They met "to celebrate a richly varied life, lived to the full", said the Rev Ferran Glenfield in Monkstown Parish Church, Co Dublin, last evening after receiving the body of Proinsias Mac Aonghusa.
For his family, his wife Catherine, their children Caitríona, Dónal and Diarmaid, his brother Micheál, sister Róisín, it was "a time to mourn. Proinsias's decline had been so rapid, so sudden, there was a sense of shock. We mourn their loss."
The President was represented by her aide-de-camp Capt Michael Treacy. Also present were: Chief Justice Ronan Keane; the Taoiseach's aide-de-camp, Comdt Michael Murray; Ms Justice Denham of the Supreme Court; the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív; and the Attorney General, Mr Rory Brady.
The attendance included: Mr Justice O'Higgins and Mr Justice Carney of the High Court; Government chief whip Mary Hanafin; TDs Tony Gregory, Conor Lenihan and Finian McGrath; Mr Frank Clarke SC and Mr Denis McCullough SC; Prof William Binchy of Trinity College; Mr Ken Murphy of the Law Society; Mr Greg O'Neill, solicitor.
From RTÉ were: Adrian Moynes, Clare Duignan, John and Una O'Donoghue, Joe Little, Máiréad Ní hEithir, Liam Ó Murchú, Éamon de Buitléir.
Also there were: journalist and broadcaster Vincent Browne; former Sunday Press editor Michael Keane; Vincent Jennings of the Irish Press Plc; writer Nollaig Ó Gadhra; former GAA president Joe McDonagh; Emer O'Kelly of the Arts Council; poet Anthony Cronin; painter Robert Ballagh; historian Fr Liam Swords; and actor Peadar Lamb.
The Arts Council expressed its "deep regret" at Mr Mac Aonghusa's death. He had been a member for 16 years. The funeral service is at 10.30 a.m. today.
