Taoiseach salutes 'a Roscommon Gael'

AS THE hours passed a queue of hundreds of people waiting to sympathise with Lieut Gen Dermot Earley’s family inside

St Brigid’s church at the Curragh just grew and grew.

Initially, from 1pm, there was a preponderance of Army uniforms in that queue, but as time went on there was an increasing presence of saffron and blue jerseys – the Roscommon county colours.

Inside the church the former chief-of-staff Lieut Gen Earley lay in repose in an open coffin before the altar as his family stood to one side meeting sympathisers.

Army standards hung high all along the side aisles.

“We’ve lost a good Roscommon Gael,” said Taoiseach Brian Cowen, after he emerged from the church where he had spoken to Lieut Gen Earley’s widow, Mary, their children, his siblings and his mother Kitty.

“The numbers in attendance here all day indicate all the people he touched in his life,” the Taoiseach said.

The Taoiseach was accompanied by Army Chief-of-Staff Maj Gen Seán McCann. “Dermot was very much an iconic figure . . . an inspirational style of leader. He had such great humility for such a tremendous figure. He has left the Defence Forces in a very healthy state.”

Pte Jimmy Mee served with Lieut Gen Earley in Lebanon as chef and signalman. Lieut Gen Earley’s death was “a devastating blow to the Army”. “He was a big man in the Army and a big man on the football field. He will never be forgotten,” he said.

Another Roscommon football star, John O’Gara, who played with Dermot Earley from 1972 to 1981, recalled “the great encouragement” he received from Gen Earley who was “always a role model for younger lads”.

Fr Tommy Towey, parish priest of Ballisodare, Co Sligo, was a year behind Dermot Earley in St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen. Even then his leadership qualities stood out, “not just in football but also in basketball and athletics generally”.

Eddie McDonnell from Frenchpark who played club football at Glavey’s in Roscommon with Dermot Earley recalled him as “the nicest fella. ...As a Roscommon man he was our idol.”

Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney led his team into the church to sympathise with the Earley family.

He said Dermot Earley jnr, a member of the Kildare team, “is following in his footsteps” and planned to play for Kildare this evening after his father’s burial.

“That’s the sort of character they have,” said McGeeney.

The parish priest of Newbridge, Fr Joe McDermott, received the remains at St Conleth’s church last night. He welcomed “all who have travelled from the four corners of Ireland to share this sad moment with Dermot’s family”.

The remains were carried by hearse to St Conleth’s through the streets of Newbridge last night. They were escorted by members of Kildare GAA as some of the Earley family walked behind.

A guard of honour of Roscommon GAA supporters lined both sides of the bridge over the Liffey as the cortege passed through.

Nearer the church a guard of honour from the local Sarsfields GAA club lined both sides of the street.

Present at the removal service were President Mary McAleese and her husband Martin, the Taoiseach’s ADC Commdt Mick Treacy, the Minister for Defence Tony Killeen, Fine Gael TDs Jimmy Deenihan and Frank Feighan, GAA president Christy Cooney and Senator Frances Fitzgerald.

Gen Earley will be buried after 11am requiem Mass with military honours in Newbridge parish cemetery.