The light from a strong winter sun shone down on the funeral cortege as it arrived at the church.

If the polls are anything to go by it looks like the electorate in their wisdom are ready to force a marriage of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as the only viable government after February 26.

FORMER US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary met Northern Ireland politicians yesterday in Belfast, urging them to work for lasting devolution at talks next month.