 5,000 people turned up at Federation Square in the city to watch a live televised broadcast of the service from St Paul's Cathedral.
His younger brother Brian, who won an All-Ireland senior medal with Dublin in 1995, gave a moving eulogy at the funeral, describing Jim as his best friend. "He was a big, generous and fun older brother and we all adored him," he said.
In an emotional farewell to his brother, he talked about the family's sadness when Stynes first moved to Australia in 1984. "We were all devastated at the thought of Jimmy being so far away. Australia to us really was the other side of the world," said Mr Stynes.
"Jimmy was only allowed to ring home once a week. This was the highlight of our week and I can remember us all waiting to speak to Jimmy. We all loved and missed him so much."
Brian Stynes followed his brother into the sport and later played a match against him. "I tried following in his footsteps, but they were always too big," he said.
Mr Stynes said the sporting great had touched many people in his life, describing him as an inspiration to all.
"He leaves a 6ft 7ins gap in our lives that will always be empty but I take some comfort that he will be forever in our hearts," he said.
Stynes's former Melbourne teammate Garry Lyon also paid a moving tribute which brought laughs from the congregation.
Stynes will be cremated later today. His ashes will be brought back to Ireland, where they will be scattered across the Dublin mountains.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people attended a memorial mass in south Dublin last night. In a message read at a Mass in Ballyroan Church, Co Dublin, last night for their son, Brian and Tess Stynes saod it wasn't supposed to happen “that an eldest son should pass away before his parents”.
Both parents are in Australia for the funeral.
Their message, read by Jim's brother Kevin, asked: “Why did God have to take him so young?”
Jim believed that with enough effort and dedication, almost anything can be achieved, the message said. He was also an idealist, especially when it came to troubled youth.
He was “the first of the family to emigrate to Australia”, with the rest of his siblings following in his footsteps.
“He was a father figure to all, a unique figure, a true Irishman” whose greatest role was when he played for Ireland in the compromise rules game against Australia. He had asked “that his ashes be scattered on the top of the Dublin mountains” where he used to train on visits home.
“Despite fame he never lost touch with reality,” they said, thanking everyone for expressions of “the sincere pain and grief at his passing,” in particular the Ballyboden St Enda’s club. Their words were greeted by a standing ovation from a packed church of the Holy Spirit.
Fr Jimmy Murray, parish priest of Knocklyon, recalled in his homily that Jim Stynes had “never become intoxicated by fame and wealth” and that “he never lost touch with his roots.”
Chief mourners at last night’s Mass were Jim Stynes’s uncle Kevin and his aunts Doreen and Joy. Also in attendance was the Australian Ambassador Bruce Davis.
There was a large GAA contingent, including its general secterary Paraic Duffy, Colm O’Rourke, Brian McEniff, former Dublin footballers Ciarán Walsh, and Ger Flaherty who played with Jim Stynes at Ballyboden St Endas. Music was by Finbar Furey, Ruth Cahill and Ann McNulty.
Ambassador Davis described it as “a very moving Mass”.