Pádraig Harrington broke off from his preparations for a 21st professional appearance at the Irish Open yesterday to attend the funeral of Christy O’Connor Snr, the golfing great who made it possible for him to play golf.

Hundreds of people queued to pay their respects as Christy O’Connor Jnr left his beloved Knocknacarra for the final time yesterday evening.

Tributes to the late Christy O’Connor Jnr have gushed from the great and the good in the wake of his untimely death on Wednesday.

Legends like Harry Bradshaw, Fred Daly, Christy O’Connor Senior, Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Pádraig Harrington have won the Irish PGA Championship over its 104-year history.