List of Irish state funerals

State funerals (Irish: Tórraimh stáit) in Ireland have taken place on the following occasions since 1922.

National Army soldiers drive a car laden with wreaths through the streets of Dublin towards Glasnevin Cemetery for the burial of Michael Collins (1922)

List

Date	Recipient	Roles or achievements honoured[n 1]	Notes	Venue	Date of death	Refs
10 Feb 2024	John Bruton	Taoiseach		Church of SS Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, County Meath	6 Feb 2024	[1]
21 Jun 2020	Colm Horkan	Detective Garda killed on duty	Limited funeral due to Covid-19 restrictions	St James's Church, Charlestown, County Mayo	17 Jun 2020	[2]
15 Oct 2015	Tony Golden	Garda killed on duty (shot investigating a domestic violence incident)		Church of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Blackrock, County Louth	11 Oct 2015	[3]
18 Sep 2015	Thomas Kent	Irish revolutionary period: died while interned after the Easter Rising.	Reinterment of remains located in 2014 at the site of former Cork County Gaol.	St Nicholas' Church, Castlelyons, County Cork	9 May 1916	[4]
25 Aug 2014	Albert Reynolds	Taoiseach		Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin	21 Aug 2014	[5]
30 Jan 2013	Adrian Donohoe	Garda killed on duty (shot by robbers)		Redemptorist Church, Dundalk, County Louth	25 Jan 2013	[6]
22 May 2011	Garret FitzGerald	Taoiseach		Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin	19 May 2011	[7]
13 Apr 2009	Robbie McCallion	Garda killed on duty (rammed by a stolen car)		Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, Swinford, County Mayo	7 Apr 2009	[8]
16 Apr 2008	Patrick Hillery	President of Ireland		St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	12 Apr 2008	[9]
16 Jun 2006	Charles Haughey	Taoiseach	Cost estimated at €530,000 including policing.[10]	Church of Our Lady of Consolation, Donnycarney, Dublin	13 Jun 2006	[11]
14 Oct 2001	Kevin Barry	Irish revolutionary period: volunteers executed during the War of Independence, collectively known as the Forgotten Ten.	Reinterments from Mountjoy Prison. Opposition parties complained that the funerals coincided with the ardfheis of Fianna Fáil, the main party in the government.	St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	1 Nov 1920	[12]
	Thomas Bryan				14 Mar 1921
	Patrick Doyle
	Frank Flood
	Patrick Moran
	Bernard Ryan
	Thomas Whelan
	Thomas Traynor				25 Apr 1921
	Edmond Foley				7 Jun 1921
	Patrick Maher
23 Oct 1999	Jack Lynch	Taoiseach	The eulogy was by Desmond O'Malley of the Progressive Democrats rather than Lynch's Fianna Fáil party	North Cathedral, Cork	20 Oct 1999	[13]
11 Aug 1997	John Lynch	Irish Army sergeant killed in a helicopter crash on UNIFIL mission in Lebanon		Cill Mhuire Church, Ballymanny, Newbridge, County Kildare	1997	[14]
10 Jun 1996	Jerry McCabe	Garda killed on duty escorting an An Post van ambushed at Adare, County Limerick by Provisional IRA members		Church of the Holy Rosary, Limerick	7 Jun 1996	[15]
25 May 1995	Paul Reid	Garda killed on duty with the United Nations Protection Force in the Bosnian War. His car crashed while under sniper fire in Sarajevo.		St Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny, County Donegal	18 May 1995	[16]
13 Apr 1983	Patrick Noel McLoughlin	Garda murdered at home[n 2]		Church of SS Peter and Paul, Dunboyne, County Meath	11 Apr 1983[n 3]	[18]
23 Mar 1978	Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh	President of Ireland		St Michael's Church, Sneem, County Kerry	21 Mar 1978	[19]
2 Sep 1975	Éamon de Valera	President of Ireland, Taoiseach and Irish revolutionary period leader	There were complaints that Fianna Fáil TDs encroached at the graveside, obstructing Fine Gael and Labour ministers and foreign dignitaries.[20]	St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	29 Aug 1975	[19]
21 Nov 1974	Erskine H. Childers	President of Ireland (died in office)		St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin	17 Nov 1974	[21]
3 Oct 1972	Kathleen Clarke	Lord Mayor of Dublin; Irish revolutionary period: widow of Easter Rising leader Tom Clarke and member of the republican Dáil	Brendan Corish complained that as a member of the Council of State he ought to have been driven to the funeral.[22]	St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	29 Sep 1972	[23]
13 May 1971	Seán Lemass	Taoiseach; Irish revolutionary period: IRA leader		Church of the Good Shepherd, Churchtown, Dublin	11 May 1971	[24]
28 Sep 1970	James Ryan	Minister; Irish revolutionary period: IRA leader and member of the republican Dáil		County Wicklow	25 Sep 1970	[25]
12 Mar 1968	Donogh O'Malley	Minister for Education (died in office)		St John's Cathedral, Limerick	10 Mar 1968	[26]
10 Nov 1968	Margaret Mary Pearse	Senator (died in office); Irish revolutionary period: sister of Easter Rising leader Patrick Pearse and member of the republican Dáil		Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham, Dublin	7 Nov 1968	[27]
29 Jan 1968	Alfred Chester Beatty	Culture: Founder of the Chester Beatty Library		St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin	19 Jan 1968	[28]
26 Nov 1966	Seán T. O'Kelly	President of Ireland		St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	23 Nov 1966	[29][19]
