Hundreds of people are attending the funeral of GAA star Paidi O Se in Co Kerry this afternoon.

Mourners at the memorial Mass for murdered Irish woman Jill Meagher were last night told the hopes and dreams she and her husband Tom had for their life in Australia were, “cut short by a despicable act one Friday night that has left us all numb”.

The scene is one which would have embarrassed and delighted Con Houlihan in equal measure as the funeral Mass for the legendary and much-loved journalist saw a gathering of his admirers and devotees in the guise of former newspaper colleagues and readers.

One of the country's finest sports writers Con Houlihan was remembered today as a gentleman who painted pictures with words.

Prayer candles burned brightly in the church where Maeve Binchy’s funeral took place yesterday — a poignant reminder of the writer’s first book, Light a Penny Candle.