List of Irish state funerals

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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

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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: executed 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 TaoiseachCost 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 TaoiseachThe 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 leaderThere 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 IrelandIrish 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]
Close

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 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

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