Seán Doherty was buried yesterday in Ardcarne cemetery under a giant tree in a final farewell to a family man and neighbour.
An overcast morning gave way to a lunchtime of bright sunshine as "The Doc" was laid to rest in the hillside cemetery overlooking the plush plains of Boyle. For a quarter of a century of a political career, this part of Roscommon was Doherty territory, through good times and bad. The grief of his family and neighbours was palpable.
A brief graveside oration was given by his friend since schooldays, Andrew Oates, president of the Fianna Fáil cumann in Mr Doherty's native area of nearby Cootehall. "We had great days and bad days," said Mr Oates. "But he was a cheer and a delight to meet at all times."
Mr Doherty was buried to the strains of The Coolin and several red roses placed on his coffin, following his last journey through a countryside best known outside Roscommon for the placenames that surface in the novels and short stories of writer John McGahern.
Earlier, St Michael's church in Cootehall was packed to overflowing for the funeral Mass. A framed photograph of "The Doc" and his copy of the Bible were placed on the coffin which was draped in the Tricolour. His sister, Philomena, read from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die."
His daughters choked back tears as they read the prayers of the faithful. His daughter, Rachel, a member of Roscommon County Council, spoke of how the family had broken down many times since he was taken ill early last Sunday morning, wondering about the prospect of carrying on living without him. "Our hearts are shattered and we pray that time will heal. He loved this village of Cootehall, its community, our neighbours, the people, the history of Cootehall," said Ms Doherty. For her sisters and herself, she added, he was their greatest treasure. "He was our father, and we loved him so much."
The priest in charge of Ardcarne parish, Fr Brian Conlon, said in his homily: "'The Doc will not be forgotten for the intensity with which he was reborn again and again when others might have thought he would die.
"He and you, Maura, planted much in terms of your four daughters and more recently your grandchildren and indeed with retirement, both of you showed your dexterity in the plucking up of what is planted."
Fr Conlon said Mr Doherty had deployed the killer instinct when it was necessary and the healing touch to soothe and restore.
"There were the times to break down the myths and the untruths and there were the times to build up that image of indestructibility that now will never age. The turmoil of politics occasioned an odd weep and mourning while the landslide victories brought laughter and dance."
He said Mr Doherty knew the time to keep silent but also knew there was a time to speak the truth to put the record straight.
"A time to love you, Maura, never seemed more right as you prepared to move back into your reconditioned home this weekend, while a time to hate abortion and social ills propelled him to speak with the courage of his convictions. A time for war with paparazzi and gutter press and a time for peace with Charlie Haughey whom I know he will enjoy welcoming to Heavensville."
He recalled Mr Doherty had once told a tourist the nickname "Doc" meant "Doherty of Cootehall", parallelling Cootehall to such seats of royalty as Windsor.
The chief mourners were Mr Doherty's widow, Maura, daughters Rachel, Kara, Leah and Evelyn, brothers Kevin and Colm, sisters Ann, Maria and Philomena.
President Mary McAleese was represented by her aide-de-camp,Capt Lorraine Fahy, and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern by his aide-de-camp, Comdt Michael Murray. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell paid a private visit to the family on Thursday.
The attendance included Minister for Finance Brian Cowen; Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern; Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan; Minister for the Gaeltacht Eamon Ó Cuív; Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea; Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt; Ministers of State Pat "The Cope" Gallagher, John Browne and Batt O'Keeffe.
Also present were former taoiseach Albert Reynolds; former EU commissioner Ray MacSharry; former government press secretary PJ Mara; TDs John Ellis; John Cregan; Martin Brady; Peter Kelly; John Moloney; Jimmy Devins; Donie Cassidy; John Callanan; Pat Carey; Michael Finneran; Bernard Durkan; Paul Connaughton; Denis Naughton and John Perry. Senators included Terry Leyden; Marc MacSharry; Eamon Scanlon; Liam Fitzgerald; Peter Callanan; Frank Feighan and Don Lydon.