18 Nov 1965	W. T. Cosgrave	President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State.	His son Liam Cosgrave insisted that the family rather than the state should pay the funeral expenses.	Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham, Dublin	16 Nov 1965	[30]
1 Mar 1965	Roger Casement	Irish revolutionary period: Easter Rising leader.	Reinterment from Pentonville Prison.	St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	3 Aug 1916	[31][32]
2 Nov 1963	Domhnall Ua Buachalla	Governor-General of the Irish Free State		Church of the Sacred Heart, Donnybrook, Dublin	30 Oct 1963	[33]
24 Jan 1963	Adolph Reifferscheidt [de]	Diplomatic corps: West German ambassador to Ireland (died in office)		St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	18 Jan 1963	[34]
13 Aug 1961	John Moore	President of the Government of the Province of Connacht.	Reinterment from an untended grave in Ballygunner Temple, Waterford, rediscovered in 1960.	Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, County Mayo	6 Dec 1799	[35]
22 Nov 1960	Niemba ambush victims	Irish Army: Ten soldiers killed in the United Nations Operation in the Congo. Eight were killed by Luba militiamen on 8 November: Lieutenant Kevin Gleeson; Sergeant Hugh Gaynor; Corporals Peter Kelly and Liam Dougan; Privates Matthew Farrell, Michael McGuinn, and Gerard Killeen; and Trooper Thomas Fennell. The ninth, Private Patrick Davis, was shot accidentally during the recovery mission. The tenth, Trooper Anthony Browne, was at the time of the state funeral presumed to have been killed in the ambush. In November 1962 his body was located where he had been killed days after and miles from the original ambush. He received a military burial in Glasnevin.	The coffins were kept at Baldonnel Aerodrome during the funeral mass. Mourners travelled from the Pro-Cathedral to the aerodrome and then accompanied the coffins to Glasnevin Cemetery.	St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	8 Nov 1960[n 4]	[37][36]
18 Nov 1957	Seán Moylan	Senator (died in office); Minister; Irish revolutionary period: Irish Republican Army officer		Church of St. Anthony, Clontarf, Dublin	16 Nov 1957	[38]
27 Mar 1957	Ernie O'Malley	Irish revolutionary period: Irish Republican Army officer		Church of the Assumption, Howth, Dublin	25 Mar 1957	[39]
14 July 1949	Douglas Hyde	President of Ireland	Irish Catholic bishops said Catholic participation in Protestant ceremonies was a reserved sin, omitting the canon law exception for minimal participation as a matter of civic courtesy. Most Catholics remained outside the Church of Ireland cathedral during the religious service, including all members of the cabinet except Noël Browne. Austin Clarke's poem "Death of an Irish President" satirises this.	St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin	12 Jul 1949	[19][40]
30 Aug 1948	Paschal Robinson	Diplomatic corps: Papal Nuncio to Ireland (died in office)	Robinson requested a simple funeral so some elements of a state funeral were omitted	St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	27 Aug 1948	[41]
23 Jan 1948	Sean Gantly	Garda Special Branch chief superintendent shot accidentally by a colleague during a manhunt for armed robbers		Church of the Immaculate Conception, Dublin	21 Jan 1948	[42]
2 Dec 1944	Eoin O'Duffy	Garda Commissioner; Irish revolutionary period: Irish Republican Army chief of staff		St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	30 Nov 1944	[43]
29 Jan 1938	Lillie Connolly	Irish revolutionary period: Widow of Easter Rising leader James Connolly		Mount Argus Church, Harold's Cross, Dublin	22 Jan 1938	[44]
October 1934	Patrick S. Dinneen	Culture: Gaelic revival author and lexicographer		Saint Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin	29 Sep 1934	[45]
26 April 1932	Margaret Pearse	Irish revolutionary period: mother of Easter Rising leader Patrick Pearse and member of the republican Dáil		Church of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham, Dublin	22 April 1932	[46]
16 Jun 1929	John Devoy	Fenian Rising of 1867; Irish revolutionary period: leader in the United States	A nonpartisan committee was formed to organise his repatriation and burial in Glasnevin, but the anti-Treaty members withdrew. The coffin was draped with both the Irish and American flags.	—[n 5]	29 Sep 1928	[47]
13 Jul 1927	Kevin O'Higgins	Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State (assassinated in office)		St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin	10 Jul 1927	[48]
17 Nov 1926	James Fitzsimons	Gardaí killed on duty (Fitzsimons in St Luke's, Cork and Ward in Hollyford, County Tipperary) during simultaneous IRA raids on twelve Garda stations	A joint funeral; the coffins arrived separately at Kingsbridge Station and proceeded in cortege to Glasnevin Cemetery, where the ceremonies took place, W. T. Cosgrave making an oration. Fitzsimons was buried in Glasnevin, Ward in Nobber, County Meath.	Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin	14 Nov 1926	[49]
	Hugh Ward
28 Aug 1922	Michael Collins	Irish revolutionary period: Chairman of the Provisional Government (killed in office in the Irish Civil War)		St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	22 Aug 1922	[50]
16 Aug 1922	Arthur Griffith	Irish revolutionary period: simultaneously President of the Irish Republic and member of the Provisional Government (died in office)		St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin	12 Aug 1922	[51]

