A hush fell over Main Street in Bray last night as more than 1,500 people gathered for the removal of fireman Brian Murray.
Among the crowds were the Taoiseach's aide de camp, Capt Michael Treacy, Insp Noreen McBrien representing the Garda Dublin Metropolitan Division East, acting chief fire officer of Dublin, Brian Power, and hundreds of firefighters from across Ireland, Britain and New York.
Mr Murray, a father of 15 and a sub-officer with the local brigade, died with his colleague Mark O'Shaughnessy last week in a fire at a disused factory in Little Bray.
A lone piper preceded Mr Murray's coffin, which was covered in a tricolour and drawn on a fire service vehicle, to the Church of the Holy Redeemer, where it was met by parish priest Fr John O'Connell.
Politicians from all the main parties stood in silence as Mr Murray's widow Mary, his 15 children and grandchildren filed into the church.
In his address Fr O'Connell paid tribute to Mr Murray's loyalty to his family and his popularity with colleagues. Fr O'Connell recalled that after 9/11 Mr Murray had helped bring 11 members of the Fire Department of New York to Bray for St Patrick's Day 2002. FDNY members were in church last night.
He also noted the presence of members of Civil Defence and Bray Wanderers football club, which he said had been such important parts of Mr Murray's life.
Fr O'Connell spoke of his shock on learning that he knew the two firefighters, remarking that people were inclined to think that dreadful things happened only to people very far away.
Mr Murray's grandchildren Aoife and Jordan carried Irish rugby and Celtic football club jerseys to the altar during the ceremony while colleagues in Bray fire brigade placed Mr Murray's helmet and gloves on the altar.
Fr O'Connell then read from the First Letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians, urging the faithful "do not grieve like people who have no hope".
Fr O'Connell also asked for prayers for the O'Shaughnessy family who had buried Mark earlier yesterday. Mr Murray's funeral will take place today following 11.30am Requiem Mass at the Church of the Holy Redeemer.
