The folk singer Paddy Clancy, whose music was central to his life, was buried to the sound of music in his home county of Tipperary yesterday. As his remains left the packed St Nicholas's Parish Church in Carrick-on-Suir, a rousing chorus of The Jug of Punch led by his son, Conor, accompanied him on his way to the tiny village of Faugheen.
Earlier in the Requiem Mass, during the offertory procession, his trademark white cap, similar to the one in which he has been buried, the Aran sweater, a stick that he had been fashioning into a "snake catcher" and a harmonica were brought to the altar.
"Paddy lifted the hearts of people through his gift of music", said the parish priest, Father Paul Waldron.
Carrick-on-Suir came to a halt as gardai, saluting the passing coffin, stopped traffic on a busy market day to allow the funeral through on its way to Faugheen.
The cortege, accompanied by the drifting strains of a sole harmonica, was met by another throng of people in the cemetery. Bobby Clancy played the harmonica as the coffin was lowered into the grave. After further tributes, the singing resumed as Paddy's son, Conor, brothers Liam and Bobby, and nephew Finbarr were joined by Tommy Makem, Finbarr Furey, Ronnie Drew, John Sheehan and the whole congregation in a rousing rendition of Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?
Liam Clancy then announced: "We never ended a concert yet without The Parting Glass, and the crowd sang again.
The Taoiseach, who sent a message of sympathy, was represented by his aide-de-camp, Capt Michael Kiernan. Paddy Clancy is survived by his wife, Mary, sons Rory and Conor, daughters Leish, Maura and Orla, brothers Liam and Bobby, and sisters Joan and Peg.
This is the second bereavement in the Clancy family recently as Paddy's sister, Lelia, was buried last week.