Round-upPope John Paul II has shown us how to live and how to die, according to the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh.
Addressing a packed congregation at St Peter and Paul church last night in Ennis, Dr Walsh said: "My own strongest feeling is one of thankfulness, thankfulness to God that we had been given this man as our spiritual leader for some 27 years.
"The reaction of people to the Holy Father's death has been a real source of encouragement to us priests at a time when encouragement is needed.
"His life and his death is a challenge and an invitation for all of us to take seriously the good news of Jesus Christ," Dr Walsh said.
"He was a man of such deep conviction in relation to the traditional teachings of the church that at times he disappointed, and even hurt, some who held equally deep convictions about the need for change.
"However, even they would accept he was a man of real sincerity who spoke what he believed to be the truth and always tried to speak that truth in love."
In Cork, businesses made special provisions to allow their staff to watch the Pope's funeral yesterday morning, with many firms setting up large screens on site for the occasion.
Apple Computer placed a large screen in its sports hall with seating for 500 people while all Cashman bookmakers closed for the duration of the funeral.
Polish workers at Rochestown Park Hotel were given permission to take time off to watch the Mass. Many of the staff members at the hotel are expected to attend a special Polish Mass in St Augustine's church in Cork city tomorrow night.
At University College Cork a special screen was set up in a lecture hall where 400 students gathered to watch the funeral. A Mass commemorating the Pope's life was held on campus on Thursday evening.
Special Masses also took place in churches throughout the city and county yesterday morning including in St Mary's on The Hill, Knocknaheeny, and St Vincent's in Sundays Well.
A huge congregation packed the North Cathedral on Thursday night for a special Mass. Church leaders, city dignitaries and a large number of the Polish community in Cork attended the Mass in the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne, celebrated by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Dr John Buckley.