State funerals declined and refused

Former Taoisigh John A. Costello^[19] and Liam Cosgrave did not receive state funerals, at the request of their respective families.^[52] Similarly, a 1948 press release at the repatriation by LÉ Macha of the remains of W. B. Yeats, who had died in France in 1939, stated "The Government was, of course, desirous to accord full State honours in connection with the funeral, but considered it proper to respect the wishes of the poet's relatives."^[53] A state funeral was offered after the assassination of UK ambassador Christopher Ewart-Biggs in 1976; his widow agreed instead to a memorial service.^[54]

There was minimal official support for the 1970 reburial of men killed in India in the 1920 Connaught Rangers Mutiny.^[55] Arguments against a state funeral were that the 1966 Casement funeral not a precedent but rather symbolic of all who died abroad for Ireland; that the mutineers' profile was too low for major recognition; and that it might be seen as endorsing republican paramilitary action in the Troubles in Northern Ireland.^[55] While the government facilitated repatriation of the remains, the ensuing funerals were privately arranged by the National Graves Association.^[55]

Protocol

Lying in state is only organised for a sitting taoiseach or president.

The church service (if Catholic) may feature a Solemn Mass, usually attended by current and past presidents, taoisigh and senior members of the Irish judiciary.

About 300 members of the Defence Forces provide a guard of honour, a gun-carriage carries the coffin, which is draped with the tricolour, and Army Buglers play the Last Post. There is a gun-salute.

References

Footnotes

1. Person had retired from stated role, unless stated to have died in office.
2. McLoughlin was technically off duty; he was shot at the window of his home adjoining the Garda station when he heard a knock on its door outside opening hours. He was killed in revenge by men he had previously arrested.^[17]
3. McLoughlin was shot on 9 April 1983 and died two days later.^[18]
4. Eight died on 8 November, one on 10 November, and one a few days after 8 November.^[36]
5. His funeral mass had been held after his death in the Church of the Ascension, Manhattan

Sources

• Wallace, Colm (2017). The Fallen: Gardai Killed in Service 1922-49. History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-8450-8. Retrieved 17 May 2020.

