Dr T.J. (Tim) O'Driscoll, who died last Friday, made an "extraordinary" contribution to the development of the modern Irish State and did so with panache and style, the attendance at his funeral was told yesterday.
Dr O'Driscoll, a former director general of Bord Failte, first chairman of Coras Trachtala, a president of An Taisce, Ambassador to the Netherlands and pioneer in the development of Irish aviation, was 90 this year. He died after a short illness.
At the funeral Mass in Rath farnham yesterday, the main celebrant, Father Michael O'Sullivan, said Dr O'Driscoll had been a good and kind husband to his wife Elizabeth, and a loving father to his daughters Sara, Mary and Liz. He had also served his country with distinction, he said.
Dr O'Driscoll "has received widespread recognition for what he has done, yet he was a man who was very much able to keep his feet on the ground", he added. "He was a pioneer, and an ecumenist long before it became fashionable. He was a man of great tolerance at a time when tolerance was a scarce commodity.
"He never sought the limelight, but when people sought his help he was happy to give it. He was known as someone with a great social conscience," he said, and he worked in the parish to provide employment and help for the weaker sections of the community.
Father O'Sullivan said he would not attempt to go through all Dr O'Driscoll's achievements. "But with all the achievements he had, one he would like to mention was the fact that he captained the Trinity rugby team. He received awards from many nations but the one he would cherish - despite being a Cork city man - was being made West Cork man of the year."
Paying tribute to Dr O'Driscoll at the end of the funeral service, his son-in-law Dr John McManus said that while marking his passing was a sad occasion, it was also a celebration of a long and fruitful life. "His work was building the modern Irish state, in developing the sinews of our society and helping to direct Ireland outwards to the world and bringing the world's influence in to Ireland."
His contribution, he said, was "extraordinary" and one in which his family took great pride. Many great people had helped to build the Republic "but it is fair to say that none did so in such multifarious ways and with such panache and style".
The chief mourners were Dr O'Driscoll's widow and his daughters. The funeral was also attended by a wide family circle including sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives.
The President was represented by Commdt Tony Doherty. Also present were former taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald; the Fine Gael deputy leader and former minister Ms Nora Owen; former minister and Progressive Democrats leader Mr Desmond O'Malley; former minister and now chairman of Wicklow County Council Mr Liam Kavanagh; former Labour Party minister of state Ms Eithne Fitzgerald and Senator Shane Ross.
The Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias de Rossa, Mr Eamonn Gilmore TD, the party general secretary, Mr John Gallagher, and its press officer, Mr Tony Heffernan, also attended. The Democratic Left TD Ms Liz McManus is a daughter of Dr O'Driscoll.
The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Padraic McKernan; the Director General of the Institute of European Affairs, Mr Terry Stewart; former managing director of An Bord Bainne, Mr Joe McGeough; Mr Garech de Brun; the general secretary of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland, Mr Charlie Lennon; the chief executive of Dublin Tourism, Mr Frank Magee; former directors general of Bord Failte Mr Matt McNulty and Mr Joe Malone were also there.
The Political Editor of The Irish Times, Mr Dick Walsh, and the Group Business Editor of Independent Newspapers, Mr Brendan Keenan, also attended.
At the removal on Monday night the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was represented by Capt Michael Kiernan. The chairman of Bord Failte, Mr Mark Mortell, led a large group from Bord Failte, where Dr O'Driscoll was director-general. The former Taoiseach Mr Liam Cosgrave was accompanied by his daughter Mary, a public relations executive with Bord Failte.
Others attending from the tourism industry were former Bord Failte chairman Dr Brendan O'Regan and the former chief executive of the Irish Hotels' Federation, Mr James Flannery. Mr David Kennedy, former chief executive of Aer Lingus, was present as was Dr Frank O'Reilly, Chancellor of Dublin University.
The former Garda Commissioner Mr Eamon Doherty attended the removal. Also present was Mr Des Geraghty, a vice president of SIPTU.
Dr O'Driscoll was buried at Kilmashogue Cemetery, Rathfarnham after yesterday's funeral Mass.