Citations

1. "State funeral to be held for John Bruton in Co Meath". RTÉ. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
2. Gallagher, Conor; Bowers, Shauna (21 June 2020). "Det Garda Colm Horkan 'epitomised' what members of force should strive to be, funeral told". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
3. O'Regan, Mark (15 October 2015). "Sea of blue swept through village to pay respects to 'adored dad' Garda Tony Golden". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
4. "The State Funeral of Thomas Kent". Century Ireland. RTÉ. Retrieved 13 May 2020.; Roche, Barry (31 May 2016). "'CSI 1916': how Rising martyr Thomas Kent mystery was solved". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
5. "Hundreds attend State funeral of Albert Reynolds". RTÉ. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
6. "State Funeral for Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe". RTÉ News. 30 Jan 2013.
7. "Former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald laid to rest". RTÉ News. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
8. "Thousands attend McCallion funeral". RTÉ News. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.; McDonald, Brian (14 April 2009). "Heartbroken town salutes as Robbie 'gets transfer home'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
9. "Hillery laid to rest after State funeral". RTÉ News. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
10. Sheahan, Fionnan; Molony, Senan (9 August 2006). "Haughey's State funeral cost taxpayers more than ?½m". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
11. "Haughey to get State funeral on Friday". RTÉ News. 13 June 2006.
12. Ní Aodha, Gráinne (14 March 2018). "Drumcondra bridge named after UCD student executed during War of Independence". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 13 May 2020.; O'Connor, Alison (10 October 2001). "Opposition leaders reluctantly agree to attend Barry's funeral". The Irish Times. p. 1.
13. "State Funeral of Jack Lynch takes place in Cork". RTÉ News. 23 October 1999.
14. "President leads mourners at state funeral for soldier who died in Lebanon". The Irish Times. 12 August 1997. p. 11.
15. "President, Taoiseach at State funeral of murdered detective in Limerick". The Irish Times. 11 June 1996. p. 11.
16. "Garda killed on peace-keeping duty is buried with State honours". The Irish Times. 26 May 1995. p. 10.
17. Bardon, Sarah (14 October 2015). "Omeath shooting reopens old wounds for McLoughlins". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
18. Brown, Nigel (14 April 1983). "Shot sergeant given full State honours". The Irish Times. p. 1.
19. Anderson, Aoife (15 June 2006). "State funeral will be the ninth in a much-loved tradition". independent. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
20. Humphries, Joe (30 December 2005). "Papers criticise FF deputies for 'invading' cemetery". The Irish Times. p. 10. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
21. "A nation's final farewell to its President". The Irish Times. 22 November 1974. p. 1. The body was given a military burial following the State funeral from St. Patrick's Cathedral
22. Healy, Alison (3 January 2004). "File noted SF official's seat in cathedral at State funeral". The Irish Times. p. 10. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
23. "Final tribute paid to widow of 1916 leader". The Irish Times. 4 October 1972. p. 5.
24. "State Funeral for Lemass". The Irish Times. 12 May 1971. p. 1.
25. "Funeral tributes to Dr. Ryan". The Irish Times. 29 September 1970. p. 13.
26. "State Funeral for Minister; Donogh O'Malley Dies" (PDF). The Limerick Leader. 11 March 1968. p. 1.
27. "State funeral for Miss Pearse". The Irish Times. 11 November 1968. p. 13.
28. "State burial for Chester Beatty". The Irish Times. 23 January 1968. p. 13.
29. "Nation mourns Sean T. O'Kelly". The Irish Times. 28 November 1966. p. 6.
30. "Funeral tribute to Mr. Cosgrave". The Irish Times. 19 November 1965. p. 1.; Collins, Stephen (18 October 2014). "WT Cosgrave: the simple life of a state's architect". The Irish Times. p. 4 News Review. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
31. "Solemn Ritual of Casement's Funeral". The Irish Times. 2 March 1965. p. 6.
32. "Roger Casement Repatriated". RTÉ Archives. 1965. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
33. "President's tribute to former Seanascal". The Irish Times. 4 November 1963. p. 5.
34. "State funeral in Dublin for German ambassador". The Irish Times. 24 January 1963. p. 7.
35. Connaught Telegraph, 19 August 1961; "Castlebar's tribute to John Moore". The Irish Times. 14 August 1961. p. 10.; Beiner, Guy (2007). Remembering the Year of the French: Irish Folk History and Social Memory. Univ of Wisconsin Press. p. 159. ISBN 978-0-299-21823-2. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
36. O'Donoghue, David (2006). "Army's Congo Mission Casts a Long Shadow". Irish Studies in International Affairs. 17: 43–59. doi:10.3318/ISIA.2006.17.1.43. ISSN 0332-1460. JSTOR 30002097. S2CID 154640724.
37. "Ireland's Dead are Laid to Rest". The Irish Times. 23 November 1960. p. 4. Retrieved 13 May 2020.; "Colonel Mort Buckley dies, aged 93". RTÉ News. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
38. "State Funeral of Senator Moylan". The Irish Times. 19 November 1957. p. 5.
39. "Funerals – Mr. E. O'Malley". The Irish Times. 28 March 1957. p. 5.; English, Richard. "O'Malley, Ernest Bernard ('Ernie')" (PDF). Two days later he was given a state funeral with full military honours.; Reddiough, James (2007). "Ernie O'Malley Fails to Take One Last Barracks". History Ireland. 15 (2): 17. ISSN 0791-8224. JSTOR 27725595.
40. Hurley, Michael (1965). "Ecumenism: Joint Worship". The Furrow. 16 (4): 233–239. ISSN 0016-3120. JSTOR 27658929.; "Nation Mourns Dr. Hyde". The Irish Times. 15 July 1949. p. 1.; McGarry, Patsy (12 July 1999). "Hyde event to mark diverse cultures". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 May 2020.; Murphy, Brian (2016). "9: Forgotten Patriot". Forgotten Patriot. Gill & Macmillan Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84889-591-1. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
41. Keogh, Dermot (1995). Ireland and the Vatican: The Politics and Diplomacy of Church-state Relations, 1922-1960. Cork University Press. ISBN 978-0-902561-96-0. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
42. Wallace "18. Chief Superintendent Sean Gantly"; "Bullet from police gun killed Superintendent". The Irish Times. 23 January 1948. p. 1.
43. Ferriter, Diarmaid (2007). Judging Dev: A Reassessment of the Life and Legacy of Eamon de Valera. Royal Irish Academy. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-904890-28-7.
44. McCoole, Sinead (2014). Easter Widows. Transworld. p. 351. ISBN 978-1-4481-7103-3. Retrieved 13 May 2020.; "Funeral of Lillie Connolly". Irish Film & TV Index. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
45. Mac Cárthaigh, Eoin. "Dinneen, Patrick Stephen". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 13 May 2020. funeral Mass in the Jesuits' Gardiner St. church; "Presentation of plaque to commemorate Fr Patrick Dinneen" (PDF). National Library of Ireland News (21). Autumn 2005. he was among the very few 20th century Irish writers to receive a State funeral
46. Thapar-Björkert, Suruchi; Ryan, Louise (May–June 2002). "Mother India/mother Ireland: Comparative gendered dialogues of colonialism and nationalism in the early 20th century". Women's Studies International Forum. 25 (3): 301–313. doi:10.1016/S0277-5395(02)00257-1.; "The late Mrs. Pearse. Public funeral in Dublin". The Irish Times. 27 April 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
47. British Pathé (13 April 2014). "Passing Of John Devoy (1928)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 19 May 2020.; "Lot 91: John Devoy Funeral Committee". The History Sale — Easter 2016. Dublin: Adams Auctioneers. 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2020.; Golway, Terry (2015). Irish Rebel: John Devoy & America's Fight for Ireland's Freedom, New Revised Edition. Merrion Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-1785370250.
48. Parliamentary Debates: Dáil Éireann. Vol. 20. 13 July 1927. c.765.; Naughton, Lindie (2018). "No Enemy but Time". Markievicz: A Most Outrageous Rebel. Merrion Press. ISBN 978-1-78537-084-7. Retrieved 13 May 2020.; "The state funeral of Mr. Kevin O'Higgins: A National tribute in Dublin". The Illustrated London News. Vol. 171. 23 July 1927. p. 159.
49. Wallace 2017 "7: Sergeant James Fitzsimons & Garda Hugh Ward"; "The Dead Guards; Public Funeral in Dublin". The Irish Times. 18 November 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
50. "General Collins's Funeral". The Irish Times. 29 August 1922. p. 5.; Lynch, Robert (2015). Revolutionary Ireland, 1912-25. Bloomsbury. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-4411-8689-8. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
51. "Route and Order of Procession". The Irish Times. 16 August 1922. p. 8.
52. "Farewell to Liam Cosgrave a State funeral in all but name". The Irish Times. 9 Oct 2017.; "Cosgrave left Ireland a better place, funeral hears". RTÉ News. 7 Oct 2017.
53. Crowe, Catriona (2015). "Sailing to Drumcliffe: The repatriation of WB Yeats". The Poetry Ireland Review (116): 143. ISSN 0332-2998. JSTOR 26509707.
54. Collins, Stephen (29 December 2006). "Murder of Ewart Biggs had serious repercussions". The Irish Times. p. 9. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
55. Gibney, John (26 June 2020). "The second funeral of James Daly, Connaught Rangers' mutineer, 1 November 1970". Royal Irish Academy. Retrieved 2 November 2